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…

Wonderful husband, fantastic father, and a very proud grandpa of fine children, Rodney Thompson, recent resident of St. John, Indiana passed away one day shy of his 80th birthday on May 6, 2026. Rod grew up on the Northside of Chicago and was very proud to be a Steinmetz High School graduate class of 1964. He graduated from Wright Junior College and received a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Iowa’s Wartburg College, Class of 1968. Rod and Carol were married in 1980 and became parents of twins, Alice and Christian in 1981. Rod was a multi-faceted man. He was a champion…

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…

Daryl Peter Buchholtz, age 90, formerly of Swaledale, IA residing at Highland Ridge Retirement Village in Williamsburg, Iowa, passed away on Monday, May 4th, 2026. Daryl was born on the family farm in Monmouth, Iowa on February 6th, 1936, and grew up in Monmouth and Wyoming, IA. He was a graduate of Monmouth High School. He then went on to Wartburg College followed by the University of Northern Iowa. He got his teaching degree in 1958 and then moved to Manly, IA to teach science, physical education, coach baseball, and instruct drivers education. In 1959, he married Darling Mae “Tootie”…

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,…

Dolores Jean “Lori” Grothaus lived a life defined by faith, resilience, and deep love for herfamily. She was a devoted daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, and businesswoman whose quiet strength and gracious spirit touched all who knew her. Lori was born on April 5, 1930, in Holstein, Iowa, to Erich and Edna Lemke. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Dean Lemke; her sister, Joelle “Babe” Hoops; and her beloved husband, Victor Gene Grothaus. She is survived by her brother, Delaine “Bud” Lemke; her daughters, Ann (Kim) Hunt and Jean Finegan; her grandchildren, Patrick…

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…

David Orville Kalkwarf, 77 of McGregor, Iowa passed away from Alzheimer’s on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at Meadow View Memory Care in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. David was born October 7, 1948 to Orville and Hazel (Voss) Kalkwarf in Madison, Wisconsin. He graduated from Pontiac High School with the class of 1966 and attended Wartburg College for two years before joining the United States Army. When David returned from serving in the Army he continued his education at the Illinois State College and graduated with a CPA certificate in accounting. On November 28, 1969, David was united in marriage with Barbara Augsburger at…

Loving wife and mother, Marian Janice Glidewell of Emporia, KS died at Newman Regional Health on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the age of 88. Marian was born June 20,1937 in Minneapolis, MN to Melvin Alvin and Adeline Mae (Nelson) Boicourt.  She grew up in the Homecroft neighborhood of St. Paul, MN surrounded by her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. In addition to her family, Marian found guidance at Homecroft Elementary and St. Luke’s Lutheran Church. During WWII, the tight-knit neighborhood supported each other while the men were serving their country. Marian had many stories to share of her childhood…

Arlington M Fink passed on April 6, 2026, at the age of 93; born December 15, 1932, in Delmont, Arlington resided in Ames, Iowa. A.M. Fink was born in his German-Russian grandparents’ home in Delmont, South Dakota. The youngest in a deeply religious family, he got to sit on his father’s lap as his father read from the German Bible every morning. In this intimate time he learned to read German script before dealing with English in a one-room school at age six. Being unsuited to farming because of hay fever, A.M. attended Armour High School and Wartburg College, a…

Michelle Lynn Stearns Parsons, age 48, of Mineral Point, Wisconsin, was born the daughter of Dale and Janet (Honsbruch) Stearns, on July 26, 1977, in Waterloo, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at Bethel Lutheran Church in Parkersburg, Iowa. Michelle graduated from Aplington Parkersburg High School in 1995 and continued her education, graduating from Wartburg College with her bachelor’s degree and had been working towards her master’s degree.  Michelle had a passion for helping people which led her to several communities, working in social work and substance abuse counseling over the years before making her current home in Mineral Point,…