Obituaries
William "Bill" D. Mitchell
After a battle with cancer, William "Bill" D. Mitchell, 69, of Brandon, Iowa, died Sunday, September 1, 2024, at his home in Brandon surrounded by his family.Visitation will be held from 2 until 6 p.m. on Sunday, September 8, at the Reiff Family Center – Funeral Home & Crematory in Independence, Iowa. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, September 9t at the funeral home in Independence. Earl Rinderknecht
Earl Rinderknecht, 91 of Urbana died Monday, September 2, 2024, at his home in Urbana.Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, September 7, 2024 at the Phillips Funeral Home Chapel (2121 E. 6th Street) in Vinton, with Lorraine Kelty officiating. Interment with graveside military rites will be in the Urbana Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 until 7:00 PM on Friday at the funeral home. Francis “Frank” Eugene Gauley
Francis “Frank” Eugene Gauley, 73, of Belle Plaine, IA passed away Aug. 31, 2024 at his home.Frank was born May 21, 1951 to Lawrence and Audrey (Hood) Gauley in Mason City, IA. He grew up on one of the Gauley Family Farms in Sheffield, IA until age 10 and moved to Roland, IA. Frank graduated from Roland High School in 1969 as Salutatorian. His class was the last to attend Roland Community School. Gerard "Jerry" Herman
Gerard "Jerry" Herman, 73, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed Friday, August 30, 2024, at his home with his family by his side. A visitation will take place on Saturday, September 7, 2024, from 3 - 6 p.m. at The Legacy Center at Murdoch-Linwood in Cedar Rapids. Deacon Steve VanKerckvoorde will offer words of remembrance at 5:30 p.m. Inurnment with military honors will be held at a later date at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Adel, Iowa. Mary Alice Ockenfels
Mary Alice Ockenfels, 82, died Monday, August 26, 2024, at Lantern Park Specialty Care Center in Coralville, IA.A Celebration of Mary’s Life is planned for a later date in Urbana, IA.Mary was born July 15, 1942, in Norway, IA, the daughter of Leo L and Jeanette M (Lichty) Ockenfels. She was a graduate of Regina High School. She married James K Swails, the son of Kenneth E & Lucille R (Wince) Swails in January 1962. Tatum Ali Schroeder
Tatum Ali Schroeder, 17, of Atkins, Iowa, passed away surrounded by loved ones on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at St. Luke’s Hospital Hospice Unit in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A celebration of Tatum’s life will be held on September 8, 2024, from 1 - 4 p.m. at Bloomsbury Farm, 3260 69th Street, Atkins, Iowa. Tatum was born June 1, 2007, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the daughter of Brad and Shannon (Ratliff) Schroeder. Diana (Winsor) West
Diana (Winsor) West, age 64, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, with her loving family by her side.A memorial visitation will be held from 4:00 until 7:00 PM, Tuesday, September 3, 2024, at the Phillips Funeral Home Chapel (212 E. 6th Street) in Vinton. A Celebration of Diana’s Life will be held at a later date. William “Bill” J. Barkdoll
Following a brief illness with congestive heart failure, William “Bill” J. Barkdoll, 68, passed away Monday, August 26, 2024, at Mercy Medical Center. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Van Steenhuyse-Teahen Funeral Home, Vinton, is caring for Bill and his family.Bill was born July 8, 1956, in Omaha, NE, the son of Richard and Margaret (Wray) Barkdoll. Karolyn (Kate) Pelley-Albert
Kate was born April 12, 1947 in Vinton, Iowa and passed away on June 14, 2024 in Goodyear, Arizona.Kate wanted a big party to celebrate her wonderful life and we will do just that! Please help us honor her at a Celebration of Life on Saturday, September 7, 2024 from 1-4:00 p.m. at Tara Hills Country Club located at 1846 70th St. in Van Horne, Iowa.In honor of Kate, please feel free to wear purple, jeans and be ready to laugh, cry, tell stories and remember this beautiful woman. Leonard “Tom” Schallau
Leonard “Tom” Schallau, 86, of Cedar Rapids, formerly of Keystone, passed away on Sunday, August 25, 2024 at Unity Point St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Graveside services with military rites will be held at 11:15 AM, Friday, August 30, 2024, at Calvary Cemetery, south of Van Horne on Highway 30. Visitation will be held, prior to the graveside service from 10:00 until 11:00 AM Friday at the Phillips Funeral Home in Keystone.