Obituaries
Emmett J Proffit
Emmett J Proffitt, 75, passed away on January 13, 2024. Emmett will be buried at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery in the Garden of Last Supper.Emmett was born on October 29, 1948, in Cedar Rapids, IA. He worked for several years for Collins Radio Co. until his retirement.Emmett is preceded in death by his parents, Emmons Proffitt, and Isabella Belcher. He is survived by his sisters, Eveleyn Strait of Marion, IA, Carmen Ritchison of Winter Haven, FL, Dolores (Gene) Carter of Rosco, IL, and Dinah Folkers of Shellsburg, IA. Michael “Mike” Burkhart
Michael “Mike” Burkhart, age 69, passed away on Monday, January 15, 2024, at his home in Vinton. Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 20, 2024 from 1:00 PM until 2:15 PM at the Phillips Funeral Home Chapel in Vinton. Funeral services will also be held on Saturday, January 20 at 2:30 PM with Rev. Stephen Preus officiating. Harvey William Weiss
Harvey William Weiss, age 87, passed away on Sunday, December 31, 2023, at University Hospitals and Clinics.Visitation will be held on Friday, January 19, 2023 at the Phillips Funeral Home in Vinton (212. E. 6th Street) from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, January 20, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church, with Rev. Alice “Milly” Mildred Stenlund
Alice “Milly” Mildred Stenlund, age 93, was the first born of six daughters, passed away on January 11, 2024, at the Christian Park Healthcare Center, Escanaba, MI. She was born on April 26, 1930, to August and Jennie (Maki) Karasti.A life full of energy and commitment to the many she cared for. In 1948, she married the love of her life, Lloyd Stenlund at Calvary Lutheran Church. Ruth K. Wachal
Ruth K. Wachal, age 93, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at Corridor Crossing Place in Cedar Rapids, with her family by her side.Services will be held at 1:00 PM, Friday, January 19, 2024, at the Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories.Ruth was born on September 20, 1930, in Berlin, Germany, the daughter of Hans and Gertrud Holzberger. Kendra Lynne Thorgaard
Kendra Lynne Thorgaard, 64, passed away on May 31, 2023 after a heroic and unflinching 6 year battle with cardiac sarcoidosis, metastatic bile duct cancer and chronic myelogenous leukemia. She was born August 22, 1958 to Tom and Betty (Stueck) Wilson in Vinton, Iowa. She was preceded in death by both her parents. She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Greg Thorgaard; two daughters, Heather Thorgaard of Chicago, Illinois and Samantha (Andrew) Spicer of Austin, Texas; one son, Erik (Reagan) Thorgaard of St. James “Jim” Mathew Meinert
James “Jim” Mathew Meinert, age 86, died Friday, January 12, 2024 in Sioux City, IA at Bickford of Sioux City. He was born on September 7, 1937 to Dallas and Madelon Meinert in Cedar Rapids, IA.Jim graduated from Keystone High School in Keystone, IA in 1955. After high school graduation, Jim enlisted with several of his Keystone classmates and proudly served his country in the Army. Linda Cole
Following a prolonged illness, Linda Cole, 78, passed away Sunday, January 14, 2024, at
the Hiawatha Care Center. Graveside service and Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Van
Steenhuyse-Teahen Funeral Home is serving the family.
Linda was born September 22, 1945, in Vinton, the only child of Lloyd “Tag” and Geraldine “Jeri”
(Bassett) Lyons. Velma Mae Stone LeClere Jensen
Velma Mae Stone LeClere Jensen, 100, of Coggon, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester, Iowa. A celebration of Velma’s life will be held later in the Spring, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Central City, where the family will greet friends from 10 a. Reverend Dan L. Merchant
Reverend Dan L. Merchant passed away peacefully on the afternoon of January 10, 2024, after a long battle with Parkinson's.A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 15, 2023, at Memorial Services of Iowa (4208 N. Ankeny Blvd) with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. A graveside service will take place at 3:00 p.m. at Garrison Cemetery in Garrison, Iowa.