Ralph Delbert Ives, 71, of Burlington, Iowa, died Friday, March 20, 2015 at Great River Medical Center, West Burlington, Iowa. He was born January 3, 1944 in Burlington, Iowa, the son of Louis E. and Viola E. Smutzer Ives. He met Sharon K. Watkins in 1976 and after a long courtship they were married on December 19, 1985 in Burlington, Iowa. She died October 9, 2013.
Ralph served in the U.S. Navy as Petty Officer from 1966 to 1968. He was a machinist for Burlington Northern Railroad for 30 years. He was of the Protestant faith. Ralph enjoyed family gatherings with Sharon, traveling when able, cookouts, fish fry’s, fishing, mushroom hunting, NASCAR Racing and gardening.
Ralph is survived by one sister, Mary Lou Ives of Danville, Iowa; two sister-in-laws, Sue Ives of Burlington and Celia (Richard) Anderson also of Burlington, Iowa; several nieces, nephews and many friends of the family. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Sharon; one sister, Joanne Rudicil; and one brother, Clifford. Ives.
Funeral Services will be held in Prugh’s Chapel Wednesday, March 25, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. Pastor Dan Dingus will officiate. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery. The family will receive friends in Prugh’s Chapel on Tuesday evening from 5:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.
A memorial has been established for the Des Moines County Humane Society.
Thomas ‘Tom’ Benton Cross, age 48, of Silsbee, Texas, died Tuesday, March 17, 2015, at his home. The son of Jerome ‘Jerry’ and Mary McKee Cross, he was born on January 13, 1967 in Burlington. His father preceded him in death in 2014.
Tom graduated from Wapello High School in 1985 and from the University of Iowa with a degree in electrical engineering. He worked as an electrical engineer in locations of Macon, Georgia and Texarkana, Texas and was currently employed with Richard Industrial Group in Beaumont, Texas.
He enjoyed bicycling, fishing, canoeing, and simply being outdoors.
Tom is survived by his mother, Mary Cross of Wapello; two sisters, Elizabeth Kuhlemeyer of Morning Sun and Sarah & Jesse Wright of Ottumwa; a nephew, Michael Vancil of Edwardsville, Illinois; three nieces, Samantha, Gwynne, and Zoey Wright of Ottumwa; and his dog, Beau.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 28, 2015, at the Parsons Cemetery, rural Wapello. A fellowship luncheon will follow the graveside service.
The Dudgeon-McCulley Funeral Home in Wapello is providing the care and arrangements.
Condolences may be given and viewed at www.dudgeonmcculley.com.
Anna Lea Simpson, age 72, of Wapello and formerly of Oakville, died Sunday morning, March 22, 2015, at the Wapello Nursing & Rehab Center. The daughter of Kenneth W. and Anna Belle Lott Ricketts, she was born on March 15, 1943 in Oakville. She married Robert Simpson on September 5, 1961 and they divorced in 1974. She married Richard Heater and they later divorced.
Anna attended school in Wapello and later received her GED. She was a homemaker and Certified Nursing Assistant. Anna loved her dogs and her grandchildren.
She is survived by two daughters, Laurie & Jeff Breon of Wapello and Miranda Simpson of Des Moines; two grandchildren, Scott & Tabby Breon of Windermere, Florida and Jessica Breon of Wapello; a sister, Phyllis & Bob Johnson of New London; and a brother, John & Linda Ricketts of Lake Dallas, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, William Ricketts.
The funeral ceremony for Anna Simpson will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, March 27, 2015, at the Dudgeon-McCulley Funeral Home in Wapello. Rev. Pam Kranzler will officiate. Burial will follow at the Wapello Cemetery.
Friends may call from 3:00 to 7:00 PM on Thursday at the Dudgeon-McCulley Funeral Home where the family will meet friends from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.
A Memorial Fund has been established for the benefit of the Wapello Community Ambulance Service.
Condolences may be given and viewed at www.dudgeonmcculley.com
The memorial service for Mr. Greg McKinnon, 65 of Colfax, WI and formerly New London, will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday at Elliott Chapel, New London. The family will receive friends from 1 to 3 p.m. on Friday. Inurnment of his cremains will be held at a later date. A memorial has been established.
Jesse Mac Starling Sr., 68, of Burlington, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 20th, 2015 at the University of Iowa Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa.
Jesse Starling, Sr. was born April 17, 1946 in Crossett, Arkansas, to Fred Douglas and Geneva Gladys Turner Starling Sr. He graduated from Burlington High School in 1964 where he was an outstanding saxophone player. He served in the U.S. Army, during the Vietnam War. He worked as a financial analyst for 18 years at IBM in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After retiring, he returned to Burlington, Iowa. He found so much joy serving the Lord at Faith Temple Church of God in Christ. He will be forever missed and remembered for his positive attitude and unmatched kindness to others.
He is survived by his stepmother, Stella Starling of Crossett, Arkansas; siblings, Fred (Vivienne) Starling Jr. of Burlington, Iowa, Bertha Brown of Burlington, Iowa, and Bernard Hunter of Buffalo, New York; children, Rhonda (Terry) Johnson of Rockford, Illinois, Sherlene (Farrad) Ali of St. Louis, Missouri, and Jesse (Angela) Starling Jr. of Minneapolis, Minnesota; 12 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Geneva and Fred Douglas Starling, Sr; siblings, Rocky Hunter and Ava Hunter.
Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, March 26th, 2015 at 12:00 noon at Union Baptist Church in Burlington, Iowa, with the family receiving friends one hour prior to the service. Elder Fred Starling will officiate. Later services and burial will be in Crossett, Arkansas on Thursday, April 2nd at 12 noon.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Faith Temple Church of God in Christ Church. Condolences may be left at www.prughfuneralservice.com.
