Area Obituaries

Robert E. Tagatz of Des Moines, Iowa, husband of Jinny Thomas Tagatz, died August 11, 2009 after a three-month battle with cancer. Survivors include his mother-in-law, Lavon Thomas of Mount Ayr.  Services were held August 15, 2009 in Urbandale, Iowa.

Garnet Janice Duffield, 75, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, August 19, at the University of Iowa Hospital, after a courageous attempt of rehabilitation following cardiac surgery. Janice was born the oldest daughter of Ernest and Irene Wimer Heggs on July 23, 1934, in Kellerton, Iowa. She graduated from Kellerton high school and attended…

  Rev. Ralph F. Johnson, son of Hulda (Edlund) Johnson and John F. Johnson, was born March 13, 1913 in Dassel, Minnesota. He graduated from Dassel, Minnesota high school in 1931; University of Minnesota in 1938, and Bethel Theological Seminary in 1939. On September 8, 1938, Ralph was united in marriage to Clarene Petersen. Rev.…

 Elma Lucille Willey was born March 2, 1922 in Mount Ayr, Iowa. She was the sixth child in the family of seven. Elma was the daughter of Willard R. Willey and Maude Elizabeth ‘Rusk’ Willey. Elma passed away August 12, 2009 at Clearview Home in Mount Ayr at the age of 87 years, five months…

 Ruth M. Schardein Lamb came into this world on Friday the 13th, of June 1915 and always considered Friday the 13th a lucky day. She was born in Gentry county Missouri down around Hatfield. Her parents were Kelly and Mina (Potoroff) Schardein.  Growing up a country girl between two brothers she learned at an early…

Kendra Rae Adams of Grand Junction, Colorado died Sunday, May 24, 2009 at Saint Mary’s Hospital after a battle with cancer. She was 23 years of age. Kendra was born July 24, 1985 in San Diego, California, to David Ray and Brandy Renee Taylor Adams. Kendra was a sales representative for Gold Leaf Directories. She…

 Lila Livingston Jackson, age 79, of the Eastern Star Masonic Home in Boone, and formerly of Winterset, Tingley and Arispe, died August 11, 2009, at the home in Boone. Her body has been cremated and graveside services were held on Friday, August 14, 2009, at the Winterset Cemetery in Winterset.  Burial followed the service. Lila…

Kloe Diana Jennings was stillborn Saturday, August 1, 2009, at Saint Luke’s Presbyterian Hospital in Denver. Cremation has taken place. Burial will be at a later date. She is survived by her mother, Katy (Jennings) Moss; her grandparents, Dwight and Debra Jennings of Gillette and Jim and Diane Collins of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky; her great-grandparents, Norman…

  On January 23, 1935, Donald Leroy Kibbe was born in Mount Ayr, Iowa to Henry Arthur and Ollie Mae (Kimble) Kibbe. He departed this life on July 31, 2009 after fighting a lengthy lung illness at his home. He was surrounded by numerous family and friends during his death. Donald attended Mount Ayr high…

 William E. ‘Bill’ Johnston, youngest son of Horace A. and Martha Jane (Young) Johnston, was born December 17, 1923 in Diagonal, Iowa and died peacefully at his home July 30, 2009 in Bedford, Iowa at the age of 85 years, seven months and 13 days.  He attended elementary schools in Newton, Grinnell and Mount Ayr…

  Gail Trullinger, 54, of Mount Ayr, Iowa, died July 27, 2009 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. Gail was born on March 24, 1955, in Leon, Iowa, the daughter of Gene and Ruth (Lemonds) Noftsger. She was valedictorian of the 1973 Grand Valley high school class and a State of Iowa Scholar. Driven…

 Larry Lynn Roach, son of Albert and Winnifred (Winnie) Scott Roach, was born April 12, 1951 in Creston, Iowa. Larry graduated from Mount Ayr Community high school in 1969. While living in Mount Ayr, Larry worked construction jobs and also worked at the Southside Bar. He loved to bowl and belonged to a local bowling…