Betty Jane Harsh, age 92 of Burlington and formerly of Morning Sun, died Friday February 5, 2016 at the Great River Klein Center in West Burlington. The daughter of Earl and Harriet [Baird] Pogemiller, she was born on June 20, 1923 near Wapello. She was a lifelong resident of Louisa and Des Moines counties in Iowa. She was a graduate of Mediapolis High School and Burlington Business School. She married Robert Allen Harsh [deceased] on August 1, 1945 at Sharon Reformed Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Harsh has two children, Robert William Harsh of Lawrenceville, Georgia and Mary Elizabeth Dodds of Burlington, Iowa. She has five grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. She was preceded on death by her parents, her husband Robert, and four sisters, Blanche, Mary, Nancy, and Norma. Her sister Earleen is living in Georgia and Joanne is living in Wisconsin.
Betty was a lifelong member of Sharon Reformed Presbyterian Church south of Morning Sun, Iowa. In recent years she attended Sunnyside Baptist Church in Burlington where her son-in-law Larry Dodds serves as Pastor. She also attended Flint Hills Church of the Nazarene.
She was well known in her community as one of the women who served neighbors and friends in their times of need. She was active in Sharon church as worship song leader and she was active in the Women’s Missionary Society. Betty took an active role in the day to day business of their farm near Morning Sun for many decades.
Her interests included gardening and birdwatching.
The funeral service will be held Wednesday February 10, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at the Sharon Reformed Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Greg Stiner officiating. Interment will follow at the Sharon Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 1:00-2:00 p.m. prior to the service at the Sharon Church. A memorial has been established for the Larry Dodds Ministries/Romania Missions. Hagele and Honts Funeral Home in Mediapolis is in charge of the arrangements.
Charles L. (Lindy) Meyers, 87, of Burlington, died at 3:25 PM Friday, February 5, 2016, at the Great River Klein Center in West Burlington.
Born February 12, 1928, in Seaton, IL, he was the son of William Henry and Fern Louise Walters Meyers. On February 10, 1952, he married Jo-Anne Sharon Lusk in Monmouth.
He served in the Navy for 6 years and spent over 20 years in the Coast Guard. Charles worked as a diesel mechanic for the City of Burlington for 16 years, retiring in 1987.
He was a U.S. Navy Veteran, serving during the Korean War from February 13, 1945 until August 15, 1951. While in the Navy, he received a Victory Medal, Korean Medal, National Defense with one bronze star, Navy Good-conduct, plus three CG Good Conduct Awards.
He was a member of Wings of Praise Christian Outreach and served as an usher. He was a member of the V.F.W., American Legion and a lifetime member of DAV. He also served as Chaplain Senior Vice. He enjoyed camping, traveling, woodworking, going to Navy reunions, driving the DAV Bus to Iowa City, assisting the Honor Guard with various community events, adored all the family pets and working on projects for the church.
Survivors include his wife, Jo-Anne; one son, Mark (Robin) Meyers of Burlington; one daughter, Mary Anne (Robert) Henry of Burlington; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one sister, Helen Redmond of Monmouth, IL; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and three sisters.
Visitation will be from noon until 7:00 PM with the family to receive friends from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM Monday, February 8, 2016 at Prugh~Thielen Funeral Home & Crematory.
The funeral service for Mr. Meyers will be 10:30 AM Tuesday, February 9, 2016, at Prugh~Thielen Funeral Home & Crematory with Brenda Distelhorst officiating and full military honors rendered by the Burlington Area Veterans Honor Guard. Burial will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery. A time of food and fellowship will be held in the community room at Prugh~Thielen Funeral Home & Crematory following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial has been established for the Wings of Praise Church.
Prugh~Thielen Funeral Home and Crematory is in care of the arrangements.
A photo tribute can be viewed and condolences can be sent to the family by visiting Lindy’s obituary at www.prughthielencares.com.
Mary Ellen Elert, 84, of Burlington, died at 4:10 PM Friday, February 5, 2016, at Sunnybrook Assisted Living in Burlington, surrounded by family.
Born July 3, 1931, in Detroit, MI, she was the daughter of Thomas Birrell and Lorretta Ann Crowley Hyslop. On September 12, 1953, she married John “Jack” Francis Elert in Dearborn, MI. They later divorced. He died December 17, 2002.
Mary was a homemaker. She loved taking care of her children and family. She worked at various times of her life as a secretary, and many years in retail.
