Reid Allen Koenig, 73, of Austin, Texas, and Waverly, Iowa, unexpectedly passed away on June 9, 2026, at UnityPoint-Allen Hospital. He was a cherished husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, and he will be deeply missed. Reid was born on April 11, 1953, in Decorah, Iowa, to Orville and Irene (Bachelder) Koenig. He graduated from Postville High School in 1971 and from Wartburg College in 1975. He got an MBA from the University of Northern Iowa in 1987. On May 31, 1975, he was united in marriage to Marsha (Gunderson). Together they had 3 daughters, twins Anne and Laura…

Janet Gladys Oleson was born in rural Butler County, the second youngest of 11 children, to August and Lena (Huber) Oleson. Growing up Janet was a member of The Little Brown Church in Nashua and gave her heart to Jesus while at a special service. That spiritual heart transformation guided her daily life for all the days that she lived. She graduated from Nashua High School and continued her education through a 10-week course at Upper Iowa College. Upon completion she became certified to teach at country schools. A life-long learner, Janet continued pursuing her education by attending night classes…

Theodore Norman Dahl, affectionately known as Ted, passed away peacefully on May 22, 2026, at his home in Ellendale, Minnesota, surrounded by his loving family at the age of 63. Born on August 25, 1962, in Albert Lea, MN, at Naeve Hospital, to Clair and Marian (Schmidt) Dahl. Ted’s life was a testament to warmth, happiness and the joy of life. Ted’s education began in Cherokee, Iowa, where he started kindergarten. His family later moved to Ellendale in 1978 and he was later confirmed that year. Throughout his life, Ted’s faith was key to his identity and motivation. He was…

Martha Grace (Andrews) Deines, 92, of Greene, Iowa, went to meet her Heavenly Father on Friday, May 22, 2026. Funeral Services of Christian Burial will be held at St. Peter Lutheran Church at 324 E. Traer St, Greene, IA, on Saturday, May 30 at 11:00am with burial to follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Greene. Visitation will be held on Friday, May 29 from 5 to 7pm at St. Peter Lutheran Church. Martha was born April 7, 1934, at the family home in Greene, IA. She was the firstborn to Dr. William “Doc” and Marjorie (Flitton) Andrews. She was followed…

Edith Bliese went to be with Jesus on May 20th, 2026, dying peacefully at home in Harrisburg, OR with her husband, after spending her last hours with beloved family. She was a special woman, with deep commitment and love for God and those God placed in her path. She was born on October 14, 1937, in Austin, Texas, to Dr. Carl Albers and Johnnita, born Niederauer. She was the third of four children, including her surviving sister Lois and brother Ken. She attended Texas Lutheran College, the University of Texas at Austin, and Wartburg College. She married Loren Bliese on…

Kent Kooi, 77, of Kearney, Missouri, passed away on May 19, 2026 at Oakridge of Plattsburg. His family will honor his wishes of having a private celebration of life at a later time. Kent was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa to Edward and Muriel Kooi. He was the oldest of three children. He graduated from Aplington Community School in 1967. After high school, Kent went on to Wartburg College. He then joined the U.S. Army Reserves, serving six years. Simultaneously, he also joined the Border Patrol, where he dedicated the first eighteen years of his career with the federal government to…

Deleva Stevenson, 95, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, formerly of Manchester, passed away on Friday, May 15, 2026, at Cottage Grove Place in Cedar Rapids. She was born on March 15, 1931 in Strawberry Point, the daughter of Vernon and Hilda (Martens) Schuchmann. She graduated from Manchester High School and attended Wartburg College. On June 25, 1950, she was united in marriage to Gordon Grimm. After Gordon’s passing, she married Donald Stevenson. She lived and worked on a farm near Delhi for most of her life.  Survivors include her four daughters, Candy (Richard) Altorfer of Cedar Rapids, Kay Phillips of Delhi,…

Carol J. Hoffman, 80, passed away on Sunday morning, May 10, 2026 at the Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community in Waverly.  Carol was born March 12, 1946 in Hampton, Iowa the daughter of Walter and Mabel (Baker) Hoffman. In 1950, at a young age she moved with her family from Dinsdale to Humboldt where she attended school and graduated from Humboldt High School. Carol went on to attend Wartburg College and earned her Bachelors in Education. She taught second grade at Ackley-Geneva for thirty-eight years. Faith was an important part of Carol’s life. She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran…

Randall Mark Wright, age 78 of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and formerly of Oskaloosa, Iowa, passed away on Friday, May 8, 2026, at Cottage Grove Place in Cedar Rapids. He was born on December 20, 1947, in Davenport, Iowa, the son of Ronald M. and Mary L. (Gould) Wright. Randy grew up in Villa Park, Illinois, and attended Willowbrook High School, graduating with the Class of 1966. He then furthered his education at Wartburg College earning is B.A. in Communication, until lastly attending the University of Norther Iowa where he earned his Masters in Communication. On November 27, 1971, he was…

Marjorie Lee Miller June 24, 1940 — May 4, 2026 Marjorie Lee was born in Eldora, Iowa to Velma Tideback Miller and Lloyd Milller. Marge went to Eldora High School and graduated in 1958. She attended Wartburg College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education in 1963 and then returned to earn a Master’s Degree as a Reading Specialist from the University of Northern Iowa in 1995. Her teaching career spanned 42 years, and she taught in the greater Los Angeles, California area, Minnesota, and Council Bluffs, Iowa. Marge was first a classroom teacher and then became a…

