Delores Naomi Roberts, 84, of West Burlington, died at 10:35 AM Saturday, June 6, 2015, at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City.
Born June 17, 1930, in Burlington, she was the daughter of Wesley and Josephine Macacia Waters. She married Leland Weir in 1946 in Burlington. He died in 1970. On October 7, 1972, she married Gary Dean Roberts in Stronghurst, IL. He died September 18, 2011.
Delores was a homemaker.
She was of the Christian faith. She enjoyed cooking, gambling, walking at the mall, fishing, golf, traveling, writing cards and letters, and most of all spending time with her family.
Survivors include her daughter, Linda Rittmer of Phoenix, AZ; seven grandchildren, Matthew, Brad, Andrew and Lucas Weir, David and Robert Buechel, and Mark Rittmer; 15 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Dan Waters of Salt Lake City, UT, Wesley Waters of Salt Lake City, UT, and several nieces and nephews.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, one son, Danny Weir and one uncle, Joe Macacia.
Visitation will be from 9:00 AM until 10:00 AM Tuesday, June 9, 2015, at Thielen Funeral Home where the family will receive friends.
The funeral service for Mrs. Roberts will be 10:00 AM Tuesday, June 9, 2015, at Thielen Funeral Home with Pastor Dan Dingus officiating. Burial will be in Sacred Heart 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 St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
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 Delores’s obituary at www.thielenfuneralhome.com.
Bryon Dale “B-dog” McMillen, 57 years, of Fort Madison, Iowa died unexpectedly at 7:44 pm Thursday, June 4, 2015 at Genesis East Medical Center, Davenport, Iowa. He was born February 24, 1958 at Fort Madison, Iowa, a son of Dale Harvey and Jeana Melveen (Nicholson) McMillen. On July 30, 1993 at Fort Madison, Iowa, he married Lori Sanders. She survives.
Bryon was a 1976 graduate of Fort Madison High School. He learned to ride motorcycles when he was 12 years old, and rode them his whole life. He was the greatest, self proclaimed, “Wheelie” rider anywhere. When he was young, he earned many awards during Trials motorcycle competitions. He lived in Texas for six years, where he learned his carpentry skills. He also loved to fly and earned his pilot’s license in Texas. Bryon was a master carpenter and millwright. He worked for Millwright Services for 20 years. He enjoyed working with and joking around with his coworkers. He was a member of the Holy Family Parish. He liked hockey, baseball, watching professional basketball, and shooting firearms. He loved his kids and his wife with all his heart.
He is survived by his wife, Lori McMillen, of Fort Madison, Iowa; his father, Dale McMillen, of Rio Hondo, Texas; two sons: Bryor McMillen (Danielle Watznauer), of Wever, Iowa and Connor McMillen, of Fort Madison, Iowa; two brothers: Allen (Jodee) McMillen, of Fort Madison, Iowa and Kerry (Patti) McMillen, of Rio Hondo, Texas; one sister, Lenora (Eric) Geise, of O’Fallon, Missouri; one aunt, Linda (Dave) Berck, of Taylorville, Illinois; two nephews, Ryon and Derek McMillen; two nieces, Karissa and Erica Geise; two great nieces, one great nephew, many cousins, his “baby girl, Yadi”, and his granddog “Bo Duke”. He was preceded in death by his mother, Jeana; grandparents, Melvin and Martha Nicholson and Harvey and Helen McMillen; two uncles, Wayne Nicholson and Don McMillen.
Because of Bryon’s love for motorcycles, the family is encouraging everyone that can to ride their motorcycles to the services. A Rosary will be recited at 3:00 pm Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at the Barr Memorial Chapel. His family will continue to meet friends from 5:00 – 7:00 pm, Tuesday evening, where a Christian Wake Service will be held at 7:00 pm at the funeral home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am Wednesday, June 10, 2015 at Holy Family Parish, Sacred Heart Church, Fort Madison, Iowa, with Reverend Mark Spring as Celebrant. A memorial has been established, contributions may be left at the church or at the Barr Memorial Chapel. Online condolences to the McMillen family may be made at the Barr Memorial Chapel and Cremation Services website, www.barrmemorialchapel.com.
George D. “Jack” Brokaw, 92, of Biggsville, Illinois, passed away on June 5, 2015 in Stronghurst, Illinois. He was born September 4, 1922, near Raritan, Illinois, the son of George E. and Mary Gunter Brokaw.
Jack was a 1940 graduate of Media High School. He served in the Army Air Force as a member of the 397th fighter squadron during World War II in the European Theater, and participated in the D-Day invasion of Normandy. While stationed in England, he met his future wife, Pat, whom he married on July 2, 1945 in Manchester, England. She preceded him in death on March 25, 2004.
After the war, he and Pat returned to the states and lived in Raritan, IL, and Kansas City, MO. They moved to the farm near Biggsville in 1948, where they lived until 1999 when they moved into their new home on West Street in Biggsville. After Pat’s death, Jack continued to live there until 2013, when he moved to Oakwood Estates in Stronghurst.
Jack loved farming and was extremely active in promoting land conservation. He enjoyed doing stonework, woodworking, and stained glass. He was a lifelong learner who loved to read, travel, design and create. He was a member of the Rozetta Baptist Church. He served 34 years on the board of directors of the Raritan State Bank. He was a 32nd Degree Mason of the Abraham Lincoln Lodge #518. He was a charter member of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. and served on numerous county and civic boards during his lifetime. He chaired the committee to get the County District Library formed and help build its first building on Main Street, in Biggsville. He co-developed the Hend-Co Hills Golf Course. He gave many years of service on the Biggsville Village Board and was a long time member of the NRA, Lions Club, American Legion and Gold Circle Member of the Veterans Of Foreign Wars.
Survivors include one daughter, Terry (Arthur) Bourne of Gulf Shores, AL, one son, Steve (Sherri) Brokaw of Biggsville, five grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, one great great granddaughter, two sisters, Lois Campbell of Stronghurst, Lillian Bray of LaHarpe, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, two brothers, James and John in 2012, and one granddaughter in 1979.
Visitation will be from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in Stronghurst. The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday June 10, 2015 at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in Stronghurst. Burial, with military rites, will follow in the Raritan Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for Beacon Of Hope Hospice and Shriners Children’s Hospital. Condolences may be left at banksandbeals.com.
Mr. Stephen Frank Lozar, 64, of rural LaHarpe passed away at 4:26 AM, Saturday, June 6, 2015 at the Great River Medical Center in West Burlington, IA. Stephen was born on July 7, 1950 in Sussex, NJ, the son of Frank and Rowena Arthur Lozar. On June 21, 1980 he married Dianne Clover Furia in Sussex, NJ.
He worked for 14 years as a Technician for Regional Fuel, Oil and Heating in Franklin, NJ. In 2001 He and his wife moved to Illinois. Mr. Lozar then worked at Pinnacle Foods in Fort Madison, IA for 14 years. He enjoyed golfing and riding Harley-Davidson Motorcycles. Stephen loved woodworking and had made all the furniture and finish work in his home. He especially liked his three cats.
Survivors include his wife, Dianne, one step-daughter, Laura Lee Gardiner of Dallas, TX. Also surviving are his loving extended family.
Stephen was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Janet.
Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in LaHarpe with Greg McClintock officiating. Burial will follow in the Terre Haute Cemetery. A visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. In Lieu of Flowers, Memorial Contributions may be made to the Oak Lane Nursing and Rehab Center, Stronghurst, IL. Condolences may be left at banksandbeals.com.
LaVera Evelyn Burgus Gerst, age 89, of rural Yarmouth, passed away on Friday, June 5, 2015, at the Prairie Ridge Care & Rehab in Mediapolis. Born July 6, 1925 in rural Sperry, she was the daughter of Herbert Charles and Daisy Esther Marshall Burgus. On November 3, 1943 she married Robert Clarence Gerst at the Breezy Point Chapel of the Norfolk, Virginia Naval Base. He preceded her in death on October 8, 1944.
LaVera graduated from Sperry High School in 1942 at the age of 16. She continued her education at the Burlington Business School and worked in the Des Moines County Treasure’s Office.
LaVera has been a lifelong member of the Sperry United Methodist Church and served for many years as the Sunday School treasurer. She served as a Past Worthy Matron of the White Star Chapter #388 of the Order of Eastern Star, was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the U.S.S. Yorktown Association. In addition to being a lifelong support to her husband on the farm, LaVera was devoted to her family and friends. She enjoyed raising bountiful gardens to share with others. She enjoyed crocheting and was a talented seamstress. She was well known for her French Bread, cinnamon rolls, cookies, and pies. LaVera had a big heart and was always available to care for others in time of need. Her life was a blessing and her memory a treasure.
LaVera is preceded in death by her husband of fifty years, Robert ‘Butch’; brothers, Harold and James Burgus; and sisters, Dorothy Crow and Pauline Kester.
Left to cherish her memory are her children, Dr. Jerald R. Gerst of Santa Rosa, California, John Gerst of Yarmouth, Judith Wade of Davenport, and Jane Gerst of Mediapolis; six grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
LaVera’s family would like to thank her caretakers at the Prairie Ridge Care & Rehab for their compassion and devoted care during her residence.
The funeral ceremony for LaVera Gerst will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, June 10, 2015, at the Sperry United Methodist Church with Rev. Jeff Kodis officiating. Burial will follow at the Kossuth Cemetery with a lunch gathering to follow at the church.
An Eastern Star service will be held at 6:00 PM on Tuesday at the Hagele and Honts Funeral Home in Mediapolis where the family will then meet friends until 8:00 PM.
A Memorial Fund has been established for the benefit of the Sperry United Methodist Church.
Condolences may be given and viewed at www.hageleandhonts.com.
