Wayne Edward Weissenbuehler, 87, died Friday September 2nd at Klein Center nursing home in West Burlington, Iowa.
Born August 19, 1935, in Charles City, Iowa, to his parents Henry and Anna Fredrick Weissenbuehler, Wayne was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church. He graduated from Charles City High School in 1953, and from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa in 1957, majoring in New Testament Greek. He married Karen Dettmer in 1957. Wayne graduated from Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa in 1961 with a Bachelor of Divinity degree, then stayed to complete a Master of Sacred Theology degree and teach in the seminary’s New Testament department.
Ordained into the American Lutheran Church in 1963, Wayne served St. John’s Lutheran Church in Pittsburg, Kansas, and Christ the King Lutheran Church in Denver, Colorado, before becoming assistant to the bishop of the Central District of the American Lutheran Church. He was elected bishop of the Central District in 1981, and in 1987 was elected the first bishop of Rocky Mountain Synod ELCA.
As bishop, Wayne helped create the Lutheran-Episcopal Concordat, served as a human shield to Lutheran bishop Medardo Gomez of El Salvador, encouraged congregations and church leaders in Madagascar and Estonia, and flew below the radar during the civil war in Namibia. He advocated for the ordination of women, served on college boards, and never, ever turned down an invitation to get in a pulpit. He loved his pastors and their congregations.
In 1993, Wayne became senior pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado. There he traveled to Papua New Guinea to teach pastors, wrote a column for The Lutheran magazine, and taught New Testament Greek in the congregation. He played his ukulele for Bethany’s preschool, and told stories about Nippy Nip the snake and Lo, the apostolic train.
Retiring from Bethany in 2006, Wayne returned to Iowa to work and teach at Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, and to be interim pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Clinton, Iowa. He was associate pastor at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, and from 2009-2014, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Burlington, Iowa, taking a month off each summer to be chaplain at Lutheran Summer Music Academy at Luther College.
In retirement, Wayne joined Messiah Lutheran Church in Burlington, Iowa, and in his last years, resided at Klein Center nursing home in West Burlington, Iowa. He died from complications of Alzheimer’s on September 2, 2022.
He is survived by his wife, the Rev. Susanne Smith, by children Mary Giles, Sarah Weissenbuehler and husband Rev. Jeff Corson, and Matthew Weissenbuehler and wife Annell Weissenbuehler, by stepchildren Luke Armstrong and partner Sara Lovelace, and Johanna Mees and husband Eric Mees, by grandchildren Daniel Giles, Anna Wright, Adam, Rachel, Rebekah and Sophia Corson, Elizabeth Obenchain, Nickie McKeever and Brennan Weissenbuehler, Isaac and Sophia Armstrong, Roman and Sawyer Mees, and by many great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, by brother David, by first wife, Karen, and by infant daughter, Ann. His memorial service will be held at Bethany Lutheran Church, Cherry Hills Village, Colorado, with ELCA Rocky Mountain Synod bishop Jim Gonia and Bethany senior pastor Gary Sandburg presiding. Wayne will be buried in the columbarium at Bethany Lutheran Church, Cherry Hills Village, Colorado. He asked that memorial gifts be given to Wartburg Theological Seminary, 333 Wartburg Place, Dubuque, Iowa, 52003.
Matthew Kevin Sink, 40, formerly of Burlington, died Sunday, September 4, 2022 in Clinton, IA.
Born June 22, 1982 in Burlington, he was the son of Dennis Lee and Debra Kay (Lindblad) Sink.
Matt was an Ironworker and worked for A-Lert for ADM in Clinton.
He helped coach Clinton Junior Baseball and Impact traveling baseball. Matt enjoyed fishing, kayaking, hiking and watching football. He was an avid Iowa Hawkeye and Green Bay Packers fan. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his boys.
Survivors include his parents Dennis and Debra; his two sons Hunter Matthew Sink and Colton Lee Sink of Clinton; significant other Amber Lynne Smith of Clinton; bonus kids Brody Aaron Charles Smith-Myers and Brooks Zachary Smith-Eversoll of Clinton; two brothers Scott Allen Sink and Christopher Lee (Deanna) Sink of Burlington; two sisters Kayley Lynn Smith and Ashley Kay (Travis) Griffin of North Port, FL; grandmother Wanda Lee Sink of Burlington and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two grandfathers and one grandmother.
The memorial service for Matt will be Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 3:00 pm at Lunning Chapel. The family will receive friends from 1:00 pm until the time of service. Inurnment at Aspen Grove Cemetery will be at a later date.
In honor of Matt please wear your Iowa Hawkeye gear!
A memorial has been established for his sons’ future.
Online condolences may be made by visiting www.lunningfuneralchapel.com
Ella Marie Toothacre was born Ella Marie Jenkins on August 7, 1936, in Farmington, Iowa to Eugene Paul and Ella Mae Jenkins (Shuler). Marie passed quietly in her home in Walla Walla, Washington at the age of 85.
Marie was the 3rd of 7 children. She grew up in Farmington, Iowa and graduated in 1954 from Farmington High School.
On October 30, 1955, she married Rudd P. Toothacre of Burlington, Iowa. They were married in Farmington, Iowa. She had 2 children whom she raised, Harold Allen Toothacre and Lynnette Marie (Toothacre) Nichols.
Marie actively participated in several churches throughout her life. While in Burlington she attended the West Avenue Baptist Church. She tried to be as active as possible in the churches she participated in.
She was a homemaker but also was a Franchise Owner with her husband, Rudd, of 3 Seven-Eleven stores in San Diego for 23 years and retired in 1989. After her retirement from Seven Eleven, Marie and her husband took up full-time RVing where they traveled across the United States, campground hosting, visiting family and cruising open roads. Rudd and Marie enjoyed many ocean cruises.
