Avis Wenger

Avis Wenger, 94, formerly of Elgin, Iowa passed away Sunday, December 10, 2023, at Centerville Specialty Care in Centerville, Iowa, surrounded by family.

Visitation will be Friday, December 15, 2023 from 4-6 p.m. at Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Elgin, Iowa. There will also be a one hour visitation before services at the church on Saturday.  

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 16, 2023 at Elgin Lutheran Church, Elgin, Iowa.  Reverend Adam Starrett will be the officiant. 

Interment will be held at the Elgin Cemetery, Elgin, Iowa. Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Elgin, Iowa is helping the family with the arrangements. 

Charles Baumler

Charles Kenneth Baumler, 91, of rural Wadena, died Saturday evening, December 9, 2023, at Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital in West Union.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, December 15, 2023, at Bethel Presbyterian Church in West Union with Rev. Don Best officiating. Burial with military rites will follow the luncheon at Lima Cemetery, rural Wadena. Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, December 14th at Becker & Son Funeral Home in Fayette and for one-hour preceding services at the Church on Friday. Becker & Son Funeral Home in Fayette is assisting Chuck’s family. Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com. 

E. W. (Bill) Matthiesen

E.W. (Bill) Matthiesen, 95 years old, died at his home in Wadena, IA on December 3, 2023. Bill Matthiesen was born in Everly, IA on July 10, 1928.  He was the son of Peter Daniel Matthiesen and Lucy Jewel Wohlenburg Matthiesen.  He had 2 brothers and 4 sisters.  He married Dona Mae Helen Skiles on May 11, 1952. Bill and Dona began raising their family in Dysart, IA.  They moved to Wadena in 1962.  Together they built an amazing family.  

Bill was a farmer.  They had various kinds of livestock over the years including pigs, chickens, dogs, goats, and llamas although his focus and passion were horses.  Bill was a founding member of the Northeast Iowa Saddle Club Association (NEISCA) and many years of our summer weekends were filled with family and friends at horse shows.  He was also a judge at various horse shows.  

D'Elda Mae Erickson

D’Elda Mae Erickson, 95, Gunder, Iowa, died Saturday December 2, 2023 at the Elkader Care Center, Elkader, Iowa. She was born on May 9, 1928 to Arthur and Esther (Lenth) Palas in Luana, Iowa. D’Elda graduated from Luana High School in 1945. She also attended the University of Dubuque for two years, majoring in music and graduated from Luther College in 1970 with a BA in education.

Ronald Hageman

Ronald Hageman, age 84, of Calmar, IA, passed away on Monday, December 4, 2023, at Ossian Senior Hospice. 

Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 11, 2023, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 304 South Maryville Street, Calmar, IA, with Rev. Henry Huber presiding.  Burial was in the church cemetery.

Visitation was from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m., Sunday, December 10, 2023, at the Helms Funeral Home, French Chapel, 202 South Washington St., in Calmar, IA and also after 10:00 a.m. at the church on Monday. 

Marion Heying

Marion Faye Snyder Heying, died Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at the Hillcrest Nursing Home.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, December 9, 2023, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sumner. Burial followed at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery, rural Sumner. Visitation was held from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m., Friday, December 8, 2023 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sumner and for one hour preceding services at the Church on Saturday. Memorials may be made in Marion's name to Community Memorial Hospital, Hillcrest Home, or SEMS, all in Sumner or to a charity of the donor's choice. Becker & Son Funeral Home in Sumner is assisting Marion’s family. Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com.

Matthew Hurlbut

Matthew (“Matt”) Lloyd Hurlbut, age 63, entered into eternal rest on Friday, November 17, 2023 due to a sudden cardiac event at his home in Elgin, Ia.

Matt was born in Iowa City, Ia. on May 25, 1960 to Dr. Donald and Luann Baade Hurlbut. Most of his childhood was in Elkader and Decorah, Ia., graduating from Decorah High School in 1979. He attended Northeast Iowa Community College for Dairy Science and later obtained a degree from Iowa Lakes Community College in Vocational Rehabilitation.

Matt was married to Michelle Meyer Blietz, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Elkader, Ia. on December 15, 1990, joined by her two sons; Brandon and Joshua Blietz. They were blessed with a daughter, Jorden Rose Hurlbut, on July 18, 1996.

James Weber

 James Franklin Weber, 87, of West Union, Ia., passed away Thursday evening, November 23, 2023 at his home.

 Jim was born September 25, 1936, to Myron and Frances Cannon Weber.

 In August 29, 1958, Jim married Carolyn Koch at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hawkeye, Ia. Jim and Carolyn farmed the first seven years, moving to West Union, Ia.,  in December 1965. Jim then worked for Carpenter & Kraft doing construction. After a few years doing construction he started driving truck for the West Union Coop and Garvin LP Gas.

 Jim was a volunteer fireman on the West Union Department from 1970 through 1996.

 fter his retirement from Garvin LP Gas, he started volunteering at the West Union Recreation Park, continuing for 20 years. He loved the park and was very proud of the accomplishments that were made.