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Obituaries Thursday February 21st

By on February 21, 2013

Gary Gene Geiger, Sr., age 77, of rural Wapello, died Tuesday morning, February 19, 2013, at his home.  The son of Harold and Ruth Atkins Geiger, he was born on November 29, 1935 in Waterloo.  Gary married Kaye Adams in January of 1954.  He married Sandra Jean Lihs on January 20, 1973 in Rock Island, Illinois.  She preceded him in death on February 2, 2007.

 

Gary had worked at US Gypsum in Sperry and retired from GPC in Muscatine after 23 years working in maintenance.

 

He had been a member of the Eagles and the NRA.  He enjoyed bowling and loved fishing including the annual trips to Minnesota along with his grandkids.

 

He is survived by a daughter, Nancy Marx of Muscatine; two sons, Gary & Samantha Geiger, Jr. of Wapello and Scott and Heather Geiger of Englewood, Colorado; eight grandchildren; six great grandchildren; and a special friend, Lola Parkhurst of Wapello.  He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Sandy; a son, Michael; three sisters; and four brothers.

 

The funeral ceremony for Gary Geiger will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, February 23, 2013, at the Dudgeon-McCulley Funeral Home in Wapello with Rev. Lisa Gaston officiating.  Burial will follow at the Fulton Cairo Cemetery, rural Morning Sun.

 

The family will meet friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Friday at the Dudgeon-McCulley Funeral Home.

 

A Memorial Fund has been established for the benefit of the American Cancer Society and the Wapello Rescue Unit.

 

 

Catherine Ellen Dietsch, 86, of Burlington, died at Great River Hospice House, West Burlington, Iowa, on Tuesday afternoon, February 19, 2013.

Born on November 27, 1926 in Burlington, Iowa, she was the daughter of George and Catherine Tarpy Shortridge.She married Kenneth LeRoy Dietsch on December 22, 1964 in Oquawka, Illinois. He died on December 13, 1998.

Catherine was homemaker and also worked at U.S.Borax for seven years. She loved books and always had a passion for reading murder mysteries. She also enjoyed western movies. Catherine lived her life with a very common sense approach and could be counted on for very seasoned wisdom in times of need. Catherine was of the Catholic faith.

 

She is survived by one daughter, Molly Curry of Burlington, Iowa; three sons, Timothy Jude Dietsch of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Sidney Amenell of Burlington, Iowa and Bobby Bergman of Burlington, Iowa; three step-daughters, Judy Smith of Burlington, Iowa, Janet Harzke of Goodridge, Minnesota and Joyce Chapman of West Burlington, Iowa; one step-son, David Dietsch of Goodridge, Minnesota; twelve grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; one brother, George Shortridge; one sister, Lucille; one daughter, Susan Griffith and her husband, Bill Griffith; and one son, Jerry Lee Amenall.

Funeral services for Catherine Ellen Dietsch will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at Prugh’s Chapel. Chaplain Dean Graber will officiate. Interment will be in Prairie Grove Cemetery.

 

The family will receive friends on Friday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. in Prugh’s Chapel. A memorial has been established for Great River Hospice, West Burlington, Iowa. Condolences may be left at www.prughfuneralservice.com.

 

David L. Lafever, 81, of Burlington, died at 10:30 am Tuesday, February 19, 2013, at his home.

 

Born January 19, 1932, in Buffalo Prairie, IL, he was the son of W. E. Lafever and Gertrude Miller. On October 17, 1954, he married Marleen E. Stropes in Edgington, Illinois. She died January 16, 1999.

 

David was a Customer Engineer for IBM for 35 years.  He retired in 1991.

 

He was a graduate of Joy High School in Joy, IL.  He also attended Iowa State University.

 

He was a U.S. Air Force Veteran, serving during the Korean Conflict.

 

He enjoyed fishing and was an avid reader.

 

Survivors include two daughters, Vicki L. (Ken) Plummer of Burlington, and Joni L. (Scott) Lafever-Brown of Normal, IL; one son, Michael D. (Mary) Lafever of Bettendorf, IA; five grandchildren, Caitlin Plummer, Emma Plummer, Ashley Lafever, Tanner Lafever, and Mallory Lafever; and several nieces and nephews.

 

Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Joseph E., and three half-brothers.

 

As per David’s request his body was deeded to the University of Iowa Department of Anatomy.

 

Visitation will be from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM Saturday, February 23, 2013 at Thielen Funeral Home where the family will receive friends.

 

The memorial service for Mr. Lafever will be 11:00 am Saturday, February 23, 2013, at Thielen Funeral Home with Reverend Wayne Weissenbuehler officiating.  A time of food and fellowship will be held in the community room at Thielen Funeral Home following the service.  Burial will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery at a later date.

 

A memorial has been established for Nature Conservancy for Des Moines County, Iowa.

 

Thielen Funeral Home & Crematory is in care of the arrangements.

 

Condolences can be sent to the family by visiting David’s obituary at www.thielenfuneralhome.com.

 

Mrs. Julianna Bertschi, 98, formerly of Dallas City, IL passed away Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 5:20 PM at the Roseville Rehab and Health Care in Roseville, IL where she had resided for the past 3 years.

She was born June 28, 1914 in DallasCity, the daughter of Fred and Anna Wood Cherrill Miller. On November 19, 1939 she married Maxwell Bertschi in Warsaw, IL. He preceded her in death on March 24, 1986.

Mrs. Bertschi attended CarthageCollege and worked as a medical receptionist for the Richmond Clinic in Fort Madison, IA. She had been a member of the former St. Cyprians Episcopal Church in Carthage and was currently a member of St. Lukes Episcopal Church in FortMadison.

She is survived by five daughters, Beverly (Gerry) Falbo of San Rafael, CA, Julie (Herm) Sutter of Mt. Horeb, WI, Cathy (Gary) Collins of Monmouth, IL, Cherrill (Paul) Melcon of Chico, CA and Jennifer (Terry) Miller of Monmouth, 10 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, one sister, Ruth (Bud) Covington of Dallas City and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, 4 sisters, 2 brothers and her parents.

Following cremation, graveside services will be held at a later date in HarrisCemetery near DallasCity. In Lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established for the Roseville Rehab & Health Care. Contributions may be mailed to; Julianna Bertschi Memorial, c/o Banks & Beals Funeral Home, PO Box 503, LaHarpe, IL 61450. Condolences may be left at www.banksandbeals.com.

 

Sandra Lee Hartman, 50, of Burlington, died at 2:20 PM Wednesday, February 20, 2013, at the Great River Hospice House in West Burlington.  Arrangements are pending at the Thielen Funeral Home & Crematory.