Marie loved crafts and playing games. She especially enjoyed sewing and making quilts and made several Quilts of Valor.
Marie is survived by her siblings and their spouses: Carroll and Claudelle Jenkins of Brentwood, Tennessee; Melvin and Sam Jenkins of Jacksonville, Arkansas; and her sister, Nelma Hammond of Jacksonville, Arkansas; her daughter, Lynnette and John Nichols of Athena, Oregon; her grandchildren and their spouses: Danny and Kate Toothacre of South Jordan, Utah; Richard and Jamie Toothacre of Santee, California; Sarah and Lawrence Tomicich of San Diego, California; Colleen and Lazarus Henton of Forest Grove, Oregon; and Jeannise Nichols of Athena, Oregon. She has 4 great-grandchildren: Carter Toothacre, Hannah Toothacre, and Emerson and Cooper Henton. She has numerous other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings James Ervin Jenkins, Ottis Jenkins and Vicki Randolph; her husband, Rudd Toothacre; and her son, Harold Toothacre.
Donations may be made to the American Lung Association for Pulmonary Fibrosis Research or a charity of your choice.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at 10:00 am at the Lunning Funeral Chapel in Burlington, IA. Internment will follow immediately at the Aspen Grove Cemetery.
Online condolences may be made by visiting www.lunningfuneralchapel.com
Joan Marie Septer, 92, of New London, died, September 3, 2022 at New London Care Initiatives. She was born May 16, 1930 in Mount Pleasant, to Joseph and Ida Willey Brown. On July 3, 1948 she married Ralph Edwin Septer in New London. Ralph died October 6, 2009.
She was a graduate of New London High School; went to beauty school; attended electrical tech classes while working at Emerson’s and graduating from nursing school at Burlington Community College. She retired after years of working as a nurse at New London Care Center.
Joan was of the Christian faith, enjoyed camping and fishing with her husband, knitting, needlework and solving 3D puzzles.
She is survived by her son Russell (Gail) Septer of Davenport; daughter Sharon (Larry) Moore of Burlington; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one sister, Mary Sue Moore of Burlington; two brothers, Daryl Brown of Burlington and Bill Brown of New London; and nieces and nephews. Preceding Joan in death were her parents; husband; one son Terry Septer; brothers, Dan and Donnie; and sister, Dorothy Blanchard.
According to her wishes her body has been cremated and graveside services will be held at 2 p.m., September 8th at Brooks Cemetery, rural New London. Pastor David Mixon will officiate. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established for BACA (Bikers Against Child Abuse). Online condolences can be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.
Phyllis Jeanne Nixon, 96, of rural Dallas City, Illinois, passed away at 10:16 a.m. Thursday, September 1, 2022 at her home.
Phyllis was born October 24, 1925 in Fort Madison, Iowa, the daughter of William Albert and Ruth (Fightmaster) Whittemore. She married her husband of 75 years, James Rae Nixon, in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He preceded her in death November 5, 2019.
Mrs. Nixon worked for a short time at Sheaffer Pen in Fort Madison. She enjoyed rasing her children and helping her husband on the farm anyway she could. She also enjoyed gardening and sewing; especially sewing western clothing for friends and family. She loved her pets.
Phyllis was a member of the former Dallas City United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday School for many years. She was currently a member of the Durham United Methodist Church.
Survivors include two sons: Jim (Randy) Nixon and Timothy Nixon both of Dallas City; two grandsons: Rusty Nixon and Mike (Tammi) May and three great-grandchildren.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by one daughter: Diana Lyn May, three sisters and two brothers.
A graveside service for both James Rae and Phyllis will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, September 8, 2022 at Harris Cemetery, near Dallas City, Illinois.
A memorial fund has been established for the Durham United Methodist Church. To leave a condolence for the family, please visit Mrs. Nixon’s obituary at banksandbeals.com. Banks & Beals Funeral Home of Dallas City is assisting the family.
Jeffery Allen Snyder, 59, of Burlington, died Thursday, September 1, 2022, at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington.
Born August 12, 1963, in Burlington, he was the son of Elmer George and Marcia Jean Whaley Snyder.
He was a graduate of Burlington High School.
Jeff worked many years as a CNC Operator for GE and later retired from Federal Mogul.
Jeff was a Scout in his youth and grew up loving the outdoors. He enjoyed hunting for Deer and Turkey, riding his motorcycle and loved attending music concerts. He especially loved his three dogs, Luke, Zoey and Charlie.
Survivors include his brother, David Scott Snyder of Burlington; sister, Teresa (Tim) Ruberg of Burlington; nephew & niece, Tyler and Marcy; and two great-nieces, Layla and Savannah.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Richard Snyder.
Cremation has been entrusted to the care of Prugh Crematory.
The family will receive friends from 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM Saturday, September 10, 2022, at Prugh~Thielen Funeral Home.
The memorial service for Mr. Snyder will be 3:00 PM Saturday, September 10, 2022, at Prugh~Thielen Funeral Home with Pastor Jim Ruberg officiating. Burial will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery at a later date.
A memorial has been established for the Des Moines County Humane Society.
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 Jeffery’s obituary at www.prughfuneral.com.
Dennis W. Krieger, 72, of Middletown, died Friday, July 1, 2022 at Veterans Medical Center, Iowa City.
A Celebration of Life will be held from 1:00 – 4:00 pm, Sunday, September 11, 2022 at Elliott Chapel, New London. Casual sharing time will be led by Ned Fry. Full military burial at Iowa Veterans Cemetery, Adel, Iowa will take place at 2:00 pm, Thursday, September 15, 2022. Memorials have been established for Wreaths Across America and the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight. The full obituary may be viewed and condolences left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.
