Area Obituaries

Barbara Ann Anderson 1934 – 2025 Barbara Ann Anderson, 91, of LaGrange, IL passed away peacefully September 24, 2025, at Hinsdale Hospital. She was born June 18, 1934, in Diagonal, IA to Charles and Philomena (Minnie) Ricker. She graduated from Diagonal High School in 1953 and moved to Des Moines to attend beauty school. There…

Mary Sue Gehrke (1942-2025) Mary Sue Gehrke, 82, of Creston died Friday, September 12, 2025, at Southern Hills Specialty Care in Osceola. Celebration of Life Memorial Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Powers Funeral Home in Creston. Pastor Jim Morris will officiate. Services will be livestreamed. Family will receive friends from…

Vern Junior Brown (1928-2025) Vern Junior Brown was born December 16, 1928, at a country farmhouse near Clearfield, Iowa. His parents were Vern Francis Brown and Beatrice Everhart Brown. He was welcomed into the family by two sisters, Bertha and Doris. Three more sisters Evelyn, Janis and Donna were added to the family in the…

Max Everett Smith (1942-2025) Max Everett Smith was born September 22, 1942, in Osceola, Iowa to Wonda Lucille Boles and Mansel Leon Smith. Life began on the farm in the Elk Chapel area north of Lamoni, Iowa. Later they moved to a home north of Leon, Iowa where Max attended country school; then to an…

Donald Liljeblad was born on May 15, 1941, at Children’s Hospital in San Francisco, California. Donald was the oldest of the four children of Walter J. & Ida R. Liljeblad. He was raised in San Francisco and at 17 years old, he enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed in France. From the…

Kathryn Eloise Hughes, age 99, passed from this life on August 30, 2025, at the Mount Ayr Health Care Center in Mount Ayr, Iowa. She was born on April 3, 1926, in Decatur County, Iowa, the daughter of Alvie Daniel and Louie Sindia Evelyn (Bronson) Durell. Kathryn grew up with her siblings and attended country…

Rosa LEE Fifer (1935-2025) Rosa Lee Fifer, daughter of Billie Moore and Opal Irene (Vanderpool) Robison, was born May 10, 1935, at home near Maloy, Iowa. Rosa grew up along with her two sisters, Ruby and Loretta. Rosa’s faith would lead her through her life as she attended revivals at Ellston that left a mark…

Linda Lorraine Swank Swanson (1942-2025) Linda Lorraine Swank was born December 2, 1942, in Creston, Iowa to Lawrence and Wilma (Greenman) Swank. Linda married Bob Swanson on January 20, 1963, at the First Baptist Church in Mount Ayr.  Together, they raised two sons, Gary Lynn Swanson and Ronny Duane Swanson. Over the years, they lived in…

Daniel Cory Willis (1972-2025) Daniel Cory Willis was born on October 20, 1972, in Mount Ayr, Iowa, to Francis and Elaine Willis. Older siblings Craig and Kim welcomed him home, then later came another brother, Cole. Cory was baptized as a child at the Mount Ayr First Baptist Church. He grew up following Craig and…

Carl Leroy Lilly (1940-2025) Carl Leroy Lilly, son of Herman “Pink” and Margaret (Miller) Lilly, was born June 2, 1940, at home in Union County, Iowa. Carl grew up at Afton with a strong work ethic. He farmed in addition to working several years at a quarry between Winterset and Greenfield. Carl married Barbara Kenagy…