Obituaries
Helen Higgins
Helen B. Higgins, 80, of Belle Plaine, IA passed away after a courageous battle with cancer, September 30, 2021 at her home surrounded by family.Helen Belle (Waterbury) Higgins was born on Oct 26th, 1940 to Henry and Edna (Grimm) Waterbury. Helen attended Manilla High School, when she graduated with the class of 1958. She was active in basketball and softball, rumor has it she was the “best” guard of her era. Lois Helena (Junge) Schlotterbeck
Lois Helena (Junge) Schlotterbeck, age 97, passed away on Thursday September 30, 2021, at the Keystone Nursing Care Center with her family at her side.Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Sunday, October 3, 2021, at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Van Horne with Rev. B. Andrew Wright officiating. Interment will be held at the Keystone Cemetery. James Smith
James Smith, 85, of Vinton, Iowa, passed away peacefully at his home following a long-term illness. Private family graveside services will be held at Linwood Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service assisted the family.James was born Feb. 15, 1936, in Hot Springs, Ark., the son of Vernon and Ellen (Prier) Smith. He graduated from high school in Vancouver, Wash. Wanda Lorene (Thordsen) Nielsen McNitt
Wanda Lorene (Thordsen) Nielsen McNitt, 90, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 25, 2021, at Virginia Gay Nursing and Rehab following a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease.A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 8, 2021 at the First Christian Church in Vinton with Pastor Richard Jumper officiating. Visitation will be 10:00 a. Junior Ray Phelps
Junior Ray Phelps, 85, died peacefully Friday, September 24, 2021, at the Sunnycrest Nursing Center in Dysart, Iowa.Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 1, 2021, at Van Steenhuyse-Teahen Funeral Home in Vinton with Rev. Matt Hantz officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to the service. Burial will follow at the Mt. Judy Ann (Meyer) Pieper
Judy Ann (Meyer) Pieper, age 68, passed away on Friday, September 24, 2021, at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City after a courageous battle with cancer and with her loving family at her side.A memorial visitation will be held from 3:00 until 6:00 PM on the 29th day of September 2021 at Phillips Funeral Home in Keystone. Edward (Ed) Rudnick
Edward (Ed) Rudnick, age 57, left this Earthly life to be with The Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, September 23, 2021, following a short illness.Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, September 30, 2021, at Philips Funeral Home Chapel (212 E. 6th Street) in Vinton. His life will be honored with a luncheon and Celebration of Life following services at Riverside Park in Vinton. Helen Evelyn Dixon
Helen Evelyn Dixon, 83, of Belle Plaine, IA passed away September 24, 2021 at her home.Helen was born October 13, 1937 to Huran and Aida (Pritchett) Bray in Missouri. She attended school in Missouri before moving with her family to Iowa where she met Lawrence Richard Dixon. After the couple married in 1958, they moved around Tama and Benton County. Settling in Belle Plaine, following retirement. Lorraine Julia Musel
Lorraine Julia Musel, 95, of Chelsea, Iowa passed away Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at Keystone Care Center, Keystone, IA.Lorraine was born November 16, 1925 to Charles and Julia (Kozik) Kalina on the family farm in Irving, IA. She graduated from Belle Plaine High School. Following school, she worked as a bookkeeper for Anthony's clothing store in Belle Plaine. Gerald 'Jerry' Allen Schlemmer
Gerald "Jerry" Allen Schlemmer, 42, of Urbana, died on Saturday, September 18, 2021. Celebration of Life gathering will be from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 3, at the Five River Carpenter JATC, 350 Waconia Ct. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404. Brosh Chapel and The Avacentre in Cedar Rapids is assisting the family.Jerry was born June 30, 1979, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Earnest and Linda (Bouzek) Schlemmer Jr.