Obituaries

Kenneth William Karsten

Kenneth William Karsten BLAIRSTOWN:      Kenneth William Karsten, 85, went peacefully to be with his Lord with his family at his side on Friday, February 20, 2015 at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids.          Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at Grace Lutheran Church in Blairstown with Rev.

Diane Allyn 'Dee Dee' Himmelsbach

Dee Dee Himmelsbach CEDAR RAPIDS:      Diane "Dee Dee" Allyn Himmelsbach of Urbana and formerly of Cedar Rapids passed away Wednesday, February 18, 2015 at Dennis & Donna Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha.      A Celebration Of Life will be held, Saturday, March 7, 2015 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Gilligan's Pub, 912 1st Ave NW in Cedar Rapids.

Jill g. Lockard-Bopp

Jill g. Lockard-Bopp Jill g. Lockard-Bopp passed away in the early morning on February 16, 2015 after a long illness.  Memorial Services will be held at 10:30 AM, Thursday, February 19, 2015 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Vinton with Rev. Dr. Judith Bunyi officiating.  Phillips Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Jill was born August 14, 1955 at Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton to Homer and Maxine Kaiser Lockard.

Ima Jean Smalley

Ima Jean Smalley, nee Franklin, was born on November 10, 1924 in Traer, Iowa, to Glen and Leola (Finch) Franklin. She passed away on February 15th, 2015, at the age of 90. Visitation will take place at the Ray House on Saturday , February 21, 2015, from 9 to 11 am, Followed by a private family service. Ima Jean’s grandfather was an orchestra conductor in Traer, Iowa and instilled in her a strong love of music.

Neoma Newton

BLAIRSTOWN: Neoma M. Niebuhr Newton, 103, entered into eternal rest February 11,2015 at Countryside Senior Living in Sioux City under the caring hand of her daughter, Donna Lahn. Funeral Services will be held 10:30 a.m., Monday, February 16,2015 at Grace Lutheran Church in Blairstown with Rev. David Rempfer officiating. Interment will be held at 2:00 p.

Raymond A. Williams

NEWHALL:       Raymond A. Williams, 99, died Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at St. Lukes Hospital in Cedar Rapids.      Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at St. John Lutheran Church in Newhall with Rev. Steven Rempfer officiating.  Interment will be held at St.

Rita Barron

Rita Barron VINTON – Rita Walsh Barron, 84, died Wednesday, February 4, 2015, at Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton following a brief illness. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 10, 2015, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Vinton with Father Ardel Barta as Celebrant. Visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday, February 9, at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home, with a Vigil Service beginning at 7 p.

F. Richard 'Dick' Conway

KEYSTONE:      F. Richard “Dick” Conway, 88, died Sunday, February 1, 2015 at the Keystone Nursing Care Center.      Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, February 6, 2015 at Phillips Funeral Home in Keystone with Deacon Joseph Behounek officiating. Interment will be held at the Keystone Cemetery with Military Rites conducted by Merkel-Bockholt American Legion Post #107 of Keystone.

Elaine W. Selk Bookmeier

Elaine Bookmeier VINTON – Elaine Wilma Selk Bookmeier, 82, a resident of the Vinton Lutheran Home, passed away there Saturday, January 31, 2015. Per Elaine’s request, her body was cremated and private family services will be held. She will be laid to rest in Keystone Cemetery. Elaine was born on November 24, 1932, in Keystone, Iowa, the daughter of Wilhelm and Alice Pohlmann Selk.

Mary Ellen Rosekrans Smith

Mary Ellen Rosekrans Smith Mary Ellen Rosekrans Smith passed away Thursday, January 29th at Virginia Gay Nursing & Rehab in Vinton, Iowa, from complications of Alzheimer’s disease.         Mary was born on April 11, 1934 to Milton and Elsa Kautz Sallee in Des Plaines, Ill. Mary graduated from Washington High School in Vinton in 1952.