Darlene Gibbs

Darlene Elizabeth Gibbs, 91, of West Union, Iowa died Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at Maple Crest Manor in Fayette, Iowa. 

Darlene Elizabeth was born on July 20, 1926 to Fritz and Amanda (Grafenburg) Vagts. 

She graduated from West Union High School in 1944.

Darlene received her teaching certificate and taught at many country schools, including Eldorado, then worked as a secretary to the bank president at First National Bank, West Union.

Darlene was united in marriage with Arnold Gibbs on April 22, 1951 at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Eldorado, Iowa. To this union five children were born. 

Together they started farming near Strawberry Point, then later east of West Union. Darlene helped Arnold with the farm work and enjoyed cooking and baking, gardening and canning the vegetables from her garden. 

Ilene Rosauer

Ilene Ann  Rosauer, 56, of Cedar Falls died at her home Friday, June 15, 2018.  

She was born July 26, 1961 in Waterloo, the daughter of Elmer C. and Nancy J. (Pape) Heller. 

Ilene married Allan M. Rosauer on Aug. 7, 1993 in Waterloo. 

She graduated from Waterloo West High School and was a cook for Mama Nick’s in Waterloo for many years.

She loved her kitties and her dogs, Mikey and Buddy. 

Ilene is survived by her husband, Allan M. Rosauer, of Cedar Falls; her mother, Nancy Heller, of Clermont; three brothers, Mike (Mary) Heller of Clermont, Pat (Kayla Stevenson) Heller of Cedar Rapids, Tim Heller of Clermont; and many nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her father.  

Services were held Tuesday, June 19, 2018, at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home in Cedar Falls.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Cedar Bend Humane Society.

Marcy Alcorn

Marcia “Marcy” Alcorn, 86, of West Union, Iowa died Thursday, June 7, 2018 at the Good Samaritan Society in West Union.  

Marcia Rose, the daughter of James and Dora (Lynn) Willsey, was born Sept. 17, 1931 in Burrough, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

She graduated from West Union High School and attended Iowa State Teachers College for two years.  

Marcy was united in marriage with Rollyn Colberg on March 16, 1951. Two sons, Kim and Kent, were born to this union. Rollyn passed away on Oct. 19, 1954. 

Marcy was then united in marriage with Lavern Alcorn on Dec. 30, 1955. Vern passed away on July 25, 2015.  

Marcy worked as a secretary for the North Fayette Elementary School Principal and the Athletic Director for several years. She then worked for PIL in West Union until her retirement.

Kenneth Kuennen

Kenneth Kuennen, age 89, of Decorah, IA, died on Saturday, June 2, 2018, at his home in Decorah, IA.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by the Rev. Kyle Digmann on Friday, June 8, at St. Luke Catholic Church in St. Lucas.

Interment was in the church cemetery. Military rites were conducted by the St. Lucas American Legion Post, Turkey River VFW, and the U.S. Army.

Casket bearers were Wayne Smith, Marianne Huinker, Ken Bodensteiner, Joel Smith, Clair Blong, and Daniel Kuennen. Honorary casket bearers were Tim Kuennen and James Schneberger.

Arrangements were handled by Schluter-Balik Funeral Home in Decorah.

Kenneth Clair Kuennen was born on Oct. 13, 1928 in St. Lucas, Iowa, to Albert and Philomena (Minnie) Schneberger Kuennen. 

He was baptized in his faith by Father Paul Kirchhoff, assistant pastor at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in St. Lucas.  

Alvina Bodensteiner

Alvina Katherine Bodensteiner, age 97, of Rapid City, N.D., formerly of Waucoma, Iowa died Oct. 10, 2017 at the Rapid City Hospice House.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 14, 2018 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Waucoma, Iowa with burial in St. Mary's Cemetery, Waucoma. 

Honorary urnbearers are Alvina’s grandchildren Steve, Luke, Nathan, Bert, Carl, Matt Bodensteiner, Sheryl Batt, Megan Archer and Andrea Tripolino, and great-grandchildren Bergen, Gage, Thea, Julia, Sydney, Ashtyn, Aubrey, Ellery, Lindemn, Eli, Izzy, Amelia Bodensteiner, Towsend and Johanna Batt, and Jack Archer. 

Friends may greet the family from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. at the church Thursday morning. A luncheon will follow at the Waucoma Event Center.

