Clarence Jellings

Clarence Wilbur Jellings, age 93 of Clinton, passed away on Sunday May 21. 

Clarence was born on Dec. 26, 1923 in West Union, to parents Bert and Ruth (Wilbur) Jellings. 

Clarence graduated from West Union High School in 1941. 

On Dec. 28, 1945 he was united in marriage to Carmen Lois Schweinefus at West Clermont Lutheran Church.

Clarence started his career in the dairy industry in Postville and Albert Lea, Minn. The family moved to Clinton in 1966, where he worked as a dairy and restaurant inspector for the city and county of Clinton. 

Clarence retired in 1986, and then enjoyed many years of adventurous travels to 20 countries and across North America with his wife. 

Julie Schute

Julie Ann (Christianson) Schute, 66, of West Union, Iowa, left this earth and went to heaven on Monday, May 22, 2017, surrounded by her family at her home in West Union. 

Julie was born on March 31, 1951, in Preston, MN, to Henry and Marilyn (Rice) Christianson. She was born during a blizzard, and her parents had to have their car pulled to the highway by a tractor. A week later, she came home from the hospital and the car had to be pulled back through the mud.

Julie graduated from Harmony High School, Harmony, MN, with the class of 1969. She continued her education in the clerical field, later moving to Minneapolis, MN. 

While living in Minneapolis, she met her husband, Ronald Schute, at a wedding on Oct. 12, 1974. Julie and Ronald were married almost exactly a year later on Oct. 11, 1975, in Harmony, MN. They made their home in West Union, Iowa, where they started their family and had two children, Joel and Kara.

Diane Fay

Diane M. Fay formerly of Sumner passed away Friday, May 12 at her home in Des Moines.  

A wake will be held on July 23 5:30-8 pm and a funeral mass at 10:30 am July 24, both at Immaculate Conception Church in Sumner.

Survivors include her mother Edna Fay, her siblings Joanne (Bob) Huss of Goodlettsville, Tennessee, Frank Fay of Macomb, Illinois, Chris (Ed) Tibesar of Cedar Rapids, Jim (Barb) Fay of Waverly, John M. (Joyce) Fay of Waverly, Barb (Jay) Hageman of Decorah, Dave Fay of Fredericksburg, and Mike Fay of Waverly, several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her sister Kathy Fay, her father John W. Fay and her grandparents Albert and Louise Fay and Mike and Clara Franzen.

Diane was born March 15, 1956 in Sumner, Iowa, the daughter of John W. and Edna Fay.  

She graduated from Sumner High School and the University of Iowa.

Daryl Snyder

Daryl Snyder, age 64 of Alpha, Iowa died Sunday, May 21, 2017 at his home.

A private family service will be held at a later date.

Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton is entrusted with arrangements.  

Online condolences for Daryl's family may be left at hugebackfuneralhome.com.

Daryl Dean Snyder was born July 14, 1952, in Decorah, IA, the son of Charles and Velma (Steuer) Snyder.

Daryl attended grade school at Turkey Valley and received his high school education at North High School in West Union. 

Daryl had a passion for horses and began training horses and rode as a jockey for several years. 

Daryl was introduced to Kathleen Adams and the couple were married July 24, 1974, at United Methodist Church in Hawkeye, IA. To this union two children, Danny and Laurie were born. 

Karen Mack

Karen Mack, 76 of Clermont, Iowa died Monday, May 22, 2017 at Stoney Brook Assisted Living, West Union, Iowa. 

Karen was born Nov. 4, 1940 to Alfred Harley and Eva Mae (Leonard) Burrack at her grandmother’s home near Strawberry Point, Iowa.

She was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in Arlington, Iowa.

Karen graduated from Arlington High School in 1958.

Karen was united in marriage with Galen Mack on March 2, 1958 at St. John Lutheran Church in Arlington, Iowa. Six children were born to this union. 

While raising her family, Karen was a homemaker and also babysat in her home for other families. When the children were older she worked at Elgin Echo for many years. Together with her husband, Karen owned and operated Mack’s Crafts.

James Lechtenberg

James Nicholas Lechtenberg, 84, Postville, Iowa, died Monday, April 24, 2017, at Winneshiek Medical Center, Decorah, Iowa. Jim was born on July 18, 1932, on the family farm near Festina, Iowa, to Joseph and Caroline (Schissel) Lechtenberg. He graduated from De Sales High School in Ossian, Iowa, with the class of 1950.

Jim was united in marriage to Edna Hackman on May 17, 1954, at St. Luke Catholic Church in St. Lucas, Iowa. Six children were born to this union. Jim and Edna raised their family on their family farm near Postville, Iowa. Jim was a hard working farmer who also was a Pioneer Seed Corn Rep. for over twenty years.

Roger Formanek

Roger Nathaniel Formanek, Sr., died on April 27, 2017 at the University of Iowa Hospital following a long illness.  

A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, May 3 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John XXIII Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids with Father Dustin Vu officiating. 

Visitation will be held prior to the service from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.  

Roger was born May 25, 1940 in Chelsea, IA, the son of Frank and Libbie (Kaufman) Formanek.  

He attended St. Wenceslas School and graduated in 1958 from Immaculate Conception. 

Following graduation he served in the U.S. Navy.

On June 15, 1963, he was united in marriage to Mary Etta Courtney and together they were blessed with four sons. 

Lois Blackford

Lois Mary (Iliff) Blackford, 78, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Friday, April 21, 2017, at Heritage Nursing Home, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 

Burial will be in West Union City Cemetery in West Union, Iowa, next to her parents. 

A private memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.

Lois was born July 1, 1938, in Sioux City, Iowa, the daughter of the late Eugene and Mary (Patterson) Iliff.

She graduated from Central High School, Sioux City, Iowa, and Jr. Central College in McPherson, Kan. 

Lois was a devout Christian woman who loved reading her Bible daily and singing Christian songs. She loved cats and enjoyed traveling when she was young.

On July 3, 1969, Lois married Darwin Blackford in Sioux City, Iowa, who preceded her in death in 1987.

Mark Stewart

Mark Stewart, 63, of Elgin, Iowa passed away Thursday, April 20, 2017 at his home in rural Elgin.  

Mark Edward, the son of Delmar R. and Naomi (Christensen) Stewart, was born Nov. 13, 1953 in Oelwein, Iowa.  

He was baptized and confirmed at Bethel Presbyterian Church in West Union, Iowa.  

Mark graduated from North High School in 1970.

Mark farmed with his family south of Elgin for many years, and he worked as a job coach for RISE in Elkader, helping disabled people work and live in society.

Mark had a passion for farming, animals, air shows, and spending time with his family. He had a joyous spirit and enjoyed life. He knew no stranger, encouraged exploring, and had a love for the outdoors that lives on in his children and grandchildren.  Mark left us too soon; we wish we had more time to make additional memories.  He will be forever in our hearts.  

Frances Graham

Frances Ruth (Hill) Graham, age 95, of Johnston, formerly of West Union and Hawkeye, passed away on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at Bishop Drumm Care Center.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 10, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Fayette County Historical Center in West Union. 

The memorial service will be held at Hawkeye United Methodist Church on Thursday, May 11 at 10 a.m. 

Frances was born to Lacy D. and Ruth J. (Henderson) Hill on Dec. 14, 1921 at their home in rural Coggon, IA.

She was a graduate of Coggon High School, then Iowa State College (Ames, IA) in 1943 with a degree in Homemaking. 

Frances taught at Kalona High School, Kalona, IA for two years, then at West Union High School in West Union, IA for three years.