She was a member of SS John & Paul Catholic Church. Her favorite dog was Pepper, known as “Poivre” in French. The best time of her life was in Belgium. She enjoyed traveling, sight seeing and learning European history. She enjoyed shopping, bargain hunting, gardening, flowers, antiquing and crossword puzzles, challenged only by doing the New York Times Sunday puzzles in PEN. She enjoyed learning about and trying wine while in Belgium. She loved White Zinfandel.
Survivors include her children, Mary Beth (John) Bissig of Burlington, John J. Elert of Chicago; one granddaughter, Kate (Zach) Dimmitt of Lakewood, CO; one grandson, Evan Thomas (Marie Nicholson) Bissig of Burlington; and several nieces and nephews.
Besides her husband she was preceded in death by her parents, four infants, her brother Donald, sister Bernice, half brother Birrell and half sister Lucille.
The visitation will be from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM Wednesday, February 10, 2016, at the Prugh~Thielen Funeral Home & Crematory where the family will receive friends.
The Funeral Mass of the Resurrection for Mrs. Elert will be 10:00 AM Thursday, February 11, 2016, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with Rev. Father Bill Roush as the Celebrant. Music will be provided by the Des Moines County Resurrection Choir. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, West Burlington.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for Great River Hospice or the Kayla Atkins Foundation.
Prugh~Thielen Funeral Home & Crematory is in care of the arrangements.
A photo tribute can be viewed and condolences can be sent to the family by visiting Mary’s obituary at www.prughthielencares.com.
Maxine E. Clover, 99, of rural Dallas City, IL passed away at 4:35 a.m. Saturday, February 6, 2016 on the farmstead, near Disco, IL, where she was born and lived all but six years of her life.
She was born on November 24, 1916. She was the daughter of Robert and Jenora Rice Ailes. On January 21, 1940 she married Lowell K. Clover in Middletown, IA. He preceded her in death on April 26, 1983.
Mrs. Clover was a 1934 graduate of the LaHarpe High School. She then attended the Burlington Protestant Hospital School of Nurses, graduating in 1938. Maxine was a member of the former Disco Methodist Church where she played the piano for many years. She was also a member of the Union Church in LaHarpe, the Kum Join Us Class of the Union Church, Disco Embroidery Club, a former member of Jane Delano, Henderson County Republican Women, as well as a former member of the Henderson County Home Extension.
She is survived by three daughters, Sherry (Gary) Butler of LaHarpe, IL, Marilyn (Roger) Jackson of LaHarpe, Jeanette (Jim) Ford of LaHarpe, one son, Steven (Denita) Clover of Dallas City, five granddaughters, three grandsons, two step-grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren.
Maxine was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and two sisters, Jane Burg and Neola Brandt.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in LaHarpe with Rev. Bruce Goettsche officiating. Burial will be held in the Terre Haute Cemetery, Terre Haute, IL. Friends may call after 3:00 p.m. Monday, February 8, 2016 at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. A memorial fund has been established for the LaHarpe Union Church and Hospice Compassus of Galesburg. Condolences may be left at banksandbeals.com.
Ernest A. Lieurance, 84, of Dallas City, IL passed away at 10:17 a.m. Thursday, February 4, 2016, at the Memorial Hospital in Carthage, IL.
He was born on March 4, 1931 in Avon, IL the son of Morris and Marie Melvin Lieurance. On November 15, 1952 Ernie married Norma Jean Polhemus in Lewistown, IL. She preceded him on May 28, 2006.
Ernie grew up in Banner, IL. He served in the United States Army from 1948 until 1950. After his service in the Army, Ernie began working on the Ohio Tug Boat until he and his wife had their daughter, Phyllis. Mr. Lieurance then worked as an independent carpenter and retired from J.I. Case in Burlington, IA in 1992. Ernie was a member of the Carpenters Local 410, UAW 801, Duck Unlimited and Dallas City Riverview Sportsmen Club. He was an avid duck hunter and fisherman. Mr. Lieurance loved the outdoors and the time spent with his grandson, Josh.
Survivors include one daughter, Phyllis (David) Dooley of Dallas City, two grandchildren, Errin (Zach) Owens of Peoria, IL and Joshua Dooley of Niota, IL, three great-grandchildren, Gabrielle Paulie, Maloree Mischler and Emma Dooley and one sister, Lois Bull of Canton, IL.
Mr. Lieurance was preceded in death by his parents, wife, four brothers and three sisters.
A graveside service with Military Rites will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, February 12, 2016, at Harris Cemetery, Dallas City, with Barbara Easley officiating. A memorial fund has been established for the Lomax Ambulance Service . Banks and Beals Funeral Home in Dallas City is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be left at banksandbeals.com.
