David Tope

It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of David Loyd Tope: husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather.

A service will be held on Sept. 1, 2017 at 11 am at St. Cecilia Church in Ames, IA.  

There will be a brief visitation preceding the service and a luncheon following.

  Dave was born to Loyd and Thelma Tope on July 5, 1932 in West Union, Fayette County, Iowa. 

Dave attended West Union Public Schools and then West Union High School as a teenager, gradating in 1950.  

In 1952, he joined the United States Air Force and went on to train at Parks Air Force Base outside of Oakland, Calif., and later served his country in the Korean War.

Dave was honorably discharged in 1956 and moved back home to West Union where he got a job with Hansen Engineering as a draftsman.  

Virgil Meinert

Virgil John Meinert, 78, of St. Lucas, Iowa died Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017 at Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital, West Union, Iowa.

Virgil was born June 11, 1939 to John and Cathryn (Dietzenbach) Meinert in Decorah, Iowa. 

He attended St. Luke Catholic School through the eighth grade. 

Virgil was united in marriage with Elizabeth “Betty” Riehle on Sept. 21, 1968 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Spillville, Iowa. 

Virgil farmed his entire life near St. Lucas, Iowa. 

He enjoyed playing softball on the Bushwacher Team, riding his four-wheeler and motorcycle. Virgil was always willing to help anyone who needed it. He loved spending time with his family.

Virgil is survived by his loving wife, Elizabeth “Betty” Meinert of St. Lucas, Iowa; his god-child, Deborah (Jon) Cleveland; one brother-in-law, Robert (Bev) Riehle and a sister-in-law, Patricia (Charles) Humpal.

John Svendsen

John E. Svendsen, 85, of Castalia, Iowa died Wednesday, August 9, 2017 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester, Minnesota.  John Edward, the son of Johannes “John” and Anna (Mikkelson) Svendsen, was born September 25, 1931 at his home in Winneshiek County, Iowa. He was baptized at Stavanger Lutheran Church, rural Ossian, Iowa and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Castalia, Iowa.  He went to school at Bloomfield Township School #8 and graduated from Postville High School in 1949.  While in high school he lettered in track and instrumental music.  John helped his dad with the family farm and worked for Kneeskern’s Mink Farm after graduation.  He entered the United States Navy in March of 1956 and was honorably discharged in October of 1957. He then worked for Anundsen Publishing Company in Decorah, Iowa from 1958 until his retirement in the early 2000’s.

Ethel Flack

Ethel Murein Flack, 88, of Postville, Iowa died Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at Good Samaritan Society, Postville, Iowa. Ethel Murein was born, February 24, 1929 to Gottfried and Clara (Knutson) Kurth in Gunder, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at Marion Lutheran Church, Gunder, Iowa. Ethel graduated from Postville High School in 1946.

Dennis Moritz

Dennis Michael “Moritzy” Moritz, 76, of Elgin, Iowa died Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017 at Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital, West Union, Iowa.  

Dennis Michael was born June 10, 1941 to Milo and Jean (Gager) Moritz in Luana, Iowa. 

He attended country school through the eighth grade and graduated from North High School, West Union, Iowa.

Dennis was united in marriage with Karolyn Kerr on Jan. 16, 1961, they later divorced. 

He farmed most of his life in the West Union and Elgin area. Dennis also owned and operated Moritz Stump Removal for many years. He also worked for John Deere for a time. After retirement, Dennis worked for Nick Polfer as the “general manager”. 

Dennis was an avid hunter, fisherman and trapper. He also enjoyed mushroom hunting, gardening and spending time with grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends.

Kathleen (Huinker) Timp

Kathleen Marie Timp, 48, of Dubuque, passed away on Friday, August 4, 2017 at home surrounded by her family.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 7, at Resurrection Catholic Church. 

Burial was in Resurrection Cemetery. 

Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home and Crematory, 2659 John F. Kennedy Rd. was in charge of the arrangements.

Kathleen was born on March 28, 1969 in Decorah, Iowa the daughter of Dennis and Elberta (Moellers) Huinker. 

She graduated as a Four-Year Fine Art Scholar at Coe College in 1991 and earned her Bachelors in Communications from Clarke College in 1999.

On June 19, 1993, she married her high school sweetheart, Thomas Timp at St. Aloysius Church in Calmar, Iowa.

In 1991 she accepted a position in Dubuque as an Art Editor at Wm. C. Brown Publishing (present day McGraw-Hill Education).  

Lydia Murphy

Lydia Murphy, 88, of Clermont, Iowa died Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at Stoney Brook Village in West Union, Iowa. Lydia Crystal was born December 4, 1928 to Clarence and Lydia (Anderson) Thorson at the family home in Clermont, Iowa. She graduated from Clermont High School in 1947.

Lydia was united in marriage with Gerald Schneider on February 27, 1949, six children were born to this union, and they later divorced. She was then united in marriage with Eugene Murphy on March 1, 1975.

While young, Lydia worked for Baechlers Dry Goods. Lydia was always busy on the farm and would haul can milk. Throughout the years she worked as a CNA at Methwick Nursing Home in Cedar Rapids, Home Health in Cedar Rapids, for Nordec, in Waukon, Iowa and Good Samaritan Society in Postville, Iowa. She enjoyed writing in her journals, making comforters for her grandchildren and traveling, especially her trip to Turkey. 

Townsend Mills "Ted" Cass

Townsend Mills “Ted” Cass, born in Waterloo Iowa in 1934, died peacefully July 30 at a health care facility in Brewer, Maine.  

He spent part of his childhood in Tulsa OK, and   was for many years a resident of Sumner IA where the family owned the Cass Family dairy and crop farm.

He and his former wife Nuna moved to Sullivan ME in 1986 from Clermont, Iowa.

Ted was a remarkable individual who left a strong impression on everyone who knew him. He spent at least one college summer as a merchant mariner (oiler and wiper,) working as a deckhand on a Texaco oil tanker, little knowing that a coasting trip from Texas, which included jumping into Portland Harbor on a dare, (and getting out of the water as fast as possible) and a stop at Brewer, would be first glimpses of his last home state.