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,…

Robert “Bob” Gerd Wessels was born February 12,1934 to Adolph and Johanna Wessels. Bob was one of four children and grew up on a farm 7 miles north of Independence Iowa. Bob attended Buchannan County Rural School #5 and Independence High School. After graduation in 1951, Bob farmed for two years with his “Opa”, dad, older brother Harry and younger brother Lawrence “Lornie”. During this time Bob met and dated Margie Harris.  Marge and Bob both did volunteer work for Immanuel Lutheran Church in Independence. Bob received God’s call while at camp and soon after was enrolled at Wartburg College…

Roger Allan Pagel, October 22, 1941 – April 3, 2026. Roger graduated from Tama High School, and also Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa where he played football. He met Marty in 1962 at Wartburg and they were married on August 21, 1965. Roger was a PE teacher at Mission Middle School from 1970-1999. He was a football coach at Bellevue High School, Mission Middle School, and Bellevue East High School. Preceded in death by parents Harold and Darlene Pagel brother in-law Curtis Olthoff. Survived by wife of 60 years, Mariedith “Marty” (Greenlee) Pagel; children Scott Pagel (Angie), Shawn Pagel (Michele),…

Robert “Bob” Beener, 97, of Cedar Falls, IA, passed away on Friday, March 29, 2026, at Western Homes Creekside Living in Grundy Center. Bob was born June 14, 1928, in Waterloo, IA, the third son of Charles and Lydia (Speicher) Beener. His family included-two older brothers, Irvin and LaVerne, two younger sisters, Mary, and Janice “Jenny,” and one younger brother, Richard “Dick” Beener. Growing up in the Great Depression years, Bob’s work history began at an early age with a paper route. In High School, he began working second shift at the Rath Packing Company and continued to work there while…

Elizabeth Mae von Fischer Hier, January 28, 1931  –  March 23, 2026. Elizabeth (Betty) von Fischer Hier, 95, of Clear Lake, IA, passed away peacefully at the IOOF Home in Mason City, IA after a courageous three-month battle with bone cancer. Betty was born on January 28, 1931, in Springfield, Minnesota, the daughter of Philip Emil and Vera Santine Wilhelmina (Buth) von Fischer. She attended school in Springfield and began playing the flute in the 6th grade with three other classmates. In 7th grade, and each year following, they were the top small group at regional, and state contests. She graduated from…

Rev. Robert Lynn Edwards passed away on March 22, 2026 in Ames, IA after a short battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Bob was born on November 14, 1949, in Emmetsburg, IA to Leslie and Marian Edwards. Bob attended school in Emmetsburg until his family moved to Forest City, IA. He graduated from Forest City High School in 1968. While still in high school, he started attending church on his own and after a particularly moving Lenten service, decided he wanted to become a pastor. Bob attended Waldorf College for two years, where he met the love of his life and…

Larry Lee Stille, aged 83, was called home by his Savior on March 22nd, 2026, surrounded by his family, at Avera Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Larry was born August 7th, 1942 in Charles City, IA. He was a proud graduate of Wartburg College, graduating with a BA in biology and going on to attend Schoitz Memorial Hospital’s medical technologist training program. He then began thirty-five years of service at St. Luke’s Hospital in Sioux City, IA, rising to become Director of Technical Lab Services, as well as Director of Pharmacy and Radiologic Services. At St. Luke’s, he met the…

Bev, age 83, passed away peacefully on March 21, 2026 at Our Lady of Peace Hospice Home (St. Paul, MN), with her daughter and husband at her side. Bev leaves a legacy of humor, honesty and caring for others; her long-time commitment to education, her family, and her church. She will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved her. Born on February 19, 1943 at Lutheran Hospital (Hampton, Iowa) to Alvin and Ardyce Riis of Coulter, Iowa. Becoming a big sister when Susan was born six years later. The family later made their home on a dairy farm…

Joan L. Anderson, 76, of Marion, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at home. A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at the Church on Northland, 5200 Northland Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids. The family will greet friends an hour prior to services at the church. The service will be livestreamed on the church’s social media pages. Joan was born on May 3, 1949, in Oskaloosa, Iowa, the daughter of Thomas and Catherine (Chilcote) Havener. She was a 1967 graduate of Knoxville High School and earned her teaching degree from Central…