Rudy Naifeh, 93, of Burlington, died at 9:22 AM Friday, April 6, 2018, at the Great River Klein Center in West Burlington.
Born August 23, 1924, in Madrid Bend, Kentucky, he was the son of Aref and Eula Laster Naifeh. On September 1, 1943, he married Frances Amy Moore in Wichita, Kansas.
He worked with his uncle at their family meat market. He later owned and operated Naifeh’s Grocery Store for 24 years.
He attended Ft. Madison High School.
Rudy was a U.S. Army Air Corps. Veteran serving from 1942 until 1948.
He enjoyed playing pool and poker and going bowling. He was a member of the Burlington Moose Lodge, Elk Lodge, Eagle’s Club and American Legion. He was on the Burlington Board of Banks for many years.
Survivors include his wife, Frances, of Burlington; two sons, Tom (Karen) Naifeh of Marco Island, FL, and Nap (Becky) Naifeh of Burlington; two grandchildren, Eric and Natalie; four great-grandchildren, Samantha, Nicholas, Tristan and Riley; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Wanda Link.
Visitation will be from noon until 6:00 PM with the family to receive friends from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM Thursday, April 12, 208 at Prugh~Thielen Funeral Home. There will be a time of sharing followed by military honors at 6:00 PM. Full military honors will be rendered by the Burlington Area Veterans Honor Guard.
Prugh~Thielen Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for Great River Hospice.
A photo tribute can be viewed and condolences can be sent to the family by visiting Rudy’s obituary at www.prughthielencares.com.
Velma Jean Keitzer, age 81, of Mediapolis died Saturday, April 7, 2018 at Prairie Ridge Care Center in Mediapolis. The daughter of George and Alta (Benkert) Riemann, she was born October 21, 1936 in Burlington. On June 2, 1957 she married Howard Keitzer in Kingston; he died December 12, 2017. She was a 1955 graduate of Huron High School.
She was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Mediapolis where she held many positions including President of the United Methodist Women. She was also active in TTT and Evening Star King’s Daughters and she served on the Des Moines County 4-H and Youth Committee. Velma was a lifelong homemaker. She also worked at Sylvania and as a longtime tour guide for American Vision Travel. She enjoyed traveling and spending time with her family.
Survivors include: one son Dan (Jan) Keitzer of Mediapolis; and one daughter Jodie (Evan) Bruce of Cedar Rapids; five grandchildren, Dalton, Kendra, Colton, Keaton and Chandler; three sisters, Winona Anderson of Oakville, Virginia Kidder of Knoxville and Doris Ann Rechkemmer of Burlington; one brother Don Riemann of Longmont, CO and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, an infant daughter Tamra Lynn, and three sisters, Marcelle Brown, Dorothy Springsteen and Florence Miller.
The funeral service will be held Thursday, April 12, 2018, at 10:30 a.m., at the Mediapolis United Methodist Church, with internment to follow at Kossuth Cemetery. Friends may call on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 from 3-7 p.m., at the Hagele and Honts Funeral Home in Mediapolis, where the family will greet friends from 5-7 p.m. Memorials have been established for Mediapolis United Methodist Church and Mediapolis Community Ambulance.
Pamela Kae Goble, 50, of Burlington, died at 1:45 AM Saturday, April 7, 2018, at the Great River Hospice House in West Burlington.
Born August 27, 1967, in Muscatine, IA, she was the daughter of Howard Franklin and Cheryl Sue Hatfield Gibson. On August 18, 1990, she married Brian Alan Goble at First United Methodist Church in Burlington.
She enjoyed spending time outdoors; gardening, fishing, collecting rocks, watching wildlife and going for walks. She had a soft spot for all animals. She enjoyed learning about her family history and gathered as much genealogy information as she could. But most of all she loved spending time with her family and babysitting her granddaughter.
Survivors include her husband, Brian, of Burlington; one son, Jacob Goble of Burlington; one daughter, Anna Goble of Burlington; her mother, Cheryl Gibson; one granddaughter, Eva Oleson; two sisters, Angela (Steve) Burch of Gilbert, AR, and Sharon (James) Lewis of Burlington; one niece, three nephews, and many cousins, aunts and uncles.
She was preceded in death by her father.
Cremation has been entrusted to the care of Prugh~Thielen Crematory.
At her request, there will only be a public graveside service and celebration luncheon.
The graveside service for Mrs. Goble will be 10:00 AM Wednesday, April 11, 2018, at Aspen Grove Cemetery with Reverend Dean Graber officiating. A Celebration Lunch will be held in the community room at Prugh~Thielen Funeral Home following the burial.
A memorial has been established.
Prugh~Thielen Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements.
A photo tribute can be viewed and condolences can be sent to the family by visiting Pamela’s obituary at www.prughthielencares.com.
Marlene Gerst, 85, of Burlington died at 6:05 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at Prairie Ridge Care and Rehab Center in Mediapolis.
Born April 3, 1933 in Macomb, IL, she was the daughter of William Johns and Cora V. (Riddle) Johns Nelson. She married Ernest T. Gerst on June 11, 1966 in Macomb, IL.
Marlene was employed as a production worker for Champion for 33 years and later at the U.A.W. Hall. She was a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ. She enjoyed attending Blackhawk basketball games and was an avid Hawkeye and Cardinals fan. She belonged to the United Auto Workers Union and was inducted into the Des Moines County Democratic Party Hall of Fame. Marlene had her own opinions in life and was always right.
Survivors include her husband Ernest; children, Mona Shaw Burlington, Jacky Wistrom rural Sperry, Mark Shaw Argentina, Sandra Wasson rural Burlington, Jackie Smith Ridgecrest, CA, Sharon Malone Burlington, Edward Gerst rural Burlington, April Schulthies West Burlington and Colin Gerst rural Danville; twenty one grandchildren; twenty seven great grandchildren (with one on the way); and one great-great grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant son, Eric; two brothers, Bernard and Norman Johns; and a step brother, Edward Nelson.
The funeral service for Mrs. Gerst will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 10th at Lunning Chapel. Rev. Will Ryan will officiate. Interment will be in the Apostolic Christian Cemetery in Oakville. Family will receive friends 5-7 pm, Monday, April 9th at Lunning Chapel.