Obituaries
Merle Francis Roths
Merle Francis Roths, 97, passed away peacefully Monday, February 8, 2021, at the Vinton Lutheran Home.Graveside services will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton at a later date.Merle was born January 8, 1924, in rural Ionia, Iowa, the son of Alfred M. and Caroline E. Arnhalt Roths. He was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith in Ionia. He graduated from New Hampton High School in 1942. Kathy Rae Walton
Kathy Rae Walton, 65, passed away unexpectedly, in her home, on Saturday, February 6, 2021. Kathy was born December 14, 1955 in San Diego, CA, the daughter of Raymond and Hazel (Becker) Walton. She graduated from Benton Community High School with the class of 1973. On January 6, 1997 she was united in marriage to Mike Cohrt in Cedar Rapids. Shirley Miller
Shirley Miller, 84, died Friday, February 5, 2021, at UIHC, Iowa City, Iowa following a lingering illness.Private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary Catholic Church in Vinton with Father Jim Brokman as Celebrant. Visitation will be held Wednesday, February 10, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home in Vinton. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Vinton. Dale Willard Speckner
Dale Willard Speckner, 93, of Toledo and formerly of Shellsburg, passed away Thursday, February 4, 2021 at the Iowa River Hospice Home in Marshalltown. A Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama with Pastor Steve Brant officiating. A Memorial Visitation will be held Tuesday, February 9, 2021 from 12:30 PM until the time of service. Lenny Gene Cornell
Lenny Gene Cornell, 65, of Shellsburg, Iowa, died Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, at his home. Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, 2021, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids. All guests are respectfully requested to wear a mask and practice social distancing.Lenny was born Dec. 1, 1955, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of Bill and Jocelyn (England) Cornell.
Bob Bearbower
Bob Bearbower, 83, died Wednesday, February 3, 2021, at St Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids following a sudden illness.Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 10, 2021, at the Brandon United Methodist Church with Pastor Luke Evans officiating. Visitation will be held Tuesday, February 9, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home in Vinton and for an hour before services at the church on Wednesday. Laura Mae Kesten Kleckner
Laura Mae Kesten Kleckner, 85 of Osage, Iowa, passed away, Monday, February 1, 2021 at Methodist Hospital in Des Moines.Laura was born August 23, 1935 in Osage, to Leonard Lee and Agnes Laura (Knight) Kesten and was raised on the family farm. In 1940, the family resided north of LeRoy, Minnesota. As Minnesota did not have kindergarten, Laura had to stay home. Dr. H.D. (Dale) Hilmer
Dr. H.D. (Dale) Hilmer, 92, passed away February 2, 2021 at Tanner Hospital, Carrollton Georgia.Harry Dale Hilmer was born on April 30, 1928, to Harry August and Vona Irene (Loveless) Hilmer of Bruce, Iowa. He was a 1946 graduate of Washington High School, Vinton, Iowa. After high school he served in the United States Navy as a hospital corpsman. He was a veteran of World War II. Charles “Chuck” Meredith
Charles “Chuck” Meredith, 89, died peacefully at Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton on Friday, January 29, 2021 of natural causes.A celebration of Chuck’s life will be held at a later date.Charles Leon Meredith was born August 25, 1931 in Anamosa, IA, the son of Leon Charles and Vera Seely Meredith. His parents moved to Vinton and Chuck graduated from Lincoln High School in 1950. John Walter Heineman
John Walter Heineman, 80, passed away on Saturday, January 30, 2021 at Unity Point St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids.Memorial services will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, February 6, 2021 at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Garrison with Rev. Stephen Preus officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:30 AMuntil service time on Saturday at the church.