Area Obituaries

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…

Maxine Washburn (1925-2025) Maxine Washburn, lifelong resident of the Hatfield, MO area passed away peacefully August 26, 2025, at the age of 100 years and 36 days old. She had been residing at the Worth County Convalescent Center for 10 months. She leaves behind a legacy of kindness, resilience, and dedication to her family and…

Alta Hazel (Ward) Vanderflught (1934-2025) Alta Hazel (Ward) Vanderflught, better known as Hazel, was born September 24, 1934, in Leon, Iowa. She was the oldest daughter born to Floyd “Curly” and Virginia (McAdam) Ward. Hazel was united in marriage to Donald Eugene Vanderflught on January 17, 1952. To this union was born 6 children: Randy…

Michael G. Walkup February 3, 1951 – August 24, 2025 Mike Walkup, 74, of Winterset, passed away, surrounded by his family, on Sunday, August 24, 2025, at Azria Health Center in Winterset. Mike was born February 3, 1951, to Harold & Annabel Walkup. He grew up in Redding and graduated from high school in 1969.…

Cindy Baker (1949-2025) Cindy Baker, of Clearfield, Iowa, passed away peacefully on August 13, 2025, at the age of 76. Born Cynthia Jean Gordon in Des Moines, Iowa, to Dr. Marvin Gordon and Jean Francis (Slocum) Gordon on January 16, 1949, Cindy was the eldest of four sisters, including Kathy, Connie, and Christie. She spent…

Richard “Dick” Hammond, Jr. (1946-2025) Richard “Dick” Hammond, Jr., 76, of Creston, formerly of Diagonal passed away Saturday August 16, 2025, at his home surrounded by his family. Celebration of Life Memorial Services will be 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at Powers Funeral Home in Creston. The service will be live streamed. Theodore J.…

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…