Larry Raymond Wingert was born on December 15, 1953, in Harlan, Iowa to the late Anthony “Tony” and Rosemary (Freund) Wingert. The second of seven children, he grew up on the family farm outside Portsmouth and graduated from Harlan High School in 1972 where he was active in the Future Farmers of America (FFA). In 1978 he married Shirley Hipsher, and they were blessed with one son, Kenneth. 

Lloyd Charles Carlson, 86, formerly of Ricketts, Iowa, passed away on November 28, 2025. Lloyd was born on October 24, 1939, to Charles and Clara (Zobel) Carlson in Charter Oak, Iowa. He graduated from Charter Oak High School with the Class of 1958. After graduating, Lloyd served in the United States Army from April 6, 1959, until his honorable discharge on May 4, 1962.

Verdell May Jensen was born September 9, 1930 to Folmer and Bonnie (Andersen) Jensen in Clay Township. Verdell was baptized and confirmed at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. Verdell attended school at Clay #5 country school. In 1943 her family moved to a farm outside of Kimballton, Iowa. She then attended school in Elk Horn, Iowa and would go on to graduate in the year of 1948. Verdell worked at Twenstrup and Lund in Kimballton in high school.

Jane Mary Henscheid was born on September 19, 1932, in Westphalia, IA, to Joseph “Joe” and Marie “Mary” Henscheid. Jane was very proud of her Westphalia roots. She graduated from St. Boniface High School in 1950. She then became a Franciscan nun and served as the cook for the religious in the communities of La Crosse, WI; Spencer, IA; and Bozeman, MT.

Karen Kay Dant, age 83, of Walnut, Iowa, and formerly of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at Salem Lutheran Homes in Elk Horn, IA.

Kenneth John “Narv” Schwery, 65, died at his home in Panama on Friday, November 21, 2025. He was born on June 13, 1960, in Harlan, Iowa, to James and Carolyn (Carl) Schwery. He was raised on the family farm outside of Panama, Iowa. After graduating in 1978, Narv worked at the elevator and for Harlan Builders and spent many years doing siding and guttering. Narv raised cattle for the last several years and farmed with his dad.

Lila June Davis, born June 28, 1934 on a farm near Minden, Iowa to John and Mildred A. (Schnepel) Nelson. She graduated from Shelby High School 1952.

Beverly Barbara Kohles was born on November 25, 1942, in Portsmouth, Iowa, to William Huebner and Irene (Wegner) Huebner. She grew up in the Portsmouth and Panama communities and was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s in Panama. She attended St. Mary’s Catholic School and was a lifelong member of St. Mary’s Our Lady of Fatima Parish.

Dorothy Emma Eckmann, daughter of George and Alma (Meier) Eckmann, was born on January 8, 1924, on the family farm outside Persia. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Persia where she was active in LCW, the ladies auxiliary.
Dorothy farmed with her family outside of Persia and grew a large vegetable and flower garden. She lived on the farm until 1987 when she moved into Persia.

Pamela was born on March 7, 1949, in Jefferson, Iowa, to Cyril “Cy” Butler and Beverly (Gunion) Butler. Pamela began her education in Jefferson, IA. She graduated from Harlan High School in 1968. Following her graduation, she selflessly returned to the family farm to help care for her grandmother until 1970. She was raised in the Catholic faith, having been baptized and confirmed at Jefferson Catholic Church.

Visitation for Howard Sorensen will be held on Sunday, November 23, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends at Elk Horn Lutheran Church, Elk Horn, Iowa. Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 24, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., also at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. Private family burial with military honors will be held in the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery.

Beverly Lucille Caroline Larsen was born March 2, 1929, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Louis and Mary Lucille (Skuldt) Namen. She graduated from Franklin High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1948. She attended the University of Iowa for one year. She married Richard Peterson, to whom two children, Stephen and Christine, were born. That marriage ended in divorce.

Mary Beth Goeser, 57, loving wife and devoted mother, was born into eternal life on November 8th, 2025 after a courageous battle with cancer.

James Louis DeBlauw, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, surrounded by his three children.Jim was born on October 25, 1944, in Sioux City, Iowa. He was left on the doorsteps of St. Joseph’s Hospital as a newborn baby, shortly afterward brought to St. James Orphanage in Omaha, Nebraska, and thirteen months later was joyfully adopted by Louis and Catheryn DeBlauw.

Mervin Rita Rau was born on August 3, 1939, to Gilbert and Lidwina (Eisterhold) Rau at Westphalia, Iowa, the 12th child in a family of 15 children. She was baptized at St. Boniface Church.  The family moved to a farm near Portsmouth, where she attended grade school and was confirmed at St. Mary’s Church.After they moved to a farm near Manilla, Mervin graduated from Manilla High School.