Eugene Pattison

Eugene E. Pattison, 79, of Sumner, died Sunday, March 19, 2017, at the Hillcrest Home in Sumner.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 23, 2017, at St. John Lutheran Church in Sumner. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 22^nd at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Sumner and for one hour preceding services at the church on Thursday. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Community Memorial Hospital, St. John Lutheran Church or the Terrace Assisted Living at Hillcrest, all in Sumner. Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com.

Velma Cox

Velma Marie (Thomas) Cox, 99, of West Union, Iowa died on March 17, 2017 at the Good Samaritan Society Home in West Union, Iowa.  

Velma Marie was born on Jan. 27, 1918 in Arlington, Iowa to James and Luseva (Voshell) Thomas. She lived with her Aunt, Edna Harriman, from the age of four until she was a grown up.

Velma had seven brothers, Howard, James, Arthur, Theodore, Orville, Milton “Woody” and Lyle and eight sisters, Ollie Westcott, Nellie Voshell, Dorothy Shippy Gage, Jennie Voshell, Lydia Roloff, Helen “Fern” Marquette, Hazel Marquette and Charlotte Chapman.

Velma was united in marriage to Philip M. Cox on Sept. 19, 1935 and to this union eight children were born, John “Tom”, James, Charles, Arthur, Patricia, Jerold “Jerry”, Carl and Debra.  

She enjoyed gardening, reading, crossword puzzles, find-a-word searches and watching Day Time Soaps.

James "Jim" Kleve

     James “Jim” Kleve, age 84, of Decorah, IA, died on Saturday, March 4, 2017, at Wellington Place in Decorah, IA.

Richard Schultz

Richard Allan”Dick” Schultz, 68, of Elgin, Iowa died Friday, February 17, 2017 at his home in Elgin, Iowa. He was born on September 19, 1948 to Lloyd William and Aurelia Minnie (Heins) Schultz in Postville, Iowa. Dick was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville, Iowa. He graduated from Postville High School in 1966. Dick continued his education at the University of Iowa where he earned his Bachelors in Science, a Masters Degree in Chemistry and an MBA.

Dick was united in marriage with Delores Jean Herman on July 25, 1969 at Zion Lutheran Church in Hiawatha, Iowa. The couple adopted two children, Jennifer and Jason. Dick worked for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City as a Pulmonary Lab Tech for many years. Dick was an avid volleyball player and coached girls’ volleyball. Volleyball, reading, and the study of advanced sciences were his passions throughout his life.

James Nuss

James “Jim” R. Nuss, 80, of Tripoli, died Friday, March 10, 2017, at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City from complications of a stroke.

Funeral services were held at Grace Lutheran Church in Tripoli on Tuesday, March 14, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Scott Duffus officiating.

Interment was held Tuesday, 2:00 p.m. at Hawkeye Cemetery in Hawkeye. 

Sara Brause

Sara Dora Brause, 79, of West Union, Iowa died Monday, March 6, 2017 at Gunderson Palmer Lutheran Hospital, West Union, Iowa.

Sara Dora was born on March 23, 1937 to Henry and LeVora (Baumgartner) Larson in Wadena, Iowa. 

She was baptized and confirmed at Illyria Community Church, Elgin, Iowa. 

Sara graduated from Wadena High School in 1954.

Sara was united in marriage with Harry Richard Brause on December 12, 1958 at Elgin Lutheran Church, Elgin, Iowa. Three children were born to this union.  

She worked as a bookkeeper for Baumler Implement and Baumler Builders, Fayette Co. Union, Fayette County Courthouse, Trustworthy and Garvin Hardware and North Middle School. Sara retired three years ago from Norby’s Farm and Fleet after working there for the last 23 years. She also worked painting, wallpapering and refinishing furniture for people in the area. 

Raymond Myers

Raymond W. Myers, age 81, of Ridgeway, IA died March 8, 2017 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, on the family farm.  

He was united in marriage to Gladys Kuennen in 1957 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Lawler, IA.  

They purchased their first farm in rural Ridgeway in 1958.  Ray's passion in life was farming and to continue farming as long as possible. He celebrated his final harvest this past fall at age 80.

Kierstin Whitcher

A memorial service for Kierstin Whitcher, daughter of Lee and Cindy Whitcher of Waterloo, was held Monday in Waterloo.

Kierstin is the granddaughter of Helen (Kenn) Miller of West Union and the late Howard Whitcher. 

Dean Whitcher

Dean Leslie Whitcher, 66, of West Union, Iowa, died Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, at his home in West Union, Iowa. 

Dean was born April 9, 1950 in West Union, Iowa, to Ralph and Lois (Love) Whitcher. 

He graduated from North High in 1968, where he competed in all the sports. Dean then attended Ellsworth Junior College and Northeast Missouri State as an Art Major, where he also participated in football and track.

After a three-year tour of the West Coast, he returned to the local area where he briefly worked in construction before settling in at the West Union Cemetery as an assistant caretaker and eventually sexton.

Dean was a kind soul, who enjoyed his dogs and a good time.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Lois Whitcher; and one brother, Bruce, in 2010.