Obituaries
Louis M. Winslow
Louis M. Winslow, age 97, of Belle Plaine, Iowa, went to be with his Lord on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. Louis, the son of Melvin Winslow and Abigail McLennan Winslow, was born January 5, 1926 at the farm home of his parents near Belle Plaine. He attended Walnut Creek/Jefferson No.1 School in Poweshiek County through the eighth grade and graduated from Belle Plaine High School in 1943. Thomas Keir Schmuecker
Thomas Keir Schmuecker, 89, passed away on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Tom was born on August 28, 1933, in Blairstown, Iowa, to Ervin and Hazel Keir Schmuecker. He graduated from high school and went on to earn a business degree from the University of Iowa in 1961. He married Shirley Light in 1959 in Iowa and ran the Pinehurst Farms with his brother and father through the 1960's. Michael A. Schmitz
Michael A. Schmitz, 72, a “Benton County Farm Kid” at heart, and resident of Cedar Rapids, began his eternal rest on March 13, 2023.Mike was born on Feb. 9, 1951, to Barb (Viktor) and Don Schmitz, and raised on a farm in rural Van Horne, Iowa. Throughout his life, he fondly recalled memories of hunting, fishing and learning to become a “jack of all trades” from his grandpa Tony (A. George L. Grovert
George L. Grovert, 81, passed away peacefully at home on March 15th, 2023.The visitation will be Sunday, March 19th from 2-5 PM at Trinity Lutheran Church, Vinton. A funeral service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church on Monday, March 20th at 11:00 AM with Rev. Stephen Preus officiating. A lunch will be served after the service. Jean Peterson
Jean Peterson, 93, died peacefully Monday, February 20, 2023 at Virginia Gay Nursing and Rehab, Vinton, surrounded by her loving family. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 17, 2023 at Wesley United Methodist Church, Vinton, with Pastor Brian Channel officiating. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:00 a. James W (Jim, Jimmy) Albert
James W (Jim, Jimmy) Albert, 71, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2023 at home in Cedar Rapids surrounded by family after a long, hard fought battle with cancer. A celebration of life will be planned for this summer. Jim is survived by his wife Melissa, son Ryan (Chelsea) of Hawaii, stepson Trent of Oregon, grandchildren Stone, Halia, Holland and Sienna, brother Dan (Nancy) of Vinton, sister Ann Claude (Darwin) of Illinois, stepmom Dorothy Bliss Albert of Vinton, nieces, nephew, and many other close family and friends. Masa J. (Hatch) Bunting
Masa J. (Hatch) Bunting, 88, of Marion, Iowa, passed away on Friday, March 10, 2023, at The Good Samaritan Home in Waukon. Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 18, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion, with visitation beginning one hour prior. Burial will follow at Oak Shade Cemetery in Marion. Masa was born on Oct. Byron Frederick Holst
Byron Frederick Holst, 85, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023.Byron was born on March 24, 1937, to Alfred and Stella Holst in Keystone, Iowa, the third of six children. He graduated from high school in Keystone in 1955.Growing up, Byron’s passions were basketball, cruising the Avenue in Cedar Rapids in his ’56 turquoise and white, 2-door hardtop Ford and life on the farm. Thomas F. Ritter
Thomas F. Ritter, 77, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa (formerly of Belle Plaine, Iowa) passed away March 3, 2023, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.Tom was born March 21, 1945, to Lester Ritter and Norma (Robert) Coulter in Waverly, Iowa. He graduated from Maquoketa Valley High School in Delhi. Following school, he worked for the Manchester lumber yard. Richard Charles Metz
Richard Charles Metz, 82, of Marion, passed away peacefully Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, at Oldorf Hospice House Mercy, from Lewy Body Dementia. Celebration of Life: 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 18, at American Legion, 625 31st St., Marion. Burial: a later date at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, with military honors. Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services of Cedar Rapids are caring for Richard’s family.