Larry “Swede” Johnson of West Burlington, IA left God’s green earth on December 6, 2021 at the Hospice House in West Burlington.
Larry Richard Johnson was born on April 18, 1940 to Richard “Dick” Johnson and Viola “Titter” Boline Johnson in Burlington. He graduated from Burlington High School in 1958. He joined the United States Navy in 1958-1962 and was on the USS Marshall. He married Janet Leah Faris on December 20,1959. Together they had 3 daughters and a life time of good memories.
Swede worked at the US Gypsum, Simpson Paper and Mount Pleasant Warehouse. He then went to work and retired from his favorite job at US Lock & Dam 18. He also drove cars for Deery Brothers, where Julie works, for 15 years. He may have gotten a speeding ticket or two!
Swede loved to pheasant hunt with Roger and Jerry, liked to trap shoot with Snooper, and go to the Bee’s games with his daughters Carrie and Cindy. Saturday mornings were spent at The Eagles with his buddies Charlie and John and all the other old timers. Sunday mornings were usually out for breakfast with Carrie. Swede and Jan also enjoyed several vacations with good friends Rodney and Tina Jones and David and Judy Hanks. For the last 17 years Wednesday nights were Family Nights with Jan and his girls, granddaughters and eventually great granddaughters! He owned and decked out 13 beautiful trucks and did a lot of wood working, and he was always ready to have a beer with anyone! He will no doubt be greeted and a have a beer with good friends Dick Beckman, Mike Lathrop, David Hanks and Navy buddies Bob Cottam, Ed Lloyd, and Rodney Jones who all went before him. His little “hound dog” Ebby will be there licking his face. Swede was a member of The Eagles, The Moose and a lifetime member of the VFW.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Donald “Fats” Johnson, his sister Linda Johnson, and brother Bobby at age 8. In-laws Pauline Faris-Tisor, Gene Faris and Don Tisor. Sister-in-law Sandy Jacoby, brother-in-law Dick Faris and brother-in-law Ray Hardin.
Left to remember all the great times are his wife of 61 years Janet Johnson. Daughters Carrie Havlik, Julie Daniels, and Cindy (Keith) Moser all of Burlington. Keith was the son that he never had, always helping out. Granddaughters Savanna (Derek) Evans, Courtney (Eric) Quinn of Burlington and great granddaughters Hayzel, Lilly, and Ella all of Burlington. Sister Mary (Bill) Brown of West Burlington, sisters-in-law Joyce Hardin of Mediapolis, Myrna Tames-Johnson of Burlington, and many treasured nieces, nephews, cousins, and many, many friends.
There will be no services at this time, a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Memorials have been established with the Hospice House, Des Moines County Humane Society, and NICU of Iowa City.
Fair Winds and Following Seas Shipmate, We Have the Watch, You Stand Relieved.
Shirley R. Lieurance, 86, of Burlington, Iowa, formerly of Dallas City, Illinois, passed away at 4:47 p.m. Sunday, December 5, 2021, at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington, Iowa.
Shirley was born October 29, 1935, in Adams County, Illinois, the daughter of Virgil E. and Hazel D. (Booher) Poulter. Shirley married Stephen M. Lieurance January 29, 1955, in Carthage, Illinois. He preceded her in death August 23, 2013.
Shirley graduated from the Dallas City High School. She and her husband, Stephen, operated many businesses in the Dallas City area, including the Tastee Corner, Steve’s Cork and Bottle Liquor Store, Steve’s Waterfront Tavern, Antique and Used Furniture Store, and Lieurance Auction Barn. Her favorite job was being a homemaker and raising their four children.
She was a member of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Burlington.
Survivors include four children: Stephanie Denney of Burlington, Stacey (Jim) Howard of Highland, Illinois, Steve Lieurance of Highland, Illinois, and Shannon (David) Beeler of Burlington, Iowa; four grandchildren: Jaimee Cox, Jordan Kirchhoff, Jacob Beeler and Hadlea Beeler; five great-grandchildren: Jonah, Jace, Josie, and Jude Cox, and Jane Kirchhoff; one sister: Bonnie Kershner of West Burlington, Iowa and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband: Stephen; ten brothers: Gerald, Donald, Hershel, Francis, Kenneth, Glenn, Russell, Rodney, Dewayne and Richard; four sisters: Dorothy Hoener, Betty Emery, Janet Cox and Kay Thacker; one son-in-law: Don Denney.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 11, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in Dallas City with Pastor David Yonker officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Inurnment will follow in the Harris Cemetery, near Dallas City.
A memorial fund has been established for Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House or the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Burlington. To leave a condolence for the family, please visit Shirley’s obituary at banksandbeals.com.
Lynn Murrell Purdy, 78, of rural Macomb, Illinois, passed away at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, December 5, 2021 at Wesley Village Healthcare in Macomb.
