Area Obituaries

Earl Keith Whitson passed peacefully December 11, 2024, after 87 years. Born in Ringgold County, 3rd of 4 children, of LeRoy M. Whitson and Alice D. Scott Whitson. Keith grew up in a farm-focused family, playing basketball and baseball, graduating from Beaconsfield High School in 1955. Shortly after that, he married the love of his life…

Bart French, 92, of Wapello passed away on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at Sunrise Terrace Care Center.  Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. on Monday, December 16, 2024, at Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services of Wapello. A time of remembrance with Military Honors will be held at 3 p.m. following…

Donna Jean (Roush) Wilson was born April 19, 1932, in Taylor County, IA to Leslie and Cleo (Posten) Roush. Her family lived on a farm north of New Market, IA, where she and her older brother Carrell attended country school. They had to walk 1-1/2 miles to school, with a group of 5 boys and…

Diane Lynne Drake, daughter of Curt and Donna Wilson, was born on February 13, 1958, in Mount Ayr, IA. She was welcomed home by her brother Douglas and later David. Diane grew up on farms outside of Maloy and Redding and attended her elementary school years there.  In middle school, she began attending Mount Ayr…

James Michael Fine was born September 5, 1953, in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of Kenneth Eugene and Erma Jo (Slavik) Fine. He was raised in Des Moines and graduated from Hoover High School. Following graduation, Jim enlisted in the United States Army. After his honorable discharge, Jim returned to Des Moines where he lived…

Hazel Irene Smith Foltz, avid crocheter, voracious reader, and devoted mother and grandmother, died on November 14, 2024. Hazel was the youngest of five siblings and was born on April 5, 1929, to parents Herbert and Iva (Hightshoe) Smith in rural Decatur County Iowa. Her family were sharecrop farmers; moving every March, they rented farmland…

Sandra Louise Mekus was born on May 16, 1942, to Louise (Blades) and Kenneth Hussman in her parent’s home in Des Moines, Iowa. She was raised with her older brother Clark and a younger sister Kay. Sandra grew up surrounded by her grandparents, uncles, aunts and numerous cousins. The importance of family became prevalent at…

Ann McCarter of Martensdale, IA departed this life on November 22nd, 2024, at the age of 91 years. She was born August 15, 1933, in Mount Ayr, IA to Franklin and Iona Spurrier. She attended grade and high school in Mount Ayr, IA. She was employed at Look magazine based in Des Moines, IA in her…

Brenda Lou (Walkup) Poppa was born on May 7, 1951, in Mount Ayr, Iowa to Mary Lou (Matheny) and Robert Walkup. The family resided in Blockton, IA where Brenda grew up alongside her two siblings, Diana and Bobby. Brenda attended Blockton and Bedford Community Schools graduating in 1969 and later graduated from the nursing program…