Obituaries
Sharon Kay Schneekloth
Sharon Kay Schneekloth, 80, passed away peacefully on May 1, 2023, at her home in Wheat Ridge, Colo. Sharon was born on Aug. 6, 1942, in Vinton, Iowa, to Eber “Shorty” and Evelyn (Nelson) Phelps.Sharon was a graduate of Urbana High School in Iowa. She married Gary Lee Schneekloth on Nov. 9, 1963, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She worked as an executive secretary at Corn Sweeteners in Cedar Rapids, Breaker Confections (Div. Melvin Hurst Jr.
Melvin Hurst Jr., 69, of Vinton, passed away at Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids on Saturday, May 13, 2023 following a courageous battle with cancer. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, May 19 at St. Mary Catholic Church, Vinton, with Father Jim Brokman as Celebrant. A Rosary will be recited at 4:00 p.m. Thursday, May 18 at the church. Tony R. Smith
Tony R. Smith, age 82, passed away on Friday, December 23, 2022, at his home in Atkins.Memorial services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, May 20, 2023, at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, with Rev. Douglas Woltemath officiating. The family will greet friends from 9:30 AM until service time at the church. Interment with graveside military rites will be held at St. James “Jim” Arvin Raymond
James “Jim” Arvin Raymond, 68, of Waterloo, died Thursday, May 11, 2023, at home surrounded by his loving family and friends. He was born September 7, 1954, in Waterloo, the son of Robert and Mary Tragord Raymond. Jim graduated from West High School in 1972 and worked for John Deere from 1972 until his retirement in 2014. Even as a young man, Jim demonstrated thoughtfulness to other people above himself. Macy Ann Bridgewater
Macy Ann Bridgewater, 92, of Des Moines, Iowa, died peacefully on May 8, 2023. She was born on Sept. 26, 1930, to Orville and Lecie Hall. She married Ralph Bridgewater on Oct. 9, 1948, and spent the rest of her life with the man of her dreams. She loved being outside, milking cows, mowing lawn or traveling cross country in an 18-wheeler with Ralph. She also enjoyed working at Benton Community Schools as the Transportation Secretary. Rebecca "Becky" S. Runyan
Rebecca "Becky" S. Runyan, 74, of La Porte City, died May 10, 2023, at UnityPoint Health Allen Hospital from complications associated with frontotemporal dementia (FTD).She was born August 15, 1948, in Cedar Falls, the daughter of Lester Jr. and Olive (Regan) Hambly. She graduated with the Cedar Falls High School class of 1968 and gave birth to her daughter in 1973. Russell James Roepke
Russell James Roepke, 65, of La Porte City, Iowa, died at his home on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, after a short Illness.Russ was born October 1, 1957, in Hazleton, Iowa, the son of Jim and Shirlee Bantz Roepke. He served in the United States Navy from 1975 to 1978, receiving an honorable discharge.He married Janet Cornelison on March 3, 2003, in Waterloo, Iowa. Helen R. McElroy
Helen R. McElroy, 91, of Urbana, died Sunday, May 7, 2023, in Westlake, Ohio.She was born August 18, 1931 in Raymond, the daughter of Richard "Dick" and Mabel Brown Stocks.Helen graduated from Waterloo East High with the class of 1949.She married Harold McElroy on March 3, 1956 in Waterloo; he preceded her in death on September 4, 2009.She had worked at Wonder Bread as a bread slicer until 1987. Jerry S. Appleton
Jerry S. Appleton, 73, of Fairfax, Iowa, died Monday, May 8, 2023, at West Ridge Care Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The family will greet guests from 9 to 11 a.m. June 2, 2023, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Cedar Rapids. A memorial service with military honors will immediately follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. A reception in Jerry’s honor will follow at The Legacy Center at Murdoch-Linwood. Mark Seaton
Mark Seaton, 92, of Vinton, passed away peacefully, with Iowa by his side, on Monday, May 8, 2023 at Virginia Gay Hospital. Per Mark’s wishes, there will be no services.Mark was born September 6, 1930 in Marengo, the son of Joseph and Ardis (Simmons) Hadley. He graduated from high school in the Cedar Rapids school district. Mark was united in marriage to Marie Dalecky at the Little Brown Church in Nashua.