Michael Smith

Michael G. Smith, 76, passed away on March 6, 2019, in West Des Moines. He was the son of Donald and Joyce (Stichler) Smith of Fayette, IA. 

Mike is survived by his wife, Sue of West Des Moines; two sons, Tim and Chris of Des Moines; sister, Julie (Jerry) Geurink of Whitehall, WI and Charlene (Ray) Murray of Toledo, IA; and brother, Joe (Pat) Smith of Dunkerton, IA. His father, Don, and mother, Joyce, of Fayette, IA, preceded him in death.

Rogene Poppen

  Rogene L. Poppen age 92, passed away on March 4, 2019, in Pinecrest Manor Nursing Home, Mt. Morris, IL.

  Rogene was born on April 17, 1926 in Adeline, IL the daughter of Ernest & Rose (Horst) Hartje. Rogene graduated from Forreston High School class of 1944, and she received a bachelor’s degree in organ & piano from Carthage College in 1948.

  Rogene married Alfred V. Poppen on September 29, 1951 in Forreston, IL; and he preceded her in death on November 26, 1988.
Rogene was a piano teacher and she was the St. James Lutheran Church organist and choir director, retiring in 2015.

She was a member of the St. James Lutheran Church, Forreston, IL.

Jerry Monroe

Jerry Norman Monroe, 70, of Castalia, Iowa died Thursday, February 28, 2019 at his home following a courageous battle with cancer.  Jerry was born March 24, 1948 to Rueben and June (Allen) Monroe in Decorah, Iowa.  He graduated from South Winn High School.

Floyd Alber

Floyd E. Alber, 103, of Maynard, passed away Tuesday, February 26, 2019, at the Hillcrest Home in Sumner.

Funeral services were held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 2, 2019, at Grace Lutheran Church in Fayette with Rev. Herbert Mueller, III officiating.  Interment followed at Grandview Cemetery in Fayette. Visitation preceded the service at the church on Saturday starting at 9:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in Floyd’s name to Grace Lutheran Church in Fayette, 201 W. State St., Fayette, Iowa 52142.

Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Fayette is assisting Floyd’s family. Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com.  

Willard Miehe

Willard D. Miehe, 92, of rural Fayette, Iowa died on Wednesday morning, February 27, 2019, at Oelwein Health Care Center in Oelwein.

Funeral services were held at  10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 2, 2019, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Maynard, Iowa with Rev. Dennis Frank officiating.

Visitation was held for one hour before services at the church on Saturday.

The Maynard American Legion Post #245 held military Graveside Services.

Interment was at the Long Grove Cemetery, Maynard, Iowa.

Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home, Maynard is assisting the family.

Online obituary can be viewed at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com

Michael Finnegan

Michael Finnegan, 88, of Clermont, Iowa died Friday, February 22, 2019, at Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital in West Union, Iowa. He was born December 20, 1930 to John and Helen Finnegan.  Michael attended school at Postville and joined the United States Army and served until 1953.

Michael was united in marriage with Mary Patricia “Pat” on February 12, 1955, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Winthrop, Iowa. Together they farmed the family farm and raised their family. Michael’s hobbies included fishing, reading, forestry, and celebrating his Irish heritage.  He volunteered for hospice patients and prison ministry and also served as a volunteer and board member for the local food shelf.

Terry Bouska

Terry Martin Bouska, 56, of Hawkeye, Iowa, died on March 3, 2019, at home surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with stomach cancer.

His family includes his wife of 33 years, Marlene; three children: son Brandon (Taylor) of Tripoli, IA, son Cody (Nicole) of St. Lucas, IA, and daughter Allison (Payton) of Coralville, IA; three grandchildren, Amelia, Maggie, and Tarynn; mother, Doris Bouska of Hawkeye, IA; siblings Mike (Rhonda) Bouska of Hawkeye, IA; Ken (Mary) Bouska of Chatfield, MN; Connie (Ken) Gossling of Waucoma, IA; Bill (Jayne) Bouska of West Union, IA; Judy (Steve) Heyer of West Union, IA; Jan (Kevin) Hoheisel of Hiawatha, IA, and Julie (Nick) Taylor of Ontario, CA; and several nieces and nephews.

Vernon Arthur

Vernon H. Arthur, 68, of Waverly, Iowa, passed away suddenly on Thursday evening, February 21, 2019 at his home, of natural causes.

       Vern was born on December 15, 1950 in Oelwein, Iowa, the son of Donna (Meyer) and Earl Arthur.  He grew up on the Arthur family dairy farm near Maynard, Iowa.  He was confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Maynard and was active in 4-H, FFA, football, basketball and baseball.  Following graduation from West Central High School, in 1969, Vern attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha where he received a baseball scholarship as a pitcher.  Following his education, Vern began his lifelong career in the concrete construction industry.  He worked for Hawkins and Kiewit in Omaha before moving to Waverly Iowa in 1989.  In Waverly, Vern worked for Cedar Valley Corp., Rainbow Concrete and finally Croell Redi-Mix, where he was employed at the time of his passing.

Myron Nagle

Mick Nagle, 69, of Wadena, died unexpectedly Sunday, February 24, 2019, at his home in rural Wadena.

Memorial Mass will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 2, 2019, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Volga with Rev. John Haugen officiating. Inurnment will follow at Wadena Cemetery with military rites provided by the American Legion of Wadena. Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, March 1^st at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Fayette and for one hour preceding services at the church on Saturday. Memorials may be made to the family for later designation. Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com.

Dorothy Lambert Doughty

Fayette native Dorothy Lambert Doughty died January 18, 2019 in DeKalb, IL.  She was 100 years and four months old.  She was the longest-living person in her extended family.  She was a sister of the late Robert Lambert of Fayette, and an aunt of Kathie Lambert Cybela of Fayette.  Other area survivors are Gary Lambert of Stanley, Nathan Damge of Oelwein, and Margaret Doughty Damge, of Stanley.  

Dorothy Lambert Doughty was born September 21, 1918 in Fayette, a daughter of Elsie Mae Chittenden Lambert and George Grover Lambert.  She graduated from Fayette High School in 1936.   She later attended nursing school in Chicago, but it closed due to the Great Depression of the 1930s.