Dorothy “Dottie” Kim Rathjen, 66, passed away on May 2, 2026. Born on July 3, 1959, Dottie lived a life rooted in faith, compassion, service, and creativity, leaving a lasting impression on all who knew her. Dottie was a lifelong learner who pursued her education with dedication and purpose. She graduated from Northcentral Technical College in 1979 with an Associate of Arts degree in Secretarial Science with an emphasis in Medicine. In 1984, she achieved her Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) designation, reflecting her professionalism and commitment to excellence. Continuing her education, Dottie graduated from Wartburg College in 1987 with a…

Ann Margaret Bahlmann, 90, of Waverly, Iowa, passed away on Monday evening, April 27, 2026 at UnityPoint Allen Hospital in Waterloo. Ann was born on March 22, 1936, in Jefferson Township, Iowa, the daughter of Gladys E. (Pape) and Leslie W. Huck. She was baptized at St. John Lutheran Church in Waverly on March 29, 1936 and confirmed in 1950 at St. John Spring Fountain Church. Ann graduated from Sumner High School, attended Wartburg College and proudly earned her teaching certificate. On June 29, 1958, Ann was united in marriage to Duane Clarence Bahlmann at Spring Fountain Church in Sumner,…

Johanna ‘Jo’ Marie Kissell, 81, of Muscatine, passed away on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Lutheran Living Senior Campus. Jo was born on September 12, 1944, in Waterloo, Iowa, the daughter of Albert and Viola Prange Guetzlaff. She married Gary P. Kissell on August 12, 1967, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He preceded her in death on March 8, 2023. She was a member of the Grandview Community Bible Church and enjoyed reading, knitting, crocheting, crafting, and spending time with her grandchildren. Jo will be deeply missed by her three children, Jennifer Howell and husband, Chris, of Muscatine, Paul Kissell and wife,…

Regina Welsch Mueller, 97, died April 22, 2026 at Vista Prairie at Brentwood Memory Care in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. Born Regina May Welsch to Goldie Jacobson Welsch and Alfred J. Welsch, November 28, 1928, in Jesup, Iowa, Regina spent her childhood and completed all of her K-12 schooling in Jesup. She excelled at math and enjoyed gymnastics until a knee injury required experimental surgery. This did not inhibit her adventurous spirit. Regina spent some free time at her father’s barber shop and entire summers with her beloved grandmother, Christy Jacobson, in Kansas City. Regina studied Parish Work at Wartburg College…

Matthew J. Parmely, 60, of rural Hazleton, Iowa passed away Monday, April 20, 2026, at his home. Matthew John Parmely was born December 10, 1965, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa the son of John Howard and Betty Lou (Coonrad) Parmely. He was raised on the family farm outside of Lamont. Matt graduated from Starmont High School in 1984 and then wrestled collegiately for four years at Wartburg and Cornell College. In 1989 Matt married Lesa Carrothers of Alburnett, and they raised their four children, Brooke, Jordan, Ryan, and Tanner on their farm near Hazleton. Matt loved to farm, hunt, fish, and…

Gloria Gibbons of Richland, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 17, 2026 with her loving family and caregiver at her side. Gloria was born July 11, 1936 in Des Moines, Iowa to Hayden and Mamie Seibert, the second of three children. She was active in 4-H, singing in chorale groups, played French Horn, piano and the organ. She was from Des Moines, Iowa and has fond memories of her early years growing up on a farm. Gloria graduated from Johnston High School in 1954. After high school, she completed two years at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa then received a…

Bruce Eugene Garberding January 26, 1949 – April 15, 2026 Bruce was an Iowa farm boy through and through. He grew up with his loving parents, Ray and Lucille Garberding, on their farm near Albert City, Iowa. Bruce’s childhood was idyllic, helping on the farm and loving all the farm animals and pets. Throughout his schooling at Albert City, Bruce participated in almost every activity they offered. He then completed a degree in Social Work at Wartburg College. After that Bruce then served in the U.S. Navy before going on to complete his master’s degree in social work at the University of…

Herman August Hein passed away peacefully on April 15, 2026. Herman was born on July 30, 1936 at Anamosa Hospital in Iowa to Rev. Herman and Marie Reyelts Hein. After his family settled in Waverly, Iowa he graduated summa cum laude from Waverly High School in 1955. He went on to attend Wartburg College in Waverly where he met the love of his life Carol Bergquist. They married in August of 1958 and would have celebrated 68 years of marriage this year. In 1959 he graduated magna cum laude and went on to attend medical school at the University of…

Stanley R. Lillich (Stan) died of cancer on his 84th birthday on Sunday, April 12th after a six-day stay at Oakwood Village Health & Rehabilitation Center at Prairie Ridge where he was well cared for by family and staff. His death claimed a temporary victory. Our Lord’s promise is “the last enemy to be destroyed is death.” Thanks be to God that His victory over death and the grave will also be ours, through faith in Him. Stanley R. Lillich was born on April 12, 1942, in Benkelman, NE to the Reverend Adolph and Clara Lillich. He was baptized by…

Dawn Jaeger, 64, of Grinnell, died on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center. Dawn Marie Maas was born to William and Joyce (Tretow) Maas on June 29, 1961, in Sheboygan, Wis. She was raised in Random Lake, Wis., and graduated with the Random Lake High School Class of 1979. Dawn continued her education at Wartburg College, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in social work in 1983, and completed her Master’s Degree in social work from the University of Iowa. On August 27, 1983, Dawn was united in marriage with Brent Jaeger at Saint Paul’s…