Eileen Alcorn

Eileen A. Alcorn, 69, of West Union, died Monday, August 22, 2016, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN.

Private family services will be held with Rev. Chris Ebbers of the United Methodist Church in West Union officiating. 

Burial will follow at West Union Cemetery.

There will be no visitation.

Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Sumner is assisting Eileen’s family.

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

Eileen Ann, daughter of George and Verna Schlatter Heller, was born October 30, 1946, on a farm near Sumner, Iowa.

She attended rural school and graduated from Sumner High School.

On August 13, 1967, she was united in marriage with Lyle R. Alcorn. The couple lived for many years in West Union, where they raised their family. Following Lyle’s death in 2000, Eileen continued to make her home in West Union.

Frances Koester

A memorial service for Frances Koester, 95, of Eldorado was held Saturday, Aug. 20, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Eldorado. Pastor Ginny Olson officiated.

Burial was in St. Peter Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers were Dave Garlow, Bret Koester, Mariah Koester, Preston Koester, Doug Nelson, Joshua Koester, Asher Koester, Claire Koester.

Frances died quietly at sunrise, her favorite time of day, on Monday, Aug. 15, 2016.

Frances Koester was born June 20, 1921 on the family farm. Her parents were Glenn (Scott) and Edwin Wagner. She had six brothers and sisters: Clair, Carl (Vera), Helen (Reynold) Baumler, Vern (Marvel), Iva (Jack) Adrian, and Amy (Robert) Burgess.

She was baptized April 5, 1942, at First Methodist Church in West Union and confirmed July 8, 1945, by Pastor Foege at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Eldorado.

Dean Zupke

Dean E. Zupke, 71, of Sumner, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, August 25, 2016, at his home.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, September 3, 2016, at St. John Lutheran Church, Sumner, Iowa.

Private family burial at a later date.

Visitation will be at held Friday, September 2, 2016 from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm at St. John Lutheran Church in Sumner.

Dean Edward Zupke, 71, passed away on Thursday, August 25, 2016 at his home in Sumner after an eight year battle with prostate cancer.

Dean was born on the home farm in Sumner, Iowa to Walter and Lucille (Davis) Zupke on December, 17, 1944.

He graduated from Sumner High School in 1963.

Dean was united in marriage to Judy Puls on November 21, 1965 at Richfield Lutheran Church in Sumner, Iowa. To this union three children were born Krystal, Brad and Nena.

Leonard John Moellers, Jr.

Leonard “Len” John Moellers, Jr., 67, of Vinton, died Sunday, August 14, 2016. Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, August 17, 2016, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion. Memorial Services: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 18, 2016, at the funeral home by Arlen Holten. Private Committal Services will take place at a later date.

Survivors include his wife, Connie Moellers of Vinton; children, Lara (Bryan Giblin) Moellers of Marion, Jason (Lori) DeWald of Newhall, Melissa (Travis Bryan) Cowdin of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Joshua DeWald of Marion and their mother, Janie Fairchild of Marion; Renae (Chad Pirtle) Becker of Marion; and seven grandchildren, Arielle, Camryn, Ryan, Sagan, Lillian, Noah and Avery.

Helen Johnston

Helen S. Johnston, 93, of Dubuque, passed away on Tuesday, August 9, 2016, at Manor Care Health Services under the care of hospice. She departed her life just as she had lived it: in full control and filled with joy in the presence of her family and her friends during her final days.

Memorial services were held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, Aug. 19, 2016 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. Friends called from 9:30-10:45 a.m., Friday at the Church.

Helen was born July 1, 1923, in Ottumwa, Iowa, the oldest child and only daughter of a carpenter and a church secretary, G. Vernon and Pearl (Blackford) Capell.

   She earned a BA in piano performance from Simpson College and a master’s from Clarke College.

Sheryl Butikofer

Sheryl Ann Butikofer, 56, of Elgin, Iowa, passed away on Monday, August 15, 2016 in La Crosse Wisconsin.

