Richard P.” Smokey” Abrisz, 84, of Burlington, died at 12:30 PM Saturday, March 28, 2015, at the Donnellson Health Care Center in Donnellson.
Born December 15, 1930, in Burlington, he was the son of Joseph Edward and Hazel Minnie Goetz Abrisz. He married Esther Elizabeth Madden, on July 7, 1952 in Tucson, AZ. Marrying Esther was the smartest thing he ever did.
Smokey was a firefighter for the Burlington Fire Department from 1955 to 1969, retiring with a medical disability. On his days off from the fire department, he was a surgical orderly at Burlington Hospital as well as providing emergency response for Superior Ambulance Service. He later worked as a delivery engineer for American La-France Co. from Elmira, NY. His final employment was working as a cast technician for Orthopedic and Reconstructive Surgery. He retired in 1997.
He was a U.S. Air Force Veteran, serving during the Korean War. He was stationed in Okinawa with the 303rd Bomb Wing.
He was a member of Oak Street Baptist Church. He enjoyed photography, computers, and building fire truck models.
Survivors include his wife, Esther, of Burlington; three daughters, Susan Abrisz of Seattle, WA, Cathy Ullery of Burlington, and Cynthia (John) McCrory of Atkins; two sons, Joseph (Catherine) Abrisz of De Forest, WI and Terry Abrisz of Burlington; six grandchildren, Rachelle Holdefer, Craig Abrisz, Carissa Tutt, Katie Lann, Meredith Abrisz, and Michael McCrory; 8 great-grandchildren; one sister, Jacqueline Balbort of Des Moines; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Richard David Abrisz, two sisters, Mary Schweers and Betty Egert, three sisters in infancy, and one brother in infancy.
Visitation will be from noon until 8:00 PM with the family to receive friends from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM Tuesday, March 31, 2015, at Thielen Funeral Home.
The funeral service for Mr. Abrisz will be 10:00 AM Wednesday, April 1, 2015, at Thielen Funeral Home with Reverend Gary Karas officiating. Burial will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery. Full military honors will be rendered by the Burlington Area Veterans Honor Guard. A time of food and fellowship will be held at Oak Street Baptist Church following the burial.
Memorials have been established for Oak Street Baptist Church and the Alzheimer’s Association.
A photo tribute can be viewed and condolences can be sent to the family by visiting Smokey’s obituary at www.thielenfuneralhome.com.
Rhonda Lynn Mathews, 59, of Mt. Pleasant and formerly of Danville, died at her home Friday, March 27, 2015.
Visitation will be held after noon on Thursday, April 2, 2015 at Elliott Chapel, New London. The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Immediately following visitation, the family will leave for Jaggar Cemetery for interment of cremains. A memorial has been established.
Mr. Ray L. Leitch, Sr. 82, of Danville, died Sunday, March 29, 2015 at his home. Services are pending at Elliott Chapel, New London.
Robert Anthony “Bob” Arbige, 78, of Burlington, Iowa, died at Great River Medical Center, West Burlington, Iowa, on Saturday, March 28, 2015.
Born on March 7, 1937 in Providence, Rhode Island, he was the son of Anthony and Eva Harrison Arbige. He married Mary Ann Wendland on October 7, 2000 in Nashua, Iowa at the Little Brown Church.
Bob was employed at IAAP as Chief of Operations on the civilian side. After many years of service he retired and went to work for Community Action with the Regional Transit Authority for Burlington.
Bob enjoyed snowmobiles, motor sports and loved sailing. He was a fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes, especially basketball. He was very creative and industrious; fabricating parts for use in motor sports was a hobby he enjoyed. He was the Midwest Regional Champion in Formula V Cars; a popular open wheel, single-seater junior motor racing formula car.
Photography was also a hobby that he enjoyed. As a young boy he loved fishing, hunting and the natural wonders of the outdoors. Most recently he was a member of the Patriot Guard where he employed his skills by building and riding three wheeled “trike” motorcycles. He was of the Catholic faith.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann; one step-daughter, Breena (Stan) Davis of Lake Elsinore, California; four grandchildren, Kayla, Isaac, Eli & Solomon; four nieces and one nephew.
He was preceded in death by his parents, step-father, one brother and two sisters.
A Celebration of Life visitation followed by military rites will be held on Thursday, April 2, 2015 from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. with the military rites at 7:00 p.m. by the Burlington Area Veterans Honor Guard. Interment will be in Lake View Garden Cemetery, Spirit Lake, Iowa on April 7, 2015 at 1:00 p.m with local burial rites. Memorials have been established in memory of Robert Arbige. Condolences may be left at www.prughfuneralservice.com.
Samuel “Tony” Brown, 23, of Burlington, died at 9:45 AM Thursday, March 26, 2015, as the result of an automobile accident in Henderson County, Illinois.
Born February 16, 1992, in Kansas City, KS, he was the son of Samuel Anthony Brown and Renee Marie Smith.
Tony worked in IT for Staple’s in Burlington.
He was a 2010 graduate of Danville High School.
He sang in the Danville Show Choir. He enjoyed playing video games and spending time with family and friends.
Survivors include his mother and step-father, Renee and Tom Smith of West Burlington; his father, Samuel Anthony Brown of Kansas City, MO; one brother, Gary Brown at home; his maternal grandmother, Linda Marx of Kansas City, KS; his paternal grandmother, Barbara Brown of Kansas City, MO, and numerous friends.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather.
Cremation has been entrusted to the care of Thielen Crematory.
A celebration of life for Tony will be from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM Tuesday, March 31, 2015, at Thielen Funeral Home.
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 Tony’s obituary at www.thielenfuneralhome.com.
