Obituaries

JoAnne Blattler Levenhagen, age 95, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 9, 2019, at her home in the Meth-Wick Community.Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM, Friday, December 13, 2019, at the Phillips Funeral Home Chapel (212 E. 6th Street) in Vinton.  Interment will be held at Oakwood Cemetery in Shellsburg.  Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM until service time on Friday at the funeral home.

Kimberley Anne Swore, 50, of Center Point, Iowa, was tragically taken from her family and friends on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019.Kim was born on Oct. 1, 1969, and is survived by her son, Jackson Jerimiah Greenhaw, Center Point, Iowa; the love of her life, Jack Greenhaw, Vinton, Iowa; nephew, Nathan Lovell; parents, Ruby Long, Monticello, Iowa, and Jerry (Beverly) Swore, Boone, Iowa; siblings: Mark (Valinh) and children, Ryker and Alexander, Altoona, Iowa; Jennifer (Jason) Brandt and children, Stefon (daughter, Mahra), Kyleigh, Sierra, Morgan and Savannah, Alburnett, Iowa; Tina (George) Milburn and children, Kelsie (Kaleb) Wills and Haley (Trent), Boone, Iowa; Teri Hermann and children, Chantalle (Jason) Noelck and Caden, Boone, Iowa; Tami (Bob) Baker and children, Rachel (Josh) Witkop, Ella and Rowan, Albany, N.

Joyce Marie Pollock, 84, died Saturday, December 7, 2019.  She was a longtime resident at Windsor Manor in Vinton.A private memorial service will be held at a later date.Joyce was born on January 1, 1935, the daughter of Howard and Ruth (Welton) Hagan in Shellsburg, Iowa. She married Tom C. Lynch in November, 1951 and they had four children.

Norman Dave Thiessen, age 85, died December 6, 2019, at St. Luke’s Hospital, from an apparent heart attack.Funeral services will be held at 1:30 PM, Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Atkins with Rev. Douglas Woltemath officiating.  Interment will be held at St. Stephen’s Cemetery, rural Atkins.  Visitation will be held from 4:00 until 7:00 PM Tuesday also at the St.

Richard “Dick” Close, age 73, passed away early Wednesday morning, December 4, 2019, at the V.A. Medical Center in Iowa City, IA. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 9, 2019, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown with full military honors. Burial will follow in the Littleton Cemetery, Littleton, IA at 3pm Monday.

Benny Duffer, 63, died Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at his home in Vinton following a lengthy battle with cancer.A celebration of Benny’s life will be held from 1 to 4 pm, Saturday, December 14, 2019, at the Vinton American Legion Hall.Benny Dewayne Duffer was born March 18, 1956 in Hendersonville, TN, the son of Ben and Lillie Jones Duffer. After graduating from high school, Benny attended college for a time but his passion was making music and that is the career he pursued.

Delores Lucille (Kramer) Glass, age 95, passed away peacefully at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha on Tuesday, December 3, 2019.Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, December 7, 2019, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Vinton with Fr. Jim Brokman as celebrant.  Interment will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton.

Lori (Engelking) Vest, age 56, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Monday, December 2, 2019, at her home in rural Garrison.Visitation will be held from 2:00 until 5:00 PM, Saturday at the Phillips Funeral Home in Keystone.  A memorial service will follow at 5:00 PM with Chaplain Darren Whiting officiating.  A memorial fund has been established.

Ronald Bower Smalley, 82, of Vinton, passed away Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, at Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton. Per his wishes, he was cremated. There will be no services. Iowa Cremation was entrusted with the arrangements.He is survived by his loving wife, Carolyn; his two sons, Jeff (Teresa) Smalleyand Brett (Mindy) Smalley; two grandchildren, Matthew (Elaina) Smalley and Mindy (Matt) Thornton; and threegreat-grandchildren, Vincent Smalley and Jensen and Jemma Thornton.

Baylee N. Hess, age 26, of Missouri City, Texas and formerly of La Porte City, died Saturday, November 30, 2019 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident south of Van Horne.She was born September 28, 1993 in Waterloo, the daughter of Todd and Dawn (Pullin) Hess.  Baylee graduated from Union High School in 2012 and attended Hawkeye Community College and Kaplan College.