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Obituaries Tuesday February 26th

By on February 26, 2013

Frederick Edward “Fred” Meeker, 65, died Thursday February, 21, 2013 at his home in Burlington, Iowa. He was born April 29, 1947, at Burlington Hospital, the son of Harley and Samantha Hirstein Meeker. He was reared on a farm between Kingston and Meeker’s Landing, Iowa in northeastern Des Moines County.

He attended Kingston elementary and Huron junior high schools before graduating from

Mediapolis high school in 1965 where he was student council president. In 1967, he graduated from Southeastern Community College where he was voted student commencement speaker. He was a floor leader for the student senate at the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, receiving his B. A. degree from that institution in 1969 with a major in social studies. He earned master’s degrees in special education from the University of Texas/Dallas in 1981 and in history from Western Illinois University, Macomb, in 1993. His thesis for the latter was on the Black Hawk War. He was a member of international honor societies in education (Delta Kappa Pi) and history (Phi Alpha Theta). In the mid-90s, he worked on his doctorate in education at UNI, completing the course work and passing the comprehensive examinations in 1997.

He was elected state president of Iowa Young Democrats in 1968, and was the youngest delegate to the Democratic National Convention that year in Chicago. He was chosen to lead the Pledge of Allegiance from the podium on the closing night of that convention. He taught social studies at the college and high school levels in Iowa and drivers education and special education in Iowa and Texas. In 1970, he was elected the youngest Democratic central committee chair in Iowa. During warmer months in the 1980s he walked across the country to draw attention to the need for congressional term limits, and wrote a book, “Distances,” about his experiences. He also performed professionally a one-person play about Harry Truman over twenty times around the Midwest during this period. In 1987, he co-wrote a play about the Constitutional Convention for its Bicentennial and performed at various locations a play he wrote on a state grant about Iowa history for the state’s Sesquicentennial in the 1990s.

 

In 2003, he completed “The Glory Makers,” a book in tribute to Coach Bud McLearn and the Mediapolis High School Bullettes girls basketball teams from 1959 to 1987.

 

He was of the Unitarian-Universalist persuasion. He especially enjoyed his family, friends, pets, music, and drama.

He is survived by a brother, Edwin Dale Meeker of Carman, Illinois, a nephew Jack Edwin Meeker , a great-niece Ashton Leigh Meeker, and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.   He was preceded in death by an infant sister, Janet Sue Meeker, and his mother and father.

 

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. in Prugh’s Chapel. Susan Diehl will conduct the service. Interment will be is Aspen Grove Cemetery.

 

The family will receive friends at Prugh’s Chapel on Tuesday evening from 6:00 until 7:30 p.m.

 

A memorial has been established for the Des Moines County Historical Society.  Condolences may be sent to www.prughfuneralservice.com

 

Grace Marie Hattabaugh, 92 of Roseville, Illinois died at 8:00 a.m.Monday February 25, 2013 in the RosevilleNursing & RehabilitationCenter in Roseville. She was born December 12, 1920 in Bayard, Iowa, the daughter of Raymond and Lizzie Schick Schwartz. On January 5, 1945, she married Lloyd Hattabaugh. He preceded her in death in 1980.

Mrs. Hattabaugh had worked as a secretary in Washington, D.C. during World War II. She then lived most of her married life in the Granite City, MO. area. She enjoyed flowers, bird watching, hand sewing, her dogs, and being with her family.

Survivors include eighteen nieces and nephews, including her local caregivers- Jerry and Kathy Keimig of Stronghurst, IL., one sister- Helen Kulhavy of Casa Grande, AZ., and one sister in law- Lela Schwartz of Guthrie Center, IA. She was preceded in death by her husband, two sisters- Edna Keimig and Gladys Peterson, and three brothers- Howard, Raymond and Kenneth Schwartz.

No visitation or services are planned at this time. Cremation rites have been accorded. Graveside services will be held in the HighlandTownshipCemetery in Bayard, Iowa at a later date. Memorials to the Activities Dept of the Roseville Rehabilitation and Health Care may be sent in care of Banks & Beals Funeral Home, P.O. Box 299, Stronghurst, Illinois61480. Condolences may be left online at http://www.banksandbeals.com/.

 

Lois Jean Waterman, 68 of the Hopper community, (rural Stronghurst, IL.) died at 7:54 a.m.Monday February 25, 2013 at her home. She was born June 22, 1944 in, the daughter of Perry and Blanche Erickson Baughman. She was married to Jack Taylor. They divorced. She then married Harold Waterman. They later divorced.

Lois had worked at General Electric Company in Burlington for many years, retiring in 2002. She enjoyed flowers, going to the casino, and especially, spending time with her grandchildren and family.

Survivors include two daughters- Barbara (Elliot) Sherdahl of Carman, IL., Wendy Kayser of Burlington, IA., three grandchildren- Connor Sherdahl, Kelsey and Kayla Kayser, and one sister- Margaret Search of Stronghurst. She was preceded in death by her parents, and two sisters- Marcia Baughman and Louise Krow.

No visitation or services are planned at this time. Cremation rites have been accorded. Banks & Beals Funeral Home of Stronghurst is assisting the family. Condolences may be left online at http://www.banksandbeals.com/

 

Ruth Irene Luttenegger, 84, of Burlington, died at 11:15 PM Sunday, February 24, 2013, at the Great River Hospice House in West Burlington.

 

Born December 21, 1928, in Britt, IA, she was the daughter of Charles Irving and Dovie Wise Stratton. On August 18, 1947, she married Paul Frederick Luttenegger in Oak Street Baptist Church in Burlington.  He died September 21, 2012.

 

Ruth was a loving wife, mother, and homemaker.

 

She was a member of Crossroads Community Church.  She loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.  She was a great cook and piemaker, she enjoyed gardening working with flowers and reading.

 

Survivors include one son, Jonathon Paul (Linda) Luttenegger of Burlington; three daughters, Joleen (Wayne) Gerst of Bloomington, IL, Rebecca (Robert) Bang of Durham, MO, and Laura (Jeffery) Underwood of Burlington; 12 grandchildren, Emily (Robert) Baker, Samuel (Cassie) Luttenegger, Aaron Luttenegger, Caleb Luttenegger, Bethany Luttenegger, Anna Luttenegger, Jonathon (Jennie) Bang, Jenny (Jason) Guilfoyle, Heidi (Thane) Hanson, Heather (Eric) Farinas, Carrie (Kevin) Moore, and Christin (Andrew) White; 14 great-grandchildren, Daniel, Chloe, Elizabeth, and Isaac Hanson, Tyler and Tessa Moore, Drew and Dylan White, Ellie, Olivia, and Jonathon Farinas, Jaydon Luttenegger, and Isaiah and Isabella Bang; one brother, Sydney (Ruth) Stratton of Burlington; one sister, Laura Spitler of Mulberry, AR; two sister-in-laws; Dorothy Hoschek of Burlington and Helen Luttenegger of Burlington; and several nieces and nephews.

 

Besides her husband she was preceded in death by four brothers, Charles, Johnny, Russell and Calvin, one sister, Yvonne.

 

Visitation will be from 8:00 AM until 8:00 PM with the family to receive friends from 5:30 PM until 8:00 PM Friday, March 1, 2013, at Thielen Funeral Home.

 

The funeral service for Mrs. Luttenegger will be 10:00 AM Saturday, March 2, 2013, at Thielen Funeral Home with Rev. Dr. Jason Unzicker officiating.  Burial will be in Kossuth Cemetery.  A time of food and fellowship will be held in the community room at Thielen Funeral Home following the burial.

 

A memorial has been established for Crossroads Community Church.