Phyllis Jean Griffiths, 89, formerly of Colusa, IL died December 9, 2017 at The Madison Nursing Home in Fort Madison, IA. She was born February 29, 1928 in Douglas County Illinois. She was the daughter of Kenneth and Laura Warnes Hanley.
She graduated from Colusa High School in 1946. In August of 1946 she married Willis Hobart and had three children: Mary (Paul) Davis of Morago, CA; Mark Hobart (deceased) and John (Connie) Hobart of Warsaw, IL. Willis died in 1952 and in 1955 she married John B. Griffiths and had three more children: Dale (Carol) Griffiths of Nauvoo, Steven (Mary) Griffiths of Fort Madison, IA and Danny Joe (Theresa) Griffiths of Colusa. John preceded Phyllis in death in 2009.
Phyllis lived most of her adult life in the Colusa area where she was a stay at home mother for her six children. She was a member of the Colusa United Methodist Church and was active in the Colusa Ladies Aid. She loved quilting, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and traveling as long as she was able.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, two husbands, one adult son, and a son in infancy.
Survivors include a sister, Alice Mae Baker of Lawrenceville, IL, one daughter, four sons, twelve grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in Dallas City, IL with Pastor David Poland officiating. Burial will follow in Myers Cemetery near Dallas City. Friends may call anytime after 3:00 PM Tuesday at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 PM. A memorial fund has been established for the Dallas City Food Pantry and the Appanoose Faith Presbyterian Church. Please visit banksandbeals.com to leave a condolence or sign the guest book.
Bruce Allen Kammerer, 76, of Ottumwa, formerly of New London, died Saturday, December 9, 2017 at his home. The memorial service for Bruce Kammerer will be 10:00 AM, December 27th at Elliott Chapel. A memorial has been established. Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.
Carolyn J. Ditzman, 70, of Burlington, died Sunday, December 10th at her home surrounded by family. Arrangements are pending at Elliott Chapel, New London.
Nicholas T. Beelman, 51, Mt. Union, died Saturday, December 9th at his home. Arrangements are pending at Elliott Chapel, New London.
Michelle “Shelly” Ahner, 56, of Burlington died at 7:00 a.m. Friday, December 8, 2017 in New London.
Born April 26, 1961 in Burlington. She was the daughter of Larry E. Johnson and Linda (Swozil) Johnson. She married Marcus Ahner, they later divorced.
Shelly worked as a CNA at Great River Medical Center 33 years and currently for Mobile Nursing. She graduated from West Burlington High School in 1979. She was a member of First United Methodist Church. She loved horses, Princess Diana and British Royal Families, Victorian houses, cats and dogs and spending time with family and clients.
Survivors include parents Larry (Diane) Johnson and Linda A. Johnson of Burlington; Three sisters, Angie and Pamela Johnson of Burlington, Christine (Burton) Wilcox of Denver, Co. two brothers Jeff and Jay Johnson, all of Burlington and several Nieces and Nephews.
She was preceded in death by her maternal & paternal grandparents.
The funeral service for Shelly will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday December 12, 2017 at Lunning Chapel with Melisa Bracht-Wagner officiating with interment in Middletown cemetery. Friends may call after 12 p.m. on Monday December 11, 2017. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on Monday.
A memorial has been established for Des Moines County Humane Society.
R. Mac Harkey, 53, of LaHarpe, IL, passed away Thursday, December 7, 2017 at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO.
He was born March 15, 1964 in Albemarle, NC, the son of Glenn and Mary Jane McIntosh Harkey. On March 24, 1984 he married Kelly Smith in Lomax, IL.
Mac grew up and attended schools in Fort Madison, IA. He worked for Amerigas, MPC and was currently employed by West Central FS in Carthage, IL. He loved riding his motorcycle, watching westerns, especially John Wayne movies and spending time with his family. Mac enjoyed working on motorcycles, cars and projects around the house. He could fix anything.
Surviving are his wife, 2 daughters, Heather (Matt) Halbrook of West point, IA and Megan (Justin) Sparrow of rural LaHarpe, 1 granddaughter, Jewel Halbrook, 3 brothers, Bill (Stevie) Harkey of Shawano, WI, Jim (Lexie) Harkey of Dahinda, IL and Don (Lisa) Harkey of Fort Madison, 1 aunt, Jeneale Zumdome of Fort Madison and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents,
Services will be held at 10:30AM Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017 at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in LaHarpe with Rev. Bruce Goettsche officiating Burial will be in the Terre Haute, IL Cemetery. Friends may call after 3:00 PM Monday at he funeral home where the family will meet with friends from 6:00 until 8:00PM. A memorial fund has been established for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Memorial Hospital in Carthage, IL. To sign the guestbook and leave a condolence please visit his obituary at www.banksandbeals.com.
Mary Katherine Blake, 76, of Burlington, died at 2:40 PM Friday, December 8, 2017, at the Burlington Care Center.
Born September 7, 1941, in Burlington, she was the daughter of Anthony and Gladys Roseberry Langer. On December 19, 1976, she married John Merrett Blake in Oquawka, Illinois. He died on January 18, 2014.
She worked for the D.O.T. for several years, before retirement.
She graduated from Notre Dame High School.
She was a member of Divine Mercy Parish, SS. Mary and Patrick Catholic Church in West Burlington. She loved reading and going to the casino. She was an animal lover, and enjoyed spending time with her dog, Ginger. She also loved to spend time with her kids and grandkids.
Survivors include her mother, Gladys Langer of Burlington; two sons, Darrin (Beate) Walker of Burlington, and Chad Larson of Iowa City; one daughter, Debra Yansky of Texas; two step-daughters, Denise Blake of Florida, and Lynn Blake of California; five grandchildren, Jacob, Ian, and Sophia Gawron, and Daryl and Davin Yansky; one great-grandchild, Davien Yansky; three step-grandchildren: Nadine Muck, Kathrine Bryant, and Sarah Bryant; two step-great-grandchildren: J.J. and Jackson West; one brother, Mark (Pamela) Langer of Burlington; one sister, Marcia Holm of Florida; and several nieces and nephews.
Besides her husband, she is preceded in death by her father, one daughter Diane Gawron-Beck, and one step-daughter, Colleen Blake.
Cremation has been entrusted to the care of Prugh~Thielen Crematory.
A private family burial will be held at Kossuth Cemetery at a later date.
A memorial has been established for Systems Unlimited in Iowa City.
Prugh~Thielen Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements.