Elliott Olson

Elliott Melvin Olson age 84, of Clermont, Iowa passed away peacefully in his sleep on November 29, 2023.  

John Yauslin

John Irwin Yauslin, 88, of Clermont, Iowa passed away Monday, November 20, 2023 surrounded by his children at Stoney Brook Village, West Union, Iowa. John, the son of Byron and Ruby (Hader) Yauslin, was born October 4, 1935 at home in Clermont, Iowa. John graduated from Valley High School in 1953. During high school he worked as a farm hand for farmers in the Clermont area. He worked at the Clermont Pin Factory for a short time and retired after 40 years as a mechanic at Wilbur Ford Sales in West Union, Iowa.

John was united in marriage with Janice Larson on September 25, 1955 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. To this union four children were born, Janann, Jeffrey, Jamey and Jerry.

Jerry Robbins

Jerry Vernon Robbins, 64 of Elgin, Iowa passed away Friday, November 3, 2023 at WinnMed in Decorah, Iowa. Jerry was born July 23, 1959 to Charles and Laverne (Stock) Robbins in McGregor, Iowa. He graduated from Central High School in Elkader, Iowa with the Class of 1977.

Throughout the years, Jerry worked sanitation in Volga City, worked odd jobs in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and most currently did a paper route in the Elgin and Clermont area for the Cedar Rapids Gazette. Jerry was an avid sports watcher and was a huge fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds.

Surviving Jerry are his siblings, Blanche (Bruce) Kraus of Arlington, Iowa and Larry Robbins of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; many nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Vivian Hemesath

Vivian Catherine (Bodensteiner) Hemesath, 89, of Ossian, IA, peacefully passed in the morning hours of November 13, 2023. Vivian was born on July 10, 1934, to parents John S. Bodensteiner and Katherine "Rena" A. (Meinert) Bodensteiner of St. Lucas, IA. Vivian graduated from St. Luke's High School in 1952 and married Francis J. Hemesath on August 30, 1955. A woman of remarkable resilience and spirit, her life was the embodiment of dedication and love for her family. Her intelligence, kind heart and wit, led her to bring joy and laughter to those around her, even in her final days. Vivian's love, wisdom and cherished memories will forever be remembered and live on through her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

The family would like to give a special thank you to the staff at Ovation Heartwood Preserve, whose amazing love, care and attention allowed Vivian to live her last days with joy, compassion and dignity. 

James "Jim" Frey

James “Jim” Ray Frey, 78, was ushered to heaven by his wife, his children, and all his grandchildren, who were by his side on Friday, November 10, 2023, at St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester, MN.  

Celebration of life services will be held Saturday, November 18, at 10:30 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in West Union. Burial will be at the West Union cemetery followed by lunch. Visitation will be on Friday, November 17 from 4-7 p.m. at Burnham-Wood Grau Funeral Home in West Union, and one hour before the service. 

Throughout Jim’s illness and the challenging side effects of treatment, he expressed his resilient spirit with the words, "When the Lord calls me home, I am going to go, but until then I'm going to fight like hell"—and that he did. His words reflected his strength and determination as he faced the fight for his life with courage and tenacity until his last moments.

Jane Whipple

Jane K. Whipple was called to Heaven on November 7, 2023.  Per her wishes, there will be no visitation and a private service will be held at the Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes & Crematory. Burial will be in Clinton Lawn Cemetery next to her husband. Online condolences may be expressed by visiting her obituary at www.snellzornig.com.

Lois Erickson

Lois A. Erickson, 95, formerly of Wadena, Iowa, died Monday morning, November 6, 2023, at the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester, Iowa. Lois had been a resident at Good Neighbor Home in Manchester, since January 2019, with the first 14 months in Marietta’s Place, the memory care unit at Good Neighbor.  

Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 a.m.. Friday, November 10, 2023, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Strawberry Point, Iowa, with Rev. John Haugen officiating.

The Mass was livestreamed at www.vibrantcatholic.com

Visitation: 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, November 9, 2023, at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Arlington, Iowa and for one hour before the service at the church on Friday.

Rosary Service: 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Parish Scripture Service: 7:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Interment:  St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Wadena, Iowa.

Marilyn Shaffer

Marilyn M. Shaffer, 87, of Arlington, Iowa, died on Saturday morning, November 11, 2023, at Maple Crest Manor, Fayette. Funeral Service:  10:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at St. John Lutheran Church, with Rev. Margaret Yackel-Juleen officiating. Visitation: 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home, Arlington and for one hour before the service at the church on Wednesday. Interment:  Taylorsville Cemetery, Arlington, Iowa. Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com