Obituaries

Maxine A. Vrba, 18, of Vinton, passed away on Monday, Nov. 26, 2018, at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital. A Celebration of Life will be held on Jan 26, 2019, from 10 a.m. to noon at Palo Community Center, with a benefit from 2 to 9 p.m. Maxine Arizona Vrba was born on Oct. 30, 2000, to John Vrba and Brein Grimm in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Janet Mae Stull, 81, of Belle Plaine, passed away Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Services are at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9, at Hrabak-Neuhaus Funeral Service in Belle Plaine with Pastor Charles Johnson officiating. Visitation is from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Oak Hill Cemetery, Belle Plaine.

Dona Jean Vest, 85, died Tuesday, January 8, 2019, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 11, 2019, at Stewart Memorial United Methodist Church, Vinton. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, January 10, at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home and an hour before service at the church on Friday.

Douglas J. Nelson, 76, of Charles City died January 10, 2019, at Mercy Medical Center North Iowa in Mason City. A family and friends graveside service will be held at a future date at Riverside Cemetery in Charles City. Doug was born June 11, 1942, to Kenneth and Ethel Nelson in Edgewood, Iowa. He graduated from Marion High School in 1960. He met the love of his life, Jerri Ellery, in Cedar Rapids, and they were married on September 15, 1962.

Maxine I. Raitt, 96 died Tuesday, January 8, 2019, at the Virginia Gay Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where she had been a resident since June of 2014.  Funeral services will be held at 1:30 PM, Saturday, January 12, 2019, at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel, 212 East Sixth Street in Vinton with Rev. Jessica Crane-Munoz officiating.

Lorraine L. (Struve) Steinford, age 94, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 12, 2019, at the Keystone Nursing Care Center. Graveside services will be held at 3:00 pm, Wednesday, January 16, 2019, at Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton.  Visitation will be held from Noon until 2:45 pm Wednesday at the Phillips Funeral Home Chapel (212 E. 6th St.

William R. “Billy” Cummings, 44, died Monday, December 24, 2018, of natural causes.  Memorial visitation will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday, February 1, 2019, at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home, Vinton. William Robert Cummings was born February, 5, 1974 in Vinton, the son of William Craig and Elaine Rhinehart Cummings.

Patrick Lee Kies, 63, of Shellsburg, died Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, surrounded by his family at his home after a hard battle with cancer. Services: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at Teahen Funeral Home. Friends may visit with the family after 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Lee is survived by his daughter, Angie (Jamie) Howard of Shellsburg; son, Jeramey of Cedar Rapids; four grandchildren, Alyssa Howard of Fairfax, Kierra and Mikayla Howard, both of Shellsburg, and Izabella Kies of Cedar Rapids; sister-in-law, Sue Kies of Fairfax; siblings, Sonny (Gloria) Kies of Brandon, Edna (Ted) Dedrick of Vinton, Don (Sue) Kies of Cedar Rapids, Ray (Mary) Kies of Olin and Rocky Kies of Georgia; and several nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

Elaine Mae (Hennings) Pippert age 88, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at the Keystone Nursing Care Center. Memorial visitation will be held from 3:00 until 5:00 pm Monday, January 21, 2019 at the Phillips Funeral Home in Keystone.  A celebration of Elaine’s life and luncheon will follow at 5:30 pm at the Keystone Turner Hall.

Forrest Alan Burns, 63, of Center Point, died unexpectedly Friday, Jan. 4, 2019, in Cedar Rapids. There will be no services at this time.  Forrest was born Sept. 30, 1955, the son of Bill and Marie (Voohrees) Burns, in Fresno, Calif. On Nov. 23, 1985, he was married to Laurel Phelps. Forrest worked for Pickwick Manufacturing Services in Cedar Rapids as a senior weld engineer for 12 years.