Judith “Judy” Cecila Heap, 84, of West Burlington passed away October 12, 2020 peacefully and gracefully at the Henderson County Retirement Center, Stronghurst, Illinois. She was a beautiful lady filled with kindness and mercy. She was a faithful wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. She was a woman of integrity and honor and is deeply loved by all her family and friends.
Judy was ready to go home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and looked forward to meeting all her loved ones in the kingdom of God. Judy is now “Taking time out for the spirit and dwelling in the kingdom of God.” Isaiah 11. Judy will be greatly missed and remembered for her great love and prayers for her family.
Born November 22, 1935 in Burlington she was the daughter of Milburn Edward and Clara Butterfuss (Hagemann) Lietsch and one of 16 children. She entered the convent when she was 15 and received her veil of holiness. Judy decided she would live a common life, worked several jobs, including homemaker and home health care provider. In addition, she worked at Riley Brothers and in food service at Southeastern Community College. She married at 22 and had 4 beautiful children that reflect her strength and endurance. Above all, Judy gave her children great faith.
She was a member of Divine Mercy Parish.
She is survived by her four children; Gena Mary (Sheldon) Johnson of Carman, Illinois, Everett Bryan (Karen) Heap of Stronghurst, Illinois, Dana Mae (David) Berlet of La Harpe, Illinois and Blake Eugene Heap of Biggsville, Illinois; six grandchildren; eleven great grandchildren and one on the way; several step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren; three sisters, Rosemary Harris of West Burlington and Micky Daly and Sheila Drew both of Burlington; one brother Tommy Lietsch of Burlington of Burlington and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, ten sisters, Sally Grothe, Rita Heckenberg, Nancy Inghram, Francine McLaughlin, Suzanne Carlson, Sanchia Gahn, Sister Mary Lucia Lietsch, Patricia Darnold and Mary Ellen Rincon and one brother Milburn E. Lietsch Jr.
The memorial mass of the resurrection for Mrs. Heap will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 17th at St. John Catholic Church. Father James Flattery will be Celebrant. Inurnment will be held in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, West Burlington.
Memorials have been established for Oak Lane Nursing & Rehab and Divine Mercy Parish.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.lunningfuneralchapel.com
Jeffry S. Kuenzler, 50 of Mediapolis died at 3:24 p.m. Friday, October 9, 2020 at Great River Medical Center.
Born May 23, 1970 in Burlington, he was the son of Richard and Linda S. (Springsteen) Kuenzler. He married Joanie Bourg April 11, 1991 in Lincoln, NE.
Jeffry worked as a manager for ISC Export and previously at J.I. Case.
He was of the Christian faith.
Jeffry had a super big heart. He was funny, loved his family and the Lord. He was a good worker, very dependable and would give the shirt off his back. He was very adventurous. He was known as a jokester and someone that didn’t know a stranger. Some of his favorite pastimes included, helping out at the VFW in Texas, fishing, mushroom hunting and “Silly Songs with Jeffry”. He loved his family, grandkids, and life.
Survivors include his wife of 29 years, Joanie Kuenzler of Mediapolis; three children, Eric (Christina Peterson) Bourg of Omaha, NE, Miranda (Kent) Eberhardt and Kellie (Billy) Frink both of Mediapolis; nine ¼ grandchildren; his parents, Richard and Linda Kuenzler of Gonzales, TX; one brother, Rick (Sonia) Kuenzler of Pleasant Hill, MO; and several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his paternal and maternal grandparents.
The visitation for Mr. Kuenzler will be 3:00-6:00 p.m. Thursday, October 15th at Lunning Chapel.
Following visitation cremation will be accorded.
A memorial has been established for the family.
Evelyn Mae McElhinney, 86, of Morning Sun, died Sunday, October 11, 2020 at Washington County Hospital. She was born April 24, 1934 to Hilton William and Lela Opal Adamson Pretz. On February 23, 1957, she married Paul D. McElhinney in Wapello. He died March 15, 2010.
She was a graduate of Wapello High School and was a member of Sharon Reformed Presbyterian Church in Morning Sun where she was a member of the women’s missions. She worked for Chittenden and Eastman before she was married and then become a farm wife and homemaker. Evelyn enjoyed raising flowers, baking, and decorating for the holidays, and especially time with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Survivors include her three children; Matt (Annemarie) McElhinney of Riverside, California, Mark (Sandy) McElhinney of Morning Sun, and Susan (Shane) Barron of New London; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sister Carol Winga of Washington, Iowa, and nieces and nephews. Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her sister Marjorie Jones.
The funeral service for Mrs. McElhinney will be at 11:00 AM, Saturday, October 17, at the Sharon Reformed Presbyterian Church, rural Morning Sun with Pastor Bryan Schneider officiating. The family will greet friends beginning at 10:00 until the time of the service. Burial will follow at the Sharon Church Cemetery. Memorials have been established for the Sharon Church Video Outreach Ministry and Sharon Missions. Elliot Chapel, New London, is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.
Joan R. Ray, age 85, of Stronghurst, Illinois, passed away Saturday October 10, 2020 at her home.
Graveside services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Friday, October 16, 2020 in the Biggsville Cemetery. Friends may call as they desire from 1:00 until 5:00 p.m. Thursday at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in Stronghurst. The family will not be present. Memorials have been established for St. Jude Children’s Hospital and the Union Church of LaHarpe, Illinois.
Mary Ann Brown, 78, of Morning Sun, passed away on October 10, 2020, at Carthage Memorial Hospital in Carthage, Illinois. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 16, 2020, at the Oakville United Methodist Church. Burial will be in the Edwards Cemetery. Following the committal services at the cemetery, there will be a Celebration of Life which will be held at the Oakville Community Building with a time of food and fellowship. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Quilts of Valor, Mexico Mission, Louisa County Food Pantry or the Carthage Memorial Hospital. Sympathy notes may be left for the family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com. The Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services of Morning Sun is caring for Mary’s family and her arrangements. The family requests that masks are worn by all who attend.
Mary Ann Kramer was born on July 23, 1942, in Oakville, Iowa the daughter of John and Verlee (Wykert) Kramer. She was a 1960 graduate of Oakville High School. On August 20, 1961, Mary was united in marriage to Robert Brown in Oakville. Mary worked for Leopold Furniture in Burlington and then was a Nurse’s Aide for 19 years at the Great River Medical Center. She was an active member of the Oakville United Methodist Church, Oakville Community Club, Morning Sun Lion and Lioness Club, Quilts of Valor Foundation, Louisa County Freedom Rock Committee and was an organizer in the Edward Cemetery Road improvement project. Mary enjoyed quilting, sewing, knitting, gardening, flower beds, trees, traveling and her rock garden with rock from many different states and countries. Mary also volunteered for the Louisa County Food Pantry, helped with many funeral luncheons at the church and was a Cub Scout Leader and 4H Leader.
Mary will be deeply missed by her husband, Robert of Morning Sun; her childen, Linda Brown of Des Moines and Craig (Stacey) Brown of Morning Sun; siblings, Rose Brees of Des Moines, Joan Gerst of Mediapolis, Susan (Randy) Simmons of Burlington and Donald (Janet) Kramer of Wapello; sister-in-law, Marge Kramer of Lynnville and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Charles Kramer and one sister, Gladys (Clifford) Gentry.
