Sharon Krech

Judith Loftsgard

Judith A Loftsgard, born January 14, 1941 to Glenn and Betty(Wood) Nims, peacefully passed away on August 30th 2023 at her home after a long illness.  She is survived by her husband of 65 years Ronald E. Loftsgard, her son Drew A. Loftsgard (Kristin); sisters Shelvy Schott (Willie), Phyllis Howard (Jerry) Grandchildren Michael (Meca) Loftsgard, Kaylee Lau, Shaun Lau, Timothy (Krissy)Brainard, Ashley (James) Briggs, Abbey White, Cassidi Curry, Morgan Robinson and Nick (Taylor) Robinson and many many great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her daughter, Debra A. Loftsgard and her son David E.Loftsgard as well as her parents Glenn and Betty Nims.

Judy was a jack of all trades, master of many. She wore many hats. Daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, welder,  maintenance technician and she mastered them all with love and intent.

Alice Boyer

Alice Lorraine Boyer, 89, of Oelwein, Iowa died Friday, September 15, 2023 at Aase Haugen Senior Services, Decorah, Iowa. She was born April 29, 2023 to Vern and Anna (Miller) Boyer in Brainard, Iowa. She graduated from Elgin High School, Elgin, Iowa in 1952. She received her LPN from Area One College, Calmar in 1962 and her RN from Allen College, Waterloo in 1972.

Alice was a nurse for more than forty years at Mercy Hospital in Oelwein and Palmer Lutheran Hospital in West Union until she retired. She was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church in West Union where she was very active being a Sunday school teacher and running the youth programs. She was a true woman of faith. Alice belonged to Doll Club, collecting dolls. She loved dogs, flower gardening, entering flowers at the fair, bowling league for years, travelling and playing autoharp.

Sharon Ann Krech

Darwin "Beezer" Conner

Darwin "Beezer" Conner, 72, of Fayette, died Saturday evening, September 9, 2023, at Maple Crest Manor in Fayette.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, September 16, 2023, at Becker & Son Funeral Home in Fayette. Visitation will precede services at the funeral home on Saturday starting at 11:00 a.m. Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com.

Darwin Eugene, son of Raymond and Marjorie (Shepard) Conner was born October 18, 1950, at the hospital in West Union. He received his education in the Fayette Schools, graduating in 1968. Beezer worked for Pattison Sand Company in Fayette for many years and Profile Boat in Sumner, where he retired. He enjoyed mushroom hunting, buying old cars (fixing them up and selling), and was an excellent mechanic (was always tinkering on something).

James Fitzgerald

     James Patrick (Pat) Fitzgerald, 87, of Elkader, IA, passed away on August 29, 2023, at the Strawberry Point Lutheran Home in Strawberry Point, Pat was born on October 25, 1935, in Elma, IA, the son of James and Mabel (Carroll) Fitzgerald.

     Pat was raised on the family farm and attended Immaculate Conception High School in Elma, graduating on May 15, 1954. After graduation, he helped on the family farm and volunteered for the draft in September 1954. He was deployed in November 1954, and spent time in Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Fort Riley, Kansas, when he was honorably discharged in August 1956.  In 2012, he was honored to be a guest on an Honor Flight from Dubuque to Washington, D.C., which he enjoyed. He received his Quilt of Valor in November 2018.

Marilyn Jorgenson

Marilyn Julia Jorgenson, 90, passed away peacefully, Sunday, August 27, 2023, at her daughter’s home in Cumming, Georgia, following a period of declining health. Over this past year, as a “Southern Lady”, she became an Atlanta Braves fan (especially Riley), ate boiled peanuts, enjoyed sunning out back watching the golfers on the 15th hole, grew to understand most southern accents, enjoyed visiting with her many southern friends, old and new, and the numerous visits from all her children, spouses, and grandchildren, much to Lynda’s delight. 

Loretta Wiehr

Canton, North Carolina - Loretta Wiehr was 94 years old when she passed away on the evening of the blue moon on August 31, 2023 in her sleep.  

Loretta was born July 10, 1929, on a farm 3 1/2 miles NE of West Union, Iowa near Dutton’s Cave where as a child she would walk the cows to pasture.  She is preceded in death by her parents W.F. and Hulda Mittelstadt, sisters Wilma (3 years old) and Ruth (9 years old), step-sister Laura, step-brother-in-law, I.M Westendorf and husband, Ralph H. Wiehr.  

Leaving behind to mourn her are her only daughter, Colleen Foxwell and husband, Allan, of Amery, Wisconsin; granddaughters, Michaela Gifford of Menomonie, Wisconsin and Michelle Brown of Asheville, North Carolina; great grandsons, Elijah Stuart, of Menomonie Wisconsin and Ellis and Barrett Brown of Asheville, North Carolina; and sister, Sophie Bell of LaCrosse, Wisconsin. 

Luella Stolka

Luella A. Stolka, 95, of Wadena, Iowa, died Monday morning, September 4, 2023, surrounded by family, at her home. Mass of Christian Burial was 10:30 a.m. Monday, September 11, 2023, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Volga, Iowa, with Rev. John Haugen officiating. Visitation was 3:00 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, September 10, 2023, at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Arlington and for one hour before the service at the church on Monday. Parish Scripture Service: 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Private Family Interment was at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery in Fairbank, Iowa.

Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com

Dean Johnson

Dean Clarence Johnson, 70 of Clermont, Iowa passed away Monday, September 4, 2023 at Maple Crest Manor in Fayette, Iowa. Dean was born February 18, 1953 at the Winneshiek County Hospital in Decorah, the son of Clarence and Gladys (Peterson) Johnson.  He was baptized and confirmed at West Clermont Lutheran Church in Clermont, Iowa. Dean attended Valley Community School in Clermont, Iowa and graduated in 1972. Dean proudly joined and served in the United States Army from 1972 to 1978.

On January 24, 1981, Dean was united in marriage with Bonnie Schulor at West Clermont Lutheran Church in Clermont, Iowa. He was raised and lived his life in Clermont, Iowa. Dean drove semi for Warren Transportation for over thirty-nine years before retiring in 2019. In his spare time, Dean enjoyed trout fishing, listening to music and traveling to all 48 states and Canada.