Area Obituaries

Susan Lynn (Lesan) Smith  (1949-2025) Susan was born on December 12, 1949, to Mary Eileen (Yashack) Lesan and Charles Joseph Lesan, joining her twin sister, Sharon Lee and big brother Steven Charles. Born in Creston, IA, Susan grew up in rural Ringgold County, baptized and reared in the First Christian Church in Mount Ayr, IA. Susan…

Robert James Elswick 1945-2025 Robert James Elswick, age 80, son of Paul and Arleta Grace (Sumption) Elswick, was born March 25, 1945, in Osceola, Iowa. He passed from this life on July 14, 2025, at the Clearview Home in Mt. Ayr, Iowa. Bob, as he was known, grew up on the Elswick family farm west…

Joe Klejch, Jr. 1933-2025 Joe Klejch, Jr. (Junior) was born January 5, 1933, at the hospital in Creston, Iowa and left this life on July 28, 2025, at the Mount Ayr Health Care Center. He was the only child to Joe Klejch and Helen Louise (Elick) Klejch. Junior graduated from Diagonal High School in 1951,…

Gerald Lee Schaefer age 79 died July 8, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa. Gerald Lee Schaefer (Jerry) was born on November 6, 1945, to Lowell and Maxine (Collier) Schaefer in Ringgold County, Iowa. Jerry was welcomed home by his big brother Carl. His family continued to grow with the addition of a sister Gwendolyn Kay…

GEORGIA LuANN (McHENRY) BRAND Georgia LuAnn (McHenry) Brand was born on September 12, 1936, to John & Rubye (Colvin) McHenry. She was born and raised on a farm near Allendale, Missouri, half a mile from the Iowa line. Georgia passed away at her home in Mount Ayr, Iowa on July 19, 2025. Georgia attended a…

Phil Jarvis, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away Sunday, July 6th, 2025, at the age of 75. Born on September 27, 1949, in Marysville, Missouri. Phil grew up in Mt. Ayr, Iowa surrounded by the warmth of his family, mother LaVonne and dad Howard, his brother, Dave, and his two sisters,…

Robert H. Darling, Sr, was born April 7, 1941, in California. He lived most of his life in California where he owned and operated an appliance sales and repair business. He has lived at Sun Valley Lake the past four years where he enjoyed the community and made friends. Robert passed away at his home…

Donald Edwin Thompson, age 84, passed away on June 16, 2023, at home in La Feria, Texas.  He was born on October 22, 1938, in Mount Ayr, Iowa and lived a life marked by dedication, service and love for his family. He was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Cleone Thompson, brothers Larry and…

Danny Lee Rinehart, 76, of Davis City, Iowa, was born December 29, 1948, in Mount Ayr, Iowa to Calvin & Leatrice Rinehart. Danny was raised in Diagonal, Iowa along with his siblings Diane, Steve, Jerry, and Debbie. He attended Diagonal Community School. In 1969, Danny was drafted into the Vietnam War, serving in the United…