Yvonne Ogier, 77, died Monday, July 19, 2021, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. Services are pending at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel.
Man Serving Time for Lee County Murder Dies in Prison
Ular Lee Winfun was pronounced dead due to natural causes at 6:57 p.m. on Monday, July 19, 2021 in a hospice room of the Iowa State Penitentiary.Winfun was 66 years old at the time of his death.
Winfun had been serving a life sentence for the crime of Murder 1st Degree from Lee County. His sentence began on February 4, 1977.
Winfun shot Morris Green to death on July 31, 1976, in the back of the Six-Pack Tavern in Keokuk. The two men had worked together on a painting crew for some time. There was “bad blood” between the two according to an Iowa Supreme Court ruling on the case and the court outlined the events that led up to the shooting. Winfun had his girlfriend buy a gun, he did some target shooting that afternoon and that July evening back in 1976 he was drinking at the tavern. After Green got to the tavern, Winfun shot Green once. Green fell to the floor and Winfun fired five more shots into Green’s body. Winfun then left the tavern, walked to the Keokuk Police Station and turned himself in. The Iowa Supreme Court rejected Winfun’s request for a new trial in 1978 and ruled there was more than ample evidence he was guilty of first degree murder.
Daily Jail Count
In the interest of keeping Henry County residents informed, the Henry County Sheriff’s office has requested KILJ post the daily jail count. During the jail referendum campaign it was publicized that the jail would be able to house additional inmates from surrounding counties and this would generate revenue for Henry County.
Date: ____07-20-2021_____
JAIL COUNT
29__ Henry County Inmates
49_ Out of County Contract Inmates
78 __ TOTAL
Several Charges Stemming from Incident at Oakland Mills
July 20 at approximately 12:25AM, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received multiple reports of a subject shooting a firearm across the Skunk River by the dam in Oakland Mills, Iowa.
Witnesses stated the subject, along with two juveniles, entered a vehicle and headed north toward Mount Pleasant. Mount Pleasant Police Officers located a vehicle matching the description provided by witnesses. The vehicle was stopped. A subject matching the description provided was in the vehicle and identified as Trey Alexander Lewis (27 years of age) of Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
After a search of the vehicle, a loaded 9mm handgun was found to be in Trey’s possession. Trey was subsequently placed under arrest and transported to the Henry County Jail without incident. Trey was charged with two counts of Child Endangerment (Aggravated Misdemeanors), Possession or Carrying of Dangerous Weapons While Under the Influence of Alcohol (Serious Misdemeanor), Reckless Use of a Firearm (Simple Misdemeanor), and Dominion/Control of a Firearm/Offensive Weapon by a Felon (Class D Felony).
Danny L. Gilbert
Danny L. Gilbert, 67, of Donnellson Health Center, passed away at 12:05 a.m. Saturday, July 17, 2021, at the Donnellson Health Center.
He was born on July 8, 1954 at home, the son of Gilford M. and Darlene Genevieve (King) Gilbert. On November 4, 1998 he married Bonnie Goodwin. She preceded him in death.
He is survived by his daughter: Danielle Gilbert; son: Samuel Gilbert; brother: Richard Gilbert; grandchilden; great grandchildren; three sisters: Meredith Ann Osbon, Karen S. Kerr and Patricia K. Graham. Also surviving are several cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents and wife: Bonnie.
His body has been entrusted to Schmitz Funeral Home for cremation.
Per his wishes there will be no services.
A memorial has been established in his memory and can be mailed to the family at: Schmitz Funeral Home, P.O. Box 56, Donnellson, Iowa 52625.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com. Schmitz Funeral Home of Donnellson is assisting the family with arrangements.
Helen Rogers Lauer
Helen Rogers Lauer, 94, of rural Mount Pleasant, passed away on Sunday, July 18, 2021 at Park Place Elder Living in Mount Pleasant following a short illness.
Helen was the daughter of Aitken Baxter and Lillie Sarah (Rogers) Martin. She was born