He was born August 13, 1943, in LaHarpe, the son of Lewis Murell and Vernus Darlene (Harding) Purdy. He married Donna Barry and together had four children, Timothy (Theresa) Purdy of LaHarpe, Denise Chase of rural Stronghurst, Debbie (Sean) Blue of rural Spartanburg, SC, and Angela Purdy of Burlington, Iowa. They later divorced. On July 4, 1998 he married Connie Newman in an outdoor wedding in Carthage. He added two step-daughters to that union, Amy (Bob) Gound of rural Warsaw and Abby (Karl) Ruebush of rural Macomb. Together they have six grandchildren, Riley Blue of Spartanburg, SC, Jackson Chase of rural Stronghurst, Carson Purdy of rural LaHarpe, Jenna and Jordan Gound of rural Warsaw, and Kade Ruebush of rural Macomb. He is survived by one sister, Aldena (Rod) Everhart of Keller, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
He farmed 50 years in McDonough and Hancock Counties. Beside his love of farming, he enjoyed driving a school bus for 13 years for the LaHarpe School District, writing and recording poems for students as they boarded the bus. He served four years on the LaHarpe School Board with part of his term as president. He was a previous member of the Prairieland Barbershop. He served six years in the Army Reserves. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Carthage where he sang in the choir, served on various committees, and started the sweet corn project for missions, utilizing proceeds for needed community projects. The project continues today. He worked at McDonough Power Cooperative for 10 years where he participated in the “Coats for Kids” project.
The funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, December 9, 2021 at the First United Methodist Church in Carthage, Illinois. Burial will follow in the LaHarpe Cemetery.
Friends may call after 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 8th at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in LaHarpe, where the family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m.
Memorials may be made to Wesley Village for a bench in the Wesley garden as Lynn and Connie spent many hours there enjoying the garden and walking trails. A memorial has also been established for the McDonough County Cooperative “Coats for Kids” Program. To leave a condolence for the family, please visit Lynn’s obituary at banksandbeals.com.
Bill Brumback, 66, of Oquawka, died Friday, December 3, 2021.
Born December 12, 1954, in Bloomfield, IA and raised in Memphis, MO, he was the son of Clifford L and Carol J Ferris Brumback.
Bill worked for Brighton Chemicals as a warehouse manager, and also did miscellaneous jobs over the years including roofing and installing garage doors.
He enjoyed fishing.
Survivors include his son, Ryan Brumback of Iowa City; mother, Carol J Brumback of Memphis, MO; three sisters, Reta (Ron) Sourwine of Burlington, Beverly (Dennis) Schmidt of DeWitt, IA and Margaret (Jim) Curry of Memphis, MO; one brother, Donald (Mary) Brumback of St Charles, LA; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, and step father, Joe Tom Walker.
Cremation has been entrusted to the care of Prugh Crematory.
A celebration of life will be held in the spring.
Prugh Funeral Service is in care of the arrangements.
Condolences can be sent to the family by visiting Bill’s obituary at www.prughfuneral.com.
Frances “Joan” Carruthers, 71, West Burlington, died Saturday, December 4, 2021 at her residence.
Born June 11, 1950 in Fairfield, IA. She was the daughter of Dale Thompson and Frances Elizabeth Mae (Pratt) Clark.
On December 26, 1970 she married Merrill Lee “Bud” Carruthers at the Methodist Church in Keosauqua, IA.
Over the years, Joan resided in Stockport, IA, Ames, IA, Portograuro, Italy, and West Burlington, IA.
Joan was a member of the West Burlington Christian Church. She served as Secretary of the West Burlington Athletic Booster Club. She actively volunteered with the West Burlington Food Pantry and the Iowa Weimaraner Rescue.
Joan earned her Bachelor of Science at Iowa State University in Ames, IA and her Master’s of Education from Drake University in Des Moines, IA.
She was a retired teacher from West Burlington Independent School District. She taught family and consumer sciences for five years at Mediapolis Schools and for 22 years at West Burlington Independent Schools. She was a state advisor for three years for family and consumer sciences.
Joan is survived by her husband, Bud Carruthers of West Burlington; sons Jonathan (Katie) Carruthers, Benjamin (Kristina) Carruthers, Nicholas (Nicole) Carruthers; grandchildren Jackson, Logan, Collin, Isabella, Dylan, Mason, Quentin; siblings Jim (Donna) Clark, Jean Clark, and Joe (Barb) Clark.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Dale and Betty Clark.
A memorial service will be held Friday, December 10, 2021 at 9:30 am at Lunning Chapel with the Reverend Steven Parker officiating. Visitation will be Thursday, December 9, 2021 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Lunning Chapel. Following the memorial service, burial will be limited to family only and will occur at Spencer Cemetery in Stockport, IA.
According to her wishes, cremation has been accorded and entrusted to Lunning Chapel.
Memorials have been established for the Iowa Weimaraner Rescue and The West Burlington Christian Church Food Pantry.
Online condolences may be made by visiting www.lunningfuneralchapel.com
Rhonda K. Wilson, 70, of Burlington, died December 3, 2021 at her home.
Born October 16, 1951 in Burlington, Iowa, she was the daughter of Kenneth L. and Doris (Sullivan) Wilson.
Rhonda worked in recordkeeping for the Burlington Police Department and for The Hawk Eye for many years. She lived a quiet life. She was the best aunt! She doted on her nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews and her mini poodle Axl Rose was her constant companion.
She is survived by her sister Cheryl (Jim) Smith of Burlington; brother Jeffrey A. Wilson of Middletown and several nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother Gary Wilson and one sister Lynne Wilson.
According to her wishes, there will be no formal funeral services. Cremation has been entrusted to the care of Lunning Chapel. Inurnment will be in Blakeway Cemetery at a later date.
Online condolences may be made by visiting www.lunningfuneralchapel.com