Services are entrusted to Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home in Waucoma. 

Lucille Boyer

Lucille Anna Boyer, 94, of West Union, Iowa died Sunday, May 27, 2018 at Stoney Brook Assisted Living Center in West Union, Iowa.   

Lucille was born April 19, 1924 to John and Mary (Schmitt) Wurzer on the family farm near St. Lucas, Iowa. Lucille joined a sister, Leona and a brother, Edmund, where she helped with milking, feeding chickens, and gardening.  

She fondly shared stories about walking 3 miles to St. Luke’s School in St. Lucas, Iowa where she graduated from eighth grade.  

As a lifelong member of St. Luke Catholic Church and Rosary Society, Lucille faithfully practiced and shared her Catholic faith with her family and those around her. Recent years found her watching daily Mass on TV.    

Lucille was united in marriage with Joseph John Boyer on Jan. 27, 1953, after which they purchased and moved to a farm near the Turkey River in rural Hawkeye, Iowa.   

Lyle Johansen

Lyle Carl Johansen, 78, of West Union died Monday, May 28, 2018 at Maple Crest Manor Fayette, Iowa surrounded by family. 

Lyle was born Feb. 26, 1940 to Carl and Bernice (Kamaus). 

He graduated from high school in 1958 as a member of the last West Union Bombers class. 

On Feb. 24, 1961 Lyle was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Lois Jacobson. Four sons were born to this union: Lee (and so began the “L” saga), Lonny, Larry, and Lane.  

Lyle had a passion for farming and was a master hog farmer; he appreciated the stability farming provided his family. 

In reflecting on Lyle’s life, family reflected on his love of NASCAR (he even had the pants to prove it), his Scrooge-like appreciation of Christmas, his pleasure in “stirring the pot,” and a work ethic that allowed him to be a great provider for his family. 

Carolee Wolfs

Carolee Nydegger Wolfs, was born March 16, 1944 in West Union, IA to Fred and Helen Cook Nydegger. She passed away after a long illness on May 29, 2018 in Jacksonville, Fla. 

Married to Dennis Wolfs on June 10, 1962, they lived in Merced, Calif., until 1965 while Dennis served in the Air Force. 

Upon his discharge they moved back to Waterloo, Iowa, where Dennis attended UNI and Carolee completed the LPN course at Hawkeye Tech. 

In 1970 they moved to Marshalltown, Iowa, then to Muscatine, Iowa, in 1980, relocating to Kennesaw, Ga., in 1998.  Last year they moved to Jacksonville, Fla., to be near their daughter.

Alice Schroeder

Alice M. (Becker) Schroeder, 91, of Cedar Rapids and formerly of La Porte City and Elgin, died Saturday, June 2, 2018, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 7, at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Evansdale.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. tonight (Wednesday, June 6) at the La Porte City Funeral Home.

Alice was born on June 13, 1926 in Pleasant Valley Township Iowa, the daughter of Louis Frederick and Estella Irene (Peters) Becker.

She graduated from Elgin High School and attended Upper Iowa University in Fayette.

She married Joseph Kjosa, and they were later divorced.

She married Cecil L. Schroeder on Aug. 22, 1966 in Elgin, and he preceded her in death on March 18, 1990.

Alice worked as a bookkeeper at Falb Chevrolet in West Union and Elgin and later at Clark Chevrolet in La Porte City for 16 years.

Phyllis Ann Hackman

Sister Phyllis Ann Hackman, Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, 95, died on Saturday, May 12, 2018, at Villa St. Joseph, La Crosse, Wis.

She was in the 70^th year of her religious profession.

Sister Phyllis Ann was born April 2, 1923, to Edward and Anna (Schmitt) Hackman in Festina, IA. 

She entered St. Rose Convent in La Crosse, Wis., in 1945.  Beginning her active ministry as a homemaker, Sister Phyllis Ann served her sisters in convent homes in Guam, Idaho, Utah, Wisconsin and Washington.  

After earning her dietetics degree, she became a dietary supervisor at Milbank, S.D., and Hillsboro, Wis.  

Sister Phyllis Ann felt called to serve in the pastoral care ministry and became a clinical pastoral educator. She eventually became certified as a chaplain.  From 1980 to 1993, Sister Phyllis Ann was employed as a chaplain at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Belleville, Ill.