Obituaries
Sharon L. Cowden
Sharon L. Cowden, age 78, of Keystone, passed away Monday, March 27, 2023 at the Keystone Care Center, Keystone, Iowa. Funeral service: 2:00 p.m., Sunday, April 2, 2023, at Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, with Pastor Mike Stombaugh officiating. Visitation: 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., Sunday, April 2, 2023, at Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo. Madonna Marie “Donna” (Cote’) Martin
Madonna Marie “Donna” (Cote’) Martin, age 81, passed away on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, following a sudden illness. A memorial visitation will be held for Donna from 2:00 until 4:00 PM, Saturday, April 1, 2023 at the Phillips Funeral Home Chapel (212 E. 6th Street) in Vinton. Donna was born on June 4, 1941 in Sioux City, Iowa, the daughter of Joseph Francis and Margaret (Christiansen) Cote’. Arthur Cleveland Thompson
Arthur Cleveland Thompson, 71, of Belle Plaine, IA passed away March 26, 2023 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.Art was born May 11, 1951 to Leroy and Delphia (Porter) Thompson in Belle Plaine, IA. He graduated from Belle Plaine High School, class of 1969. Art worked for the railroad from 1970 until retirement in 2013. On Oct. 14, 1972 Art married Jeanne DeCoster. Maxine Sauer
Maxine Sauer, 95, passed away at Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton on Sunday, March 26, 2023.Graveside memorial services will be held at 1:00 PM, Thursday, March 30, 2023 at Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton with Rev. Stephen Preus officiating.Maxine was born September 8, 1927 in Vinton, the daughter of Guy and Cecil (Ferguson) Rollinson. On February 20, 1950, she was united in marriage to Charles Sauer. James “Jim” P. Coontz
James “Jim” P. Coontz, 75, of La Porte City, Iowa, died Sunday, March 19, 2023, at MercyOne Hospital in Waterloo.Jim was born on November 28, 1947, in Waterloo, the son of Phil and Rose Coontz. He married Marcy O’Bryon in 1970, and later divorced.He graduated from West High School in 1966. He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged in 1970. Robert “Bob” Gale Bantz
Robert “Bob” Gale Bantz, age 85, passed away surrounded by family on Friday, March 24, 2023 at his home in Osceola.Bob was born on November 29, 1937 to Franklin and Maxine (Kelly) Bantz in Vinton, Iowa. He grew up and graduated in the class of 1956. In May of 1956, right after high school, Bob joined the United States Air force and was honorably discharged in March of 1960. Dennis James Walther
Dennis James Walther, 79, of Belle Plaine, IA passed away March 24, 2023 at his home.Dennis was born November 4, 1943 to Harold and Laura (Kendall) Walther in Iowa City, IA. Growing up in West Liberty, IA, Dennis graduated from West Liberty High School. Following school, he joined the United States Navy. Upon returning from his service, he moved to Davenport where he worked in auto parts sales and for the City of Savannah. Loren D. Houts
Loren D. Houts, 71, of Shellsburg, IA, passed away Tuesday, March 21st, 2023 at Harmony House in Cedar Rapids, IA. Per Loren's wishes there will be no services planned at this time.Loren was born January 18th, 1952 in Cedar Rapids, IA to Orvalle "Dale" and Nelevene (Wilkinson) Houts. He worked in Shellsburg as a carpenter. Loren loved to spend time outdoors on his trips to Alaska.
Robert “Bob” Sand
Robert “Bob” Sand, 85, of Cedar Rapids, formerly of Vinton, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, March 24, 2023.The visitation will be Tuesday, March 28th from 4:00 until 7:00 PM at the Phillips Funeral Home Chapel (212 E. 6th Street) in Vinton. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, March 29 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Vinton, with Rev. Joel G. Kowalsky
Joel G. Kowalsky, 76, of La Porte City, died Friday, March 24, 2023, at Mercy One Waterloo Medical Center. He was born November 7, 1946, in Osage, the son of Arnold and Pearl Butters Kowalsky. He was a 1965 graduate of La Porte City High School. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam Era.He was a carpenter for John G. Miller Construction, later called Cardinal Construction, Inc.