Obituaries

Following a prolonged illness, Linda Cole, 78, passed away Sunday, January 14, 2024, at the Hiawatha Care Center. Graveside service and Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Van Steenhuyse-Teahen Funeral Home is serving the family. Linda was born September 22, 1945, in Vinton, the only child of Lloyd “Tag” and Geraldine “Jeri” (Bassett) Lyons.

Velma Mae Stone LeClere Jensen, 100, of Coggon, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester, Iowa. A celebration of Velma’s life will be held later in the Spring, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Central City, where the family will greet friends from 10 a.

Reverend Dan L. Merchant passed away peacefully on the afternoon of January 10, 2024, after a long battle with Parkinson's.A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 15, 2023, at Memorial Services of Iowa (4208 N. Ankeny Blvd) with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. A graveside service will take place at 3:00 p.m. at Garrison Cemetery in Garrison, Iowa.

Jo Anne Lee Heckroth, 79, of La Porte City, passed away peacefully Thursday, January 11, 2024, at her home, surrounded by family. She was born July 7, 1944, in Charles City, the daughter of Glenn and Betty (Aschenbrenner) Lee. She married Donald Heckroth on February 7, 1964.Jo Anne worked as a hairstylist for thirty years, and at GMAC for ten years.

Marvin John Stallman passed away January 6, 2024 at the Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha. Marvin was born May 25, 1941, the 8th child of Louis and Elsie (Frimml) Stallman. Marvin was raised on the family farm. He attended school in Norway, Iowa where he played baseball and basketball.Marvin entered the Air Force on October, 1961 where he served four years.

UPDATED: Elizabeth Marie (Grunewald) Kimm, 76, of Blairstown died of dementia related complications, on December 14, 2023, surrounded by her children and under the care of Advanced Healthcare Hospice in Overland Park, Kansas. A memorial service will be held in June. The church. Arrangements are with Phillips Funeral Home in Blairstown. She is survived by her husband Don Kimm; daughters Cyrena Melich, Jennifer Whelchel, Lisa (Craig) Peterson and son Andrew (Natalie) Whelchel; grandchildren Nick and Sadie Peterson, Vivienne Krebs, Kyle Bos, Aurora and George Whelchel.

Joel A. Jeffries Joel A. Jeffries, 68, of Chicago, IL passed away on Dec 28, 2023 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. Joel was born on Feb 12, 1955 to Jack and Ruth Jeffries in Carroll, IA.  They relocated in Vinton and Joel graduated from the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School in 1973.  He then attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids graduating in 1977.

Gail Vititoe, 69, of Belle Plaine, Iowa, died Tuesday, January 9, 2024. Private services have been held. Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, assisted the family.Gail was born May 11, 1954, in Indianapolis, Indiana, the daughter of Lonnie and Dorothy (Donahue) Temple. She was united in marriage to G.F. Spears, who became her longtime love, companion, and father to her children.

Updated: Joan Lindahl, 92, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 28, 2023, at Virginia Gay Hospital, Vinton. Memorial service will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 10th, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Vinton, with Pastor Anne Williams as officiant. Friends may visit with the family from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m., Saturday at the church. A luncheon will follow in the church hall.

Randy P. Primmer-Farber, age 67, passed away on Friday, January 5, 2024, at University Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.A private family graveside service will be held at Bear Creek Cemetery near Vinton.Randy was born on September 2, 1956, in Vinton.  Randy and Robert Farber began their 41-year relationship in 1982.  Randy and Bob were united in marriage on February 14, 2013, in Waterloo.