Thomas Baker

Thomas Norman Baker, 85, of Gunder, Iowa died Friday, March 6, 2020 at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa. Thomas was born August 17, 1934 to Albert L. and Audrey (Jacobs) Baker in Des Plaines, Illinois. He graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in Des Plaines and attended two years at Layola Academy.

Ronald Kruger

Ronald G. Kruger, 65, of West Union, passed away on Monday, March 2, 2020 at the Good Samaritan Nursing Center in West Union. 

Memorial service will be held at a later date.

Ronald was born on December 5, 1954 to Kermit and Sally (Alexander) Kruger. 

He worked as a truck driver for many years.  Ron also enjoyed bass fishing on the Mississippi River and stock car racing.

Survivors include his son, Jason Kruger of Tennessee; siblings, Julie Rundle and Lori Alexander, both of California; one grandson, Austin Kruger; three nephews, Shane Goodman, Jeremy Alexander and Gavan Alexander; four aunts and his longtime partner, Betty Steinlage of West Union.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial donations may be directed to the family. Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.iowacremation.com under Obituaries. 

Gordon Kleppe

Gordon Lavern Kleppe, 81, of West Union, Iowa died Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital in West Union, Iowa. 

Gordon Lavern was born May 6, 1938 to Frederick Herman and Gladys Harriet (Helgerson) Kleppe on a farm near Ossian, Iowa in Fayette County. He was baptized and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church, rural Ossian and also grew up attending country school, rural Ossian, Iowa. He and his family spoke fluent Norwegian, a heritage for which he was very proud.

Donald Steil

Donald “Don” Steil, 86, of Fairbank passed away on Wednesday March 11, 2020 at Cedar Valley Hospice House in Waterloo with his family by his side. Visitation was from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday, March 16, 2020 at the Geilenfeld-Buehner Funeral Home in Oelwein with a Fourth Degree Rosary at 3:45 on Monday. Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday March 17, 2020 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein with Father Paul McManus officiating. Inurnment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Oelwein. For condolences, please visit www.geilenfeldfh.com

Lee Folsom

  Lee F. Folsom, 71, of Waukon, IA, died Thursday, March 12, 2020, at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, WI. Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 17th, at 11 a.m. at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waukon, IA, with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial with military rites will be at Old West Paint Creek Cemetery. Friends called from 4 – 7p.m. Monday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.

Jerome Einck

Jerome Einck, age 100 of Decorah, IA, passed away on Friday, February 28, 2020, at Wellington Place in Decorah, IA.

Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at the St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah with Rev. Donald Hertges presiding.  Burial will be in St. Benedict Cemetery.  

Visitation was from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service on Wednesday at the Church.  The Schluter-Balik Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Kermit Peterson

Kermit L. Peterson, 75, of Mason City, passed away on Tuesday, March 3, 2020, at the Good Shepherd Health Center.

Per Kermit’s wishes, he was cremated. No services are scheduled at this time.

Memorials may be directed to the family of Kermit Peterson. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com

Kermit Len Peterson was born on May 27, 1944. to parents, Lenferd and Edna (Helgerson) Peterson, in West Union, Iowa.

He graduated from Valley High School in Elgin, Iowa in 1962.

Kermit was united into marriage to Shirley Jean Larson on February 14, 1965 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville, Iowa. To this union, four children were born.

In his free time, Kermit loved fishing, camping, motorcycles and gardening, and he cherished the time he spent with family and friends. He will be dearly missed.

Shirley Biermann

Graveside service for Shirley Biermann who died on January 22 will be held on Saturday,  March 14 at 11 a.m. at the West Union Cemetery.

 Lunch will be served at the American Legion following the burial. Friends and family are welcome.

Kenneth Kamper

Kenneth (Food Man) Kamper, 64, of Knoxville, Tennessee passed away peacefully at home holding his wife’s hand on February 14, 2020.

Ken was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Arlington, Iowa. He served three years in the Army stationed in Kaiserslautern, Germany and was honorably discharged in 1979. Ken attended Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa where he played football and rugby.

Following relocation to Knoxville, he played rugby with the Knoxville Possums. Among his many accomplishments he was a concert-trained tuba player and an award-winning barbeque cook. He and his wife enjoyed gardening together, time at the beach and watching birds from their deck.

Ken was employed by Farmers Mutual of Tennessee for 33 years as a Senior Underwriter.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Elgene Kamper; father-in-law, Fred Myers.

Marvin Lee

Marvin Lee born July 7, 1961, passed away on February 24 at his home in Enid, Oklahoma of esophageal cancer.

He is survived by his wife, Brenda; his mother, Eileen Lee; brothers, Delbert and Darrell; sisters, Shirley and Eileen; sister-in-law, Lynn Lee; three stepchildren, Tammy, Chris and Amiee; grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Don, and brothers, Donald and in fancy, David and Darwin.

A memorial service will be held at the Hawkeye Community Hall on Sunday, March 15, at 2 p.m. for family and friends