Sheryl Ann Wagg was born on December 8, 1959 to Pliny Faye and Evelyn (Gibler) Wagg in Muscatine, Iowa.

She graduated in 1978 from West Central High School in Maynard, Iowa and received her Associate Degree in Interior Design from Hawkeye Technical College.

Sheryl was united in marriage with Rodney Butikofer on March 28, 1987 at the Elgin Lutheran Church, Elgin, Iowa. One daughter was born to this union.

Sheryl had been employed by the Elkader Care Center and Great River Care Center. She currently was the Administrative Assistant at North Fayette Elementary School, where she has worked for over 20 years.

Sheryl had been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints since 1980. She was extremely involved with the church in many ways.

Wanda Piper

Wanda Marie Farrell Piper age 92 of Waucoma died peacefully on Sunday, August 14, 2016, at her home and surrounded by her family. 

A memorial service was held 7:00 p.m. Friday, August 19, 2016, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Waucoma with Rev. Kyle Digmann presiding.

Inurnment was in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Waucoma.

Friends greeted the family 4:00-7:00 p.m. Friday, August 19, 2016 at the church.   

Funeral arrangements were with Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in Waucoma.  

Online condolences for Wanda’s family may be left at hugebackfuneralhome.com.

Wanda Marie Farrell Piper was born January 18, 1924, in rural Black Hawk County, IA, the daughter of Frank and Elizabeth (Griffin) Weber.

She was a graduate of Waterloo West High School.

Gene Aylsworth

Gene Aylsworth, 77, of Wadena, Iowa, died peacefully on Tuesday morning, August 16, 2016 at his home with his family at his side.

Memorial Service:  10:30 A.M. Monday, August 22, 2016 at St. John Lutheran Church, Arlington, with Pastor Margaret Yackel-Juleen officiating.

Memorial Visitation:  4:00 to 7:00 P.M. on Sunday at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home, Arlington and for one hour before the service at the church on Monday.

Inurnment:  Wadena Cemetery, Wadena, Iowa.

Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com.

Francis Eugene Aylsworth was born on June 16, 1939 in Wadena, Iowa the son of Albert Chauncey & Hazel Dorothy (Chapman) Aylsworth. 

He was baptized on October 16, 1949 at the Wadena Presbyterian Church. 

Ellen Stee

Ellen Marie Stee, 73, of Castalia, passed away Saturday, August 13, 2016 at the Good Samaritan Society in Postville, Iowa.  Ellen Marie, the daughter of Harlan and Hazel (Tatro) Stee, was born November 20, 1942 in Postville. She was baptized at the Ossian Lutheran Church, Ossian, Iowa and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church, Castalia, Iowa.  Ellen graduated from Postville High School in 1961 and completed two years of correspondence courses through AIB in Des Moines.  She was a bookkeeper for several area farmers and was the treasurer of Zion Lutheran Church for many years. Ellen and her mother, Hazel were also the Castalia correspondents for the Ossian, Postville, and Decorah newspapers. 

William Shafar, Sr.

William (Bill) Dean Shafar Sr., 75, of West Union passed away Sunday, Aug 7, 2016 at his home surrounded by his family. 

Funeral services were held at 11:30 am, Friday, August 12, 2016 at the United Methodist Church in West Union.

Inurnment followed at West Union Cemetery, West Union, Iowa.

Visitation was from 9:30 am until 11:30 am, Friday, August 12, 2016 at the United Methodist Church, West Union.

Bill, son of Robert and Elnora Shafar, was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa on August 15, 1940. 

He graduated from Callender High School. On January 10, 1966,

Bill was united in marriage to Joan Carol Olson. Their first home was in Buffalo Center.  Bill and Joan were blessed with five children, four living, Tim, Justine, Bill Jr. and his favorite Cyndi. One other son Brian died at birth.