Dolores B. Meeker, 90, of Burlington, died Friday, November 11, 2022, at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington.
Born November 25, 1931, in Burlington, she was the daughter of Frederick A. and Mary Jane Kiersey Spanhut. On April 5, 1953, she married Marvin Chester Meeker in Burlington, IA. He passed away on February 4, 2015.
She graduated from Burlington High School in 1949. In 1952, Dolores graduated from nursing school at Mercy Hospital in Burlington. Dolores worked for Mercy for a short time as a nurse prior to working with her husband on the farm.
She was a member of Kingston United Methodist Church. Dolores taught bible study at church and volunteered with the United Methodist Women. She enjoyed sewing, gardening, tending to her flowers and she admired and loved trees. She also enjoyed reading, studying scripture, and going for hikes in the hills. Dolores will be lovingly remembered as a very strong and determined woman with an incredible zest for life. She cherished spending time with her family and was very devoted to them.
Survivors include three daughters, Joyce Ann (David) Acheson of Ankeny, IA, Rhonda Kay (Bruce) Jensen of Ashville, NC and Diane Marie (Ricardo) Bimbela of Santa Barbara, CA,; five grandchildren, Daniel (Anna) Acheson, Aaron (Melissa) Acheson, Rachel (Jacob) Kellog, Shonda Jensen and Eric (Cheyenne) Jensen; and one great-grandson, Ezra Acheson.
Besides her husband of 61 years, she was preceded in death by her parents, one son, Ronald Meeker, one brother, Fred Spanhut, and three sisters, Lillian Daniel, Adelia Combs and Avalin Grothe.
The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM Friday, November 18, 2022 Prugh Funeral Service, 3940 Division St.
The funeral service for Mrs. Meeker will be 11:00 AM Friday, November 18, 2022, at Prugh Funeral Service, 3940 Division St., with Pastor Earlene Lekwa officiating. Burial will be in Kossuth Cemetery.
A memorial has been established for the Mediapolis Fire Department, Mediapolis Ambulance Service and the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House.
Prugh Funeral Service is in care of the arrangements.
A photo tribute can be viewed and condolences can be sent to the family by visiting Dolores’ obituary at www.prughfuneral.com.
Betty Rose Vaughn, 100, of rural Lomax, Illinos, passed away at 6:46 a.m. Thursday, November 10, 2022 at Oak Lane Nursing & Rehab in Stronghurst, Illinois.
Betty was born February 8, 1922 at home near Durham, Illinois, being delivered by a country doctor, the daughter of Millard and Annice (Clark) Myers. The same doctor had delivered her future husband, Haven D. Vaughn, the day before. Soon after her family moved to Pontoosuc, Illinois, where she would spend her childhood years. They later moved to Dallas City where she met her high school sweetheart, Haven. They were married August 2, 1942 in Dallas City. Haven preceded her in death October 7, 2008.
Following their marriage the couple resided in a home on the Mississippi River in Dallas City for 25 years, before moving to the farm near Lomax. She enjoyed being a farm wife and took pride in raising their children. During World War II she worked as a inspector of dials for airplanes at Sheaffer Pen in Fort Madison. In later years she worked at Younkers in Burlington, Iowa
Betty enjoyed listening to Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan. She also enjoyed traveling, especially to Arizona. She was an excellent seamstress and master bridge player. Mrs. Vaughn was a member of the former Hend-Co Hills Golf Course in Biggsville and the Dallas City Christian Church, where she was active in the Women’s Fellowship.
Survivors include one daughter: Joyce (Randol) DeSotel of Dallas City; one son: Jeffrey Vaughn of Lomax; two grandchildren: Tyler (Alison) DeSotel and Jill (Kent) Rigg and six great-grandchildren: Marie, Kate and Nora DeSotel and Avery, Ella and Owen Rigg.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Haven, and one brother: Jack Myers.
Cremation has been entrusted to Banks & Beals Funeral Home.
Private family inurnment will be held at a later date in Crane Cemetery, near Lomax.
A memorial fund has been established for The Department of Psychiatry at the University of Iowa. Memorials and cards may be sent to Joyce DeSotel, P.O. Box 208, Dallas City, Illinois 62330. To leave a condolence for the family, please visit Betty’s obituary at banksandbeals.com.
Larry Gene Smith, 62, of LaHarpe, Illinois, passed away at 6:05 a.m. Thursday, November 10, 2022 at his home.
Larry was born May 9, 1960 in LaHarpe the son of Lawrence L. and Mary Ann (Finch) Smith. On March 22, 1984 he married Patricia “Trish” Creasy in Macomb, Illinois.
Larry was a 1978 graduate of LaHarpe High School. He worked on small engines all of his life. He also worked in maintenance for local hotels. He was an active participant in delivering Meals On Wheels. He had a passion for the outdoors and loved to hunt and fish. He passed his love for the outdoors on to his children and grandchildren. He was an avid bowler and enjoyed bowling with his wife and in Men’s League. He proudly bowled a perfect 300 once in his life. When his children were young he coached their baseball teams. His 12 grandbabys were his greatest love.
Survivors include his wife: Trish; his mother: Mary Ann Smith of LaHarpe; two sons: Josh (Melinda) Smith of Warsaw, Illinois and William (Karen) Smith of LaHarpe; one daughter: Erin (Joshua) Wear of What Cheer, Iowa; 12 grandchildren; one brother: Gary (Becky) Smith of LaHarpe and one nephew: Tanner (Macy) Smith of LaHarpe.
He was preceded in death by his father: Lawrence.
A graveside service will be held at 1:20 p.m. (traditional start time to Cubs home day games) Monday, November 14, 2022 at the Terre Haute Cemetery, Terre Haute, Illinois with his son, Josh Smith, officiating.
Friends may pay their respects from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon Monday at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in LaHarpe. The family will not be presents.
Banks & Beals Funeral Home of LaHarpe is assisting the family.
A memorial fund has been established for Parents For A Park. To view the guest book and leave a condolence, please visit Larry’s obituary at banksandbeals.com.
Peggy Ann Kirby, 82, of West Burlington died Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at her residence.
Born August 25, 1940 in Sandwich, IL she was the daughter of Homer Shelton and Emma Fern Hodge Halford. She was of the Lutheran faith.
On September 17, 1960 Peggy married James G. Fruland in Somonauk, IL. He died October 18, 1994. On September 9, 2000 Peggy married Charles B. “Chuck” Kirby in Ottawa, IL.
Peggy was the secretary for Natural Gas in Columbus Junction. She also worked at Newark Insurance Agency and Econo Mart.
Family was very important to Peggy. She enjoyed spoiling her grandkids and great grandkids. She also enjoyed traveling.
Survivors include her husband Chuck of West Burlington; daughter Kelly Fruland (Terry) Harris of Columbus Junction; step-daughter Tina Marie (Robert) Paige of Boone, MI; three grandkids Melissa Harris (Ryan) Granaman of West Branch, IA, Allison (Daryl) Grames of Boone, MI, Rachel Harris of Columbus Junction; four great grandkids Olivia and Ethan Granaman and Wyatt and Wayland Grames; two sisters-in-law Donna Hilt of Glen Ellyn, IL and Rae Halford of Somonauk, IL; several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, first husband James, brother Jerry Halford and sister Sally Donahue.
Cremation has been accorded and entrusted to the care of Lunning Chapel.
Per Peggy’s wishes there will be no service at this time. There will be a celebration of life at a later date with burial in Millington Newark Cemetery in Millington, IL.
Memorials have been established for the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association.
Online condolences may be made by visiting www.lunningfuneralchapel.com
