Obituaries
Brett Bryan Opperman "Mr. B"
Brett Bryan Opperman "Mr. B", 62, of Shellsburg, IA passed away on December 12, 2023 surrounded by loved ones. Brett will be laid to rest in RestHaven located in the Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. He is survived by his partner Lila; 6 beloved fur babies; his daughters, Jennifer & Kate; son, Bryan; his siblings, Kenton, John, Greg & Laura; and his grandchildren & great grandchildren. Barbara "Barb" Valenti
Barbara "Barb" Valenti, 83, of La Porte City, Iowa, passed away on Friday, December 15, 2023 at Mercy One Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo, Iowa.Following Barbs wishes, cremation rites have been accorded and her family will be hosting a public graveside service at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 6, 2024 at the Westview Cemetery located at 123 Palmer Drive, La Porte City, IA 50651. Robert James Kabela
Robert James Kabela, 89, of Solon, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023, at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. A celebration of life gathering will be from 1:30-4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, at Palmer House Stable, 200 East Main Street in Solon. A brief service will begin at 1:30 p.m., followed by a dessert reception. The private family inurnment at Oakland Cemetery will follow the reception. Lary Allan Smith
Lary Allan Smith passed away in his sleep, at home in Vinton, IA on Saturday, December 16th, 2023. As per Lary’s wishes, there will be no service at this time.Lary was born in Cedar Rapids on July 6, 1946 to Milford E. Smith and Dolores J. (Nemecek) Smith. As a young man Lary enjoyed hunting and fishing with his father and Uncle Orville. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, Cedar Rapids, in 1964. Ronald M. Burroughs
Ronald M. Burroughs, age 84, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 28, 2023, at the Vinton Lutheran Home, with his loving family by his side.Private family interment will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton.Ron was born on July 2, 1939, at his grandparents’ home in Benton County, the son of Manfurd and Ada (Young) Burroughs. He graduated from Vinton High School with the class of 1958. Paula Tharp
Paula Tharp, 71, passed away peacefully Sunday, December 31, 2023, at Mercy Hospital, Cedar Rapids. Visitation will be 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, January 5, at Van Steenhuyse-Teahen Funeral Home, Vinton. Celebration of Life and burial will be held at a later date.Paula was born December 7, 1952, in Vinton, the daughter of Carl and Lois (Vogt) Tharp. Marsha R. Morrow
Marsha Renée Morrow, 53, of Belle Plaine, IA passed away Tuesday, December 26, 2023 surrounded by family, following a courageous four-year battle with cancer.She was born August 6, 1970 to Steve and Karen (Dickey) Furlong in Columbia, Missouri. After moving to Belle Plaine with her family at a young age, she graduated from Belle Plaine High School, class of 1988. Paulette Marie Avis
"Fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church”, surrounded by her loving family, Paulette Marie Avis passed away Sunday, December 24, 2023 after a brave 17 year battle with cancer. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, December 30, 2023 at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Urbana, with Rev. John Murray Kulhavy
John Murray Kulhavy, age 74, died Sunday, December 24, 2023 at the Vinton Lutheran Home.Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, January 3, 2023 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Vinton, with Rev. Brian Channel officiating. Interment will be held at the Brandon Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9:30 AM until service time, also at the church on Wednesday. Duane I. Kruse
Duane I. Kruse, 82, of Dubuque, died Friday, December 22, 2023, at the Unity Point Health-Finley Hospital in Dubuque.Visitation will be from 12:00 pm until 1:45 pm on Thursday, December 28, 2023 at Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home & Crematory, 3860 Asbury Road, Dubuque, IA 52002.The Funeral Service for Duane will be at 2:00 pm Thursday, December 28, 2023, at Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home & Crematory.