Obituaries
Robert William Slezak
Robert William Slezak was no ordinary man, so his obituary cannot be your typical death notice. He was a superhero and all-round awesome human being. He was a wonderful dad, a fun-loving friend, and a great companion to his partners. A celebration of Robert’s life will be held in the spring.During the last decade of his life, Robert was the volunteer store manager for Thrift Smart where he raised more than $250,000 for the nonprofit he cherished, Silver Horizons New Mexico. Kathleen “Kate” Ann Cooper
Kathleen “Kate” Ann Cooper, 39, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, January 5, 2025. Memorial services will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at Oakland Church of the Nazarene, Cedar Rapids, with Pastor Michael Perkins officiating. Friends may visit with the family from 9:30 a.m. until time of service, at the church, on Wednesday. Van Steenhuyse-Teahen Funeral Home is caring for Kate and her family. Tom Boeckmann
Tom Boeckmann, 63, of Vinton died on January 1, 2025, of complications from liver cancer.A Celebration of Life will be held at the Vinton Fire Station on Saturday, January 11, 2025, from 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Refreshments will be provided. Private inurnment will be held later at Grace Lutheran Cemetery in Tripoli.Tom was born on April 6, 1961, to Roger and Glenyce (Hartman) Boeckmann and grew up in Tripoli where he graduated high school. Kelsey (Hartkemeyer) Ritscher
Kelsey (Hartkemeyer) Ritscher, 63, of Keystone, passed away on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at her rural Keystone home, surrounded by her loving family.Memorial services will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, January 11, 2025 at St. John Lutheran Church in Keystone, with Pastor Josiah Schultz officiating. Interment will be held at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, in Blairstown followed by a reception at the church. Irvin J. “Irk” Junge
Irvin J. “Irk” Junge, 99, died Sunday, January 5, 2025, at the Keystone Nursing Care Center in Keystone following an extended illness. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 10, 2025, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Van Horne, with Father Jacob Dunne as celebrant. Interment will be held at the Keystone Cemetery, with graveside military rites conducted by the Merkel-Bockholt American Legion Post #107, and Iowa Military Honors. Lynn M. Boddicker
Lynn M. Boddicker, age 60, passed away on December 17, 2024.Lynn was born February 1, 1964, in Vinton, Iowa, the son of Alfred and Maryann Boddicker. Following high school graduation, Lynn served his country in the United States Air Force.Lynn resided in Marion, Iowa his entire life. He was employed by FBG Facility Services where he was a dedicated employee and considered family by all who knew him. Malcolm George Risk
Malcolm George Risk, 87 years old, of Sun Lakes Ariz., and formerly of Independence, Iowa, died Sunday, December 29, 2024, at home in Sun Lakes.Memorial Services will be at a later date with burial in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Independence.Malcolm was born November 6, 1937, in Independence, the son of Donald Risk and Lydia (Biedermann) Risk. He grew up in Independence and graduated from Independence High School with the class of 1956. Fred G. Thompson II
Fred G. Thompson II, 81, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died Saturday, January 4, 2025. A visitation will be held from 4 - 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Cedar Rapids. A memorial service will take place at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at the funeral home. Inurnment with full military honors will follow at the Linwood Cemetery Mausoleum in Cedar Rapids. Karen K. (Flickinger) Hagen
Karen K. (Flickinger) Hagen, age 86, died Thursday, January 2, 2025 at Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton.Memorial services will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, with Rev. Stephen Preus officiating. Interment will be held at Evergreen Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be held from 9:00 until 10:45 AM on Tuesday, also at the church. Dale Frank Sutton
Dale Frank Sutton, 92, of Vinton, passed away peacefully Sunday, December 29, 2024, at the Lutheran Living Community in Vinton. Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, January 2, 2025 at Wesley United Methodist Church, Vinton, with Rev. Brian Channel officiating. Friends may visit with the family from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., at the church, on Thursday.