Obituaries for Tuesday May 18th

Daniel Keith Ayer, 56, of LaHarpe, Illinois, passed away Sunday, May 16, 2021 at the UnityPoint – Memorial Hospital in Carthage.

Dan was born on April 4, 1965 in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Ronald and Janet (Morgan) Ayer. On December 28, 1985 he married Lisa Grider. They later divorced. On October 19, 2015 he married Shaila Oaks. She survives.

Dan was raised in Emden, Missouri and graduated from North Shelbyville High School. Following high school Dan attended Northeast Missouri University before transferring to Western Illinois University to complete his Bachelors Degree. He later returned to Western Illinois University to receive his Masters Degree.

Dan touched the lives of many children throughout his career in education. He worked as a Camp Counselor for disabled children, bus driver, custodian, 1:1 aide, Special Education Teacher and was currently serving as Principal for the Nauvoo-Colusa CSD 325.

Outside of school Dan was a man of many talents. He enjoyed playing the guitar, bass, banjo, ukulele and singing. He played in the bands Boulevard, Lemmings and Ayer & Oaks. He also installed, sanded and finished many hardwood floors and recently began creating stained glass.

Dan’s hobbies included riding his motorcycle and boating.

Survivors include his wife: Shaila; his father: Ron Ayer of Overland Park, Kansas; three sons: Tyler (Allison McKenzie) Ayer of Chico, California, Nate Ayer and Brandon Ayer both of LaHarpe; two step children: Hallie Draughan of LaHarpe and Brandon Wright of Morton, Illinois; one grandchild: Harlee and two step-grandchildren: Grace and Brendon. Also surviving is one sister: Deb (Craig) Antovoni of Stilwell, Kansas.

Dan was preceded in death by his mother: Janet.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 22, 2021 at the Nauvoo-Colusa CSD 325 School Gymnasium with Pastor Maxinne Dennison officiating, followed by a visitation with the family until 5:00 p.m.

A memorial fund has been established for the Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network. Banks & Beals Funeral Home is assisting the family.

To leave a condolence for the family, please visit Dan’s obituary at banksandbeals.com.

Leonard Lane, 82 formerly of Mediapolis, passed away May 17, 2021 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Leonard was born May 26, 1938, the son of Walter and Sue (Eland) Lane. He attended school in Mediapolis and graduated with the class of 1957. On August 28, 1966 he married Dorothy Taeger at Prairie Grove Church. They had one son, Brad.
Leonard loved farming and his antique tractors, with which he participated in the WMT and WHO tractor rides. He enjoyed farm auctions, NASCAR, coffee buddies, trips to Branson, Missouri, and his two grandchildren, Sam and Liz.
In the past he served on the soil conservation commission, was a 4-H leader, church council member at Peace Lutheran Church, and served in the United States Army National Guard.
Leonard is survived by his wife, Dorothy; son, Brad (Jennifer); grandson Sam (Josie); granddaughter, Liz; and sister, Sandra Lord of Mediapolis.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
He was a member of Peace Lutheran Church, where services will be held 10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 20th. Pastor Kathleen Wohlers will officiate. Interment will be held in Prairie Grove Cemetery, rural West Burlington. Visitation will be held 6:00-8:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 19th at Lunning Chapel, where the family will receive friends.
A memorial has been established for Peace Lutheran Church.
Condolences may be left for the family at www.lunningfuneralchapel.com

Mr. Reynoldo Lopez, 52 of Burlington, died at 2:44 p.m. Saturday, May 15, 2021 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and clinics.
Born November 17, 1968 in Mission, Texas, he was the son of Victoria L. de Guevara.
Survivors include seven siblings, Adalberto Guevara, Miguel Angel Guevara, Guillermo Guevara, Guadalupe Quiroz, Maria Margarita Lopez Jilpaz, Maria Elena Garcia, and Vincente Colon.
He was preceded in death by his mother, and two brothers, Juan Guevara and Jose Luis Lopez.
A celebration of life will be held at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 19th at his sister’s home, 215 Summer Street, Burlington. Cremation has been entrusted to Lunning Chapel.
Condolences may be left for the family at www.lunningfuneralchapel.com

Margaret Louise Wells Layer DeJaynes, 99, of New London, died Sunday, May 16, 2021 at New London Specialty Care.
Margaret was born March 24, 1922 in Springville, Iowa, the daughter of Claude Cheyenne and Hazel Grace Allen Wells. After graduating high school, she assisted her father in his dental office and also gave piano lessons. She married Arnold Layer in 1941 and they later divorced. She then moved to the Mt. Pleasant area and worked at the Princess Café, Henry County Selective Service, and the Henry County Courthouse and later worked many years at the Mental Health Institute as Executive Secretary to the Administrator. She also waited tables at the Iris Restaurant. Music was an important part of her life. She sang at a dance for the traveling Lawrence Welk band in Cedar Rapids, later receiving a request to audition which she turned down. She and her sister sang in the Sweet Adeline chorus and then formed a quartet. Later the “Gala Tones” won a national championship followed by a USO tour. She met Arnold DeJaynes in the 1970’s and they married on June 13, 1983. Arnold died April 15, 2017.
Margaret is survived by her son, Ron (Cathryn) Layer of New London; daughters, Terry Fischer of Mt. Pleasant and Hazel Lewis of St. Paul, MN; grandchildren, great-grandchildren; step-grandchildren and step-great grandchildren; step daughter, Denise DeJaynes of New London; and many other beloved DeJaynes relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Jean Shook, brother John, and infant sister Dorothy May.
According to her wishes, Margaret has been cremated and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date, with inurnment in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, rural Mt. Pleasant. Memorial donations may be made to the music department at the New London Christian Church. Elliott Chapel, New London is assisting the family. Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com

Kaylee Runille Manuel, two day old daughter of Ryan and JoBeth Jones Manuel, of Oquawka, IL, passed away at 11:13 p.m. Saturday May 15, 2021 at OSF St Francis Medical Center in Peoria. She was born on Thursday May 13th at 11:36 a.m. in Peoria.
Survivors include her parents, of Oquawka, grandparents; Robin Tassin of Oquawka, Eric Manuel of Little Rock, AR, and Troy Tassin of Plaucheville, LA, great grandmother; Alice Long of Muscatine, IA, aunts and uncles; Audrey and Roger Cook of Stronghurst, IL, Valerie Corey and Nathan Stamp of St. Louis, MO, Sean (Brimmie McBride) Manuel of Oquawka, and Raphael “Ray” Tassin of Oquawka, and two cousins; Arabella and Layla Cook, of Stronghurst. She was preceded in death by grandparents; Darrell and Junille Jones, great grandparents; Lee Long, Charlie Manes, Vivian Waterman, Russell and Ruth Manuel and Philip and Arlah Jern, great aunt; Sharon Kay Long, and great uncle; Ernest Roy “Pete” Jern.
A memorial service will be held at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday , May 18, 2021 at the Stronghurst United Methodist Church with Pastor Lisa Unger officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. A memorial fund has been established for OSF St Francis Medical Center Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Banks & Beals Funeral Home of Stronghurst is assisting the family. Please visit banksandbeals.com to sign the guest book and leave a condolence.

Edward E. Torrence, 68, of LaHarpe, Illinois passed away at 10:44 a.m. Friday, May 14, 2021 at the UnityPoint – Memorial Hospital in Carthage, Illinois.

Ed was born on December 19, 1952 in LaHarpe the son of Walter Herring and Wanda Mae Torrence. On March 24, 1978 he married Rose Simon at the LaHarpe Union Church.

Survivors include his wife: Rose; three children: Valerie Settles, Jason (Tara) Torrence of LaHarpe and Carmen (Joseph) Durr of Pevely, Missouri; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Also surviving are five siblings: Irene Wadham, Garnet Babcock, Donnie Herring, Raymond Herring and Candy Carle.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents; one sister: Joan Sherwood and one brother: Joe Herring.

As per Ed’s wishes, no services are planned. Cremation has been entrusted to Banks & Beals Funeral Home.

Burial will be held at a later date in the LaHarpe Cemetery. To leave a condolence for the family, please visit Ed’s obituary at banksandbeals.com.