Sue Ungerer

Susan E. Ungerer, 57, of Hawkeye, died Sunday, April 17, 2016, at her rural Hawkeye home.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Rev. Dale Rausch at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 23, at Holy Name Catholic Church in West Union.

Interment will follow at Hawkeye Cemetery in Hawkeye.

Friends may call from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, April 22, at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Hawkeye, where there will be a rosary recited at 3:30 p.m. and a Scripture Service held at 7:30 p.m.

Friends may also call for one hour preceding Mass at the church on Saturday.

Arrangements are being handled by Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Hawkeye. 

Roy Piper Jr.

Roy L. Piper Jr., 56, of Randalia died Thursday morning, April 14, 2016, at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein handled the arrangements.

Linda Walz

Linda Catherine Walz, 70, died, April 7, 2016, at Maple Crest Manor Nursing Home, Fayette, Iowa.

Survivors include her sister Rosalyn Hurley, sister-in-law Clementine Walz, brother-in-law Joe Bergan, nieces, nephews, and many friends.

Inurnment will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Elkader, Iowa on May 1, 2016, at 1:30 p.m. with Rev. Dale J. Rausch, West Union officiating. A celebration of her life will be held at St. Joseph Parish Hall following inurnment.

Leonard Funeral Home & Cremation Service is assisting the family.

Online condolences and full obituary at

www.leonardfuneralhomes.com. 



Karl Wilker

Karl Wilker, 86, of Clermont, Iowa died Thursday, April 14, 2016 at Maple Crest Manor, Fayette, Iowa.

Karl Henry was born on October 15, 1929 to Arthur and Hertha (Funk) Wilker in Clayton County, Iowa.

He was baptized on November 3, 1929 in Read Township and confirmed on June 27, 1943 in Farmersburg, Iowa.

Karl attended country school. He also helped on the farm with his father.

Karl was united in marriage with Jeanette Sass on June 5, 1951. To this union six children were born.

He and his wife moved near St. Olaf and farmed from 1952 until 1969, they then moved from St. Olaf to a farm near Clermont. He continued farming near Clermont until 1972. After leaving the farm and moving into town, Karl went to work for Bob Falb Implement in Elgin, Iowa until 1998. He also mowed lawns for Steve Baker.

Karl was head usher at West Clermont Lutheran Church for many years.

Rachel Kirchhoff

Rachel A. Kirchhoff, 90, of Sumner, died Wednesday, April 6, 2016, at her rural Sumner home.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 11, 2016, at Union United Methodist Church of rural Sumner with Rev. Julie Ahrens officiating.  Interment will follow at the Church Cemetery.  Friends may call from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, April 10^th , at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Sumner and for one hour preceding services at the church on Monday. Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com.

Ruth Haw

Geraldine Steffens

Geraldine “Gerry” Steffens, age 90, of Decorah, IA, died on Friday, April 8, 2016, at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah, IA.

A Celebration of the Life and Memory of Geraldine will be held at 11 a.m. today (Wednesday, April 13) at Decorah Lutheran Church in Decorah. The Rev. Dave Sorenson and the Rev. Charis Combs-Lay will officiate.

Interment will be in Phelps Cemetery, Decorah. Casket bearers will be Geraldine’s grandchildren Kristin Carpenter, Brian Wagner, Renee Greiner, Randy Wagner, Alex Steffens, Lynnette Koopman, and Trent Zhao.

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

Geraldine Mary Ann “Gerry” (Stortz) Steffens was born on August 21, 1925, the daughter of Walter and Luella (Stoskopf) Stortz near Decorah, Iowa.

Joseph Schildmeyer

­­ Joseph Schildmeyer, 86, of Ossian, Iowa died Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at Ossian Senior Hospice, Ossian, Iowa. Joseph Henry was born on March 27, 1930 to Henry and Elizabeth (Wülf) Schildmeyer in St. Lucas, Iowa. He attended St. Francis de Sales Catholic School through the eighth grade.  Joseph was united in marriage with Caroline Holthaus on September 29, 1952.

Kim Zweibohmer

Kim Zweibohmer, 58, of Ossian, Iowa passed away Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at his home in Ossian. Kimball Jon, the son of Leonard and Eunice Marie (Lansing) Zweibohmer, was born May 11, 1957 in Decorah, Iowa. He attended elementary and middle school at St. Francis de Sales Catholic School in Ossian and graduated from South Winneshiek High School in 1975. Kim attended Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Kim was a deejay in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area for many years.  He returned to Ossian in 2004.  Kim was a manager at the Decorah Subway and was currently working at Nordic Express in Decorah.

Kim enjoyed staying in contact with his friends through Facebook and collecting Christopher Radko Ornaments.  He loved Christmas, shopping, and staying current with all types of music. He was also an Avon dealer.

Kim was a member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church and the Rosary Society.

Lawrence Jirak

Lawrence C. “Larry” Jirak age 77 of Lawler, IA, died Saturday, March 26, 2016, at the Winneshiek Medical Center, in Decorah.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 1, 2016, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, Lawler with Rev. Nick March celebrating the Mass. Lectors for the service were Nancy Upmeyer and Gladys Hruska. Presenting the offertory gifts were grandchildren, Kelli Jirak, Elsie Jenkinson and Asher Jirak. 

Interment was in Sacred Heart Cemetery – Reilly Ridge, rural Lawler with Craig Jirak, Marty Jirak, Debbie Jirak, Brandi Jenkinson, Ryann Jenkinson and Kori Jirak as pallbearers. 

Friends greeted the family 3:00 – 8:00 p.m. Thursday, March 31, 2016, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, Lawler where there was a 7:45 p.m. parish scripture service. Visitation continued an hour prior to the Mass at the church on Thursday.