Category Archives: Obituaries

Deborah Carole “Debbie” Higginbotham, 87, a longtime resident of Sully, died Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, at Grinnell Regional Medical Center. A private family celebration will be held. Memorials to St. Francis Manor/Hammond Center may be left at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Debbie, the daughter of Frank “Pop” and Sarah Jane (Teasdale) Gibson, was...

Merlin “Mert” Van Wyk, 68, of Lynnville, passed away July 19, 2021, at Unity Point Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines. Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 23, at Taintor Community Church. Burial was in the Highland Cemetery in New Sharon. Memorials may be directed to Taintor Community Church or Lynnville Fire...

Darla Jean (Ver Ploeg) Merwald, 65, of Marshalltown, passed away Wednes-day, July 21, 2021, surrounded by Ed, Mike, and Missy at Iowa Lutheran Hos-pital in Des Moines. Darla had a difficult battle with Lewy Body Dementia and is finally at peace. Mass of Christian Burial was at 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 26, at St. Francis...

Karen L. Burkett, 68, of Linn Creek, MO, passed away  Wednes-day, July 7, 2021, at home. She was born July 8, 1952, to Harley and Lorraine (Shuck) Papke in Aberdeen, SD. She married Lyle R. Burkett on July 6, 1973, in Keosauqua. Karen was half owner of two businesses in which she served as financial manager....

Linda Ann James, 72, of Lynnville, went home to be with Jesus on Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Grinnell. Private family services and burial will be held at a later date at Woodland Cemetery in Lynnville. Memorial contributions may be designated to the Lynnville Library. Linda was born Oct. 19, 1948, in Newton, the daughter of Wilbur and...

  Martha (De Boer) Slings, 103, of Pella, passed away Thursday, July 22, 2021, at Hospice of Pella Comfort House. Funeral services were held Tuesday, July 27, at 10 a.m. at Cornerstone Church (formerly Second Christian Reformed Church), Pella. Interment followed in Evergreen Cemetery, Leighton. Memorial contributions are preferred for Cornerstone Church. Martha De Boer, the daughter of...

Richard James Meinders was the firstborn son on Aug. 19, 1959, to Clarence W. and Wilma Jean (De Graaf) Meinders in Oskaloosa. He grew up on an acreage north of Pella with his four brothers. Richard graduated from Pella Christian High School in 1978. He loved being outdoors, hunting, trapping, and fishing. He was employed briefly...