Laura Gefaller

Laura M. Gefaller, 67, of Hawkeye died Sunday evening, April 22, 2018, at her home in Hawkeye surrounded by her loving family following a battle with cancer.

A Celebration of Life Service was held Saturday, April 28, 2018, at St. John’s Lutheran Church-Stapleton with Rev. Wayne Ellingson officiating.  

Private family inurnment will be held at a later date. 

Memorials may be made in Laura’s name to St. John’s Lutheran Church-Stapleton.

Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Hawkeye assisted Laura’s family.  

Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com. 

Laura Marie Lewig was born March 8, 1951, in New Hampton, the daughter of Irvin and Katherina (Mahler) Lewig. 

She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith.

Donna Weyland

Donna M. Weyland, 85, of Wadena died Thursday evening, April 26, 2018, at her home in Wadena surrounded by her loving family.

A Memorial Mass was celebrated Monday, April 30, 2018, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Volga with Rev. John Haugen officiating. 

Interment followed at Wadena Cemetery. 

Becker-Milnes Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to the family for later designation. 

Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com. 

Donna Marie, daughter of Arthur and Nellie Mae (Cagley) Hultman, was born Oct. 3, 1932, in Fergus Falls, Minn. 

She received her education in the Fergus Falls Schools.

Donna was baptized in the Lutheran Faith and would later be confirmed in the Catholic Faith. 

Two daughters, Susan and Barbara were born to her first marriage. 

Eleanor Torkelson

Eleanor Marie Torkelson, 84, of Elgin, Iowa died Thursday, April 26, 2018 at Stoney Brook Village in West Union, Iowa.  

Eleanor was born Dec. 29, 1933 on a farm near Castalia to Elmer and Marie (Backhaus) Schutte. 

She was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in Castalia and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville. 

Eleanor graduated from Postville High School in 1951. 

Upon graduation, Eleanor moved to Cedar Rapids with three very dear friends. While in Cedar Rapids she worked for Handler Motor Co. She also lived in San Francisco, California for a short time. 

While living in Cedar Rapids a young Elgin boy started to visit her. When that Elgin boy was discharged from the Army, Eleanor moved back to Elgin and married Ivan Torkelson on Oct. 24, 1954 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville. Three children were born to this union.

Laura Gefaller

Laura Gefaller, 67, of Hawkeye died Sunday evening, April 22, 2018, at her home in Hawkeye, surrounded by her loving family. 

Arrangements are pending with Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Hawkeye.

Tim Burkey

Tim Burkey, 57, of Hawkeye and formerly of Maynard, Iowa died Sunday afternoon, April 15, 2018 at Unity Point – Allen Hospital in Waterloo, Iowa.

Celebration of Life Service was held Saturday, April 21, 2018 at the Hawkeye Community Hall in Hawkeye with Pastor Dan Hanson officiating.

Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com.

Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein assisted the family.

Timothy Lee Burkey was born Nov. 8, 1960 in Vinton, Iowa, the son of Marvin Keith and Janet Joyce (Rabe) Burkey.  

Marvin died when Tim was very young. His mom later married Delbert Leverington.  

In 1979, Tim graduated from West Central High School in Maynard. He then attended Luther College and Hawkeye Community College.  

On April 27, 1985, he was united in marriage with Teri Ann Moore at Zion Lutheran Church in Oelwein. 

Ervin Kamaus

Ervin Robert Kamaus, 87, of Cedar Rapids, formerly of West Union, passed away on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at Northside Hospital in Atlanta, Ga. 

Services were held on Saturday, April 21, 2018 at 1 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids.

  Ervin Robert Kamaus was born on June 9, 1930, the son of Henry and Grace (Shepherd) Kamaus. 

Ervin was united in marriage to his second wife, Joyce Simmons.  

He served in the United States Army in the Korean War.  

Throughout his life, Ervin worked as a machinist, dairy farmer, logger, and owned a tavern in Cedar Rapids. 

He also enjoyed traveling all over the world with his wife, Joyce; he also enjoyed reading.

  Ervin was preceded in death by his parents, and two children in infancy.

John Kiple III

John E. Kiple III, age 65, of Marshall, Minn., formerly of West Union, Iowa, died unexpectedly on Friday, April 20, 2018, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar, Minn.  

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, April 27, at Leonard-Grau Funeral Home in Elgin, Iowa.  

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service, from 10 to 11 a.m., at the funeral home in Elgin.   

Interment will follow in the Postville Cemetery in Postville, Iowa.

John Edward Kiple III was born on Sept. 5, 1952, in Dubuque, Iowa, to John and Roma (Medberry) Kiple.  He grew up in Anamosa, Iowa, and later moved to Rosemount, Minn.  He graduated from high school there in 1970.

  John started working for Schwan’s Sales, Inc., in West Union, Iowa, and later transferred to Marshall, Minn.  All told, he spent over 30 years with Schwan’s.  

Ronald Thompson

Ronald E. Thompson, 74, of Fayette died Friday, April 13, 2018, at Maple Crest Manor in Fayette.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 17, 2018, at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Fayette with Rev. Herbert Mueller III officiating. 

Burial followed at Grandview Cemetery in Fayette. 

Memorials may be made to the family for later designation. 

Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com.  

Ronald Eugene, son of Tilmer and Ethel (Nelson) Thompson, was born Aug. 16, 1943, in Clermont. 

He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith in Clermont. 

Ronald received his education in the Clermont Schools. 

On Aug. 21, 1966, he was united in marriage with Sandra Miller at Grace Lutheran Church in Fayette.

Judy Hovden

Judy Hovden, age 80, of West Union, Iowa, formerly of Cresco, Iowa, died Tuesday, April 10, 2018, at Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital in West Union. 

Funeral Services were held Monday, April 16, 2018 at Madison Lutheran Church in rural Ridgeway, IA, with Rev. Jeff Hansen officiating.

Burial was in Madison Lutheran Cemetery. 

Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah assisted the family.   

“Every one to whom much has been given, much will be required in return.” (Luke 12:48) Judy was a woman with many talents. Alton has always said there isn’t anyone with more talents than she had. With a wrench and a hammer or a needle and thread, she could fix about anything.

Judith “Judy” Vivian Anderson was born to Raymond A. and Florence M. (Brobst) Anderson on June 25, 1937 in Janesville, Wis.