Obituaries
James “Dan” Daniel Frese
James “Dan” Daniel Frese, 79, of Norway, IA, passed away November 4, 2020, peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving wife and son. He had recently broken his hip, had surgery and got covid in the hospital. Dan fought Parkinson’s for the past three years.Dan was born March 1, 1941 to Arthur and Loretta (Delaney) Frese on the farm near Watkins, Iowa. Robert W. “Bob” Cohrt
Robert W. “Bob” Cohrt, age 83, died at home Thursday, September 3, 2020.A celebration of Bob’s life will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, November 7, 2020 at the Shellsburg American Legion Hall.Robert Wayne Cohrt was born May 27,1937 in the Belle Plaine Hospital, to Ernest and LaVerna (Brunssen) Cohrt. He graduated from Keystone High School and attended Kirkwood Community College. Gary Louis Childers
Gary Louis Childers, 79, passed away on Sunday, November 1. 2020 at his home in Shellsburg.A celebration of Gary’s life will be held at a later date.Gary was born February 19, 1941 in Elgin, Nebraska, the son of Ernest and Mae (Stokes) Childers. Following high school, served his Country in the United States Army from 1959 until 1962. After returning from the service, he attended Creighton University for two years.
Craig Brunssen
Craig Brunssen, 71, passed away Monday, November 2, 2020 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids following a short illness.Private family services will be held Saturday, November 7, 2020 at St. John Lutheran Church in Keystone with Rev. B. Andrew Wright officiating. Please wear a mask. A Celebration of Life for Craig will be held at a later date.Craig was born December 4, 1948, in Belle Plaine, Iowa, the son of Dallas and Phyllis Powers Brunssen. Frank J. Smith
Frank J. Smith, 94, Vinton, Iowa passed away peacefully at home after a short illness on Monday, November 2, 2020. Visitation: 4 – 6 p.m. Monday, November 9, 2020, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Funeral Services: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 10, 2020, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Vinton. Burial: St. Don Haisch
Don Haisch, 87, of Brandon, Iowa, died Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, at his home surrounded by his loving family and friends. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Brandon United Methodist Church. Burial will be at Brandon Cemetery following the service with military rites conducted by Pump-Scheer American Legion Post No. 342 of Jesup, Iowa. Barbara Josephine (Higgins) Zimpfer
Barbara Josephine (Higgins) Zimpfer, age 85, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 1, 2020 at the Vinton Lutheran Home. Private Family Graveside Services will be held at St. John’s Cemetery in Independence.Barbara was born on April 10, 1935 in Independence, the daughter of Leo. and Luella (Brannon) Higgins. She graduated from Independence St. Richard “Dick” William Eldridge
Richard “Dick” William Eldridge, 92, passed away at the Lutheran Home in Vinton, Iowa, on November 1, 2020 while holding the hand of his beloved wife, Edna Mae. Dick and Edna moved together to the Vinton Lutheran Home in March of 2017. Most recently they made their home in the facility’s Memory Care Unit due to the progression of Dick’s dementia. James J. “Jim” Luensman
James J. “Jim” Luensman, 43, of Atkins, Iowa, died from COVID-19 on Friday, October 30, 2020. A visitation will be held from 5 – 8 p.m. on Wednesday, November 3, 2020, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, November 4, 2020, at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Monticello, Iowa. Linda Lee Tharp
Linda Lee Tharp, age 69, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 30, 2020 at Virginia Gay Nursing and Rehab where she made her home. Graveside Services will be held at 11:15 AM, Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton with Rev. Joshua Graber and Brian Weems of Cornerstone Baptist Church officiating. Visitation will be held from 10:00 until 11:00 AM at the Phillips Funeral Home Chapel (212 E.