Merlin Crain

Merlin Crain, 75, Louisiana, MO (formally of Cresco, Iowa), died at 1:31 p.m. on January 31, 2020 at his daughter’s home in Louisiana, MO.

   Merlin was born on May 10, 1944, in Elgin, IA, the son of Lester and Leta Voshell Crain.  He married Linda Schutte on July 28, 1965, in West Union, IA; she preceded him in death.  Four children were born to this union, Janetta, Sandra, Michelle, Michael.  The couple raised their family in the surrounding Decorah area, finally landing in Cresco where they resided for 40 years.  

Karen De Vore

Memorial services for Karen De Vore, 76, of Indianola, who passed away Saturday, January 25, 2020, will be held at 3 p.m., Sunday, February 9, 2020 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola. Visitation will be held prior to services starting at 1 p.m. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at Newton Memorial Park Cemetery, Newton, Iowa, followed by a gathering for family and friends in Newton. Please contact the family for details.

Karen was born to Benjamin and Leona Klouda in 1943 in Newton. She graduated from Newton High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Simpson College. She married Charles De Vore in 1964.

Duane Stansbury

Duane Paul Stansbury, 89 of Nevada, passed away Wednesday, January 22, 2020, at Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Monday, January 27 at Memorial Lutheran Church (701 11th Street) in Nevada with Pastor Duane Miller officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial with military honors will follow the service at Nevada Municipal Cemetery in Nevada.

Duane was born May 29, 1930, in Fayette, IA the son of Bernice “BB” and Vera (Ogden) Stansbury. He graduated from Fayette High School in 1947 and in 1951 he enlisted in the Navy serving as a Damage Controlman 2nd Class on the USS Cunningham. In 1955 Duane was honorably discharged from the Navy and on March 22, 1957, he was united in marriage to Alberta Irene Appelgate in Nevada.

Elgene Kamper

Elgene L. Kamper, 93, of Arlington, Iowa died Monday morning, January 27, 2020 at Grandview Healthcare Center in Oelwein, Iowa.

Funeral Service was held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 31, 2020 at St. John Lutheran Church in Arlington with Rev. Margaret Yackel-Juleen officiating.

Visitation was held from 3 – 7 p.m. Thursday, January 30, 2020 at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Arlington and for one hour before the service at the church on Friday.

Interment was in the Taylorsville Cemetery, Arlington.

Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com

Lynn Tangen

Lynn Marie Tangen, 55, of Hiawatha, Iowa formerly of Ossian, Iowa died Sunday, January 19, 2020.  She was born on April 8, 1964, the daughter of Arthur and Marlene (Soeder) Tangen in Decorah, Iowa. Lynn was baptized and confirmed at Stavanger Lutheran Church, Ossian. She graduated from South Winneshiek, Calmar, Iowa in 1982 where she was active in band and theatre. Lynn traveled to Norway through the Sons of Norway student exchange program and was very proud of her Norwegian heritage. She graduated from Luther College, Decorah in 1986.

Lynn held various positions of employment including Iowa Electric, French Studios, numerous years in pharmaceutical sales and Eddie Bauer. Lynn volunteered at His Hands Ministry and enjoyed helping others. 

Kenneth Schmitz

Kenneth F. Schmitz, 83, of Arkadelphia, Arkansas and formerly of Ossian, Iowa died Thursday, January 23, 2020 at Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at  11 a.m. Thursday, January 30, 2020 at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Ossian, Iowa with Rev. Robert Gross officiating.

Visitation will be held from  3 to 7 p.m.. on Wednesday and for one hour before the service on Thursday at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Ossian.

K. C. Rosary: 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday by the Ossian Knights of Columbus Council #2073.

Scripture Servicewill be at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Interment will be at the  St. Francis de Sales Catholic Cemetery, Ossian, Iowa.

A Memorial Fund has been established.

A Memorial Service will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Arkadelphia, Arkansas at a later date.

Josephine Smith

   Josephine Norma Smith, 97, of Postville, Iowa died Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, Iowa.  Josephine was born January 25, 1922 to Ole and Anna (Erickson) Loftsgard in Gunder, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed in Marion Lutheran Church in Gunder, Iowa. She attended country school through the eighth grade and graduated from Postville High School.  She then taught country school until she was married.

     Josephine was united in marriage with Rodney Ira Smith on June 18, 1941 at Marion Lutheran Church in Gunder, Iowa. Eight children were born to this union. Josephine loved being a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great grandmother to her family. She was a talented artist who loved drawing using charcoal and also wrote two genealogy books.    

Barnabetta Cline

Barnabetta Rae Cline, age 93, of Guttenberg, IA, died Saturday, January 25, 2020 at the Guttenberg Municipal Hospital following a brief illness. She was born in Clermont, IA on March 27, 1926, to Cornelius and Winnifred (Connor) Olson. She graduated from Clermont High School in 1943 and then went on to graduate from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, IA.

On November 7, 1947 Barnabetta married Laird Cline at the Church of our Savior, Episcopal in Clermont. To this union they were blessed with three children; D’Ana, Tracey, and Shane.

Doris Rademaker

Doris Rademaker, 93, of West Union, Iowa died Sunday, January 19, 2020 at Maple Crest Manor in Fauette, Iowa. Doris Jean Rademaker was born on May 20, 1926 in Oelwein, Iowa.  She was the daughter of Earl and Norma Butler, both long-time residents of Oelwein. Doris attended school in Oelwein and graduated from Oelwein High School. 

In 1949, while working at the Oelwein Daily Register, she met Adrian “Abe” Rademaker at a dance and they were married on November 26, 1950. Abe and Doris were life-long companions and celebrated their 50^th Wedding Anniversary in 2000. Although Abe passed away in 2001, their love has endured. 

Abe and Doris resided in Maynard until 1956 with the first two of their four children, daughter, Becky born January 3, 1952 and son, Doug, born April 24, 1954.

Shirley Biermann

Shirley Biermann, 91, of West Union, Iowa died Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at her daughter’s home in West Union, Iowa.  She was born February 5, 1928 to Otis Chicken and Mabel Weston in West Union. Shirley graduated from West Union High School.

Shirley was united in marriage with Harlan Biermann on June 14, 1947 in West Union. Three children were born to this union. Shirley was a homemaker and also helped her husband as a bookkeeper at Biermann Plumbing and Heating in West Union. She was a member of Bethel Presbyterian Church. Her hobbies included sewing, cooking, golfing, bridge club and playing cards. Shirley enjoyed her time spent at the cabin in Harpers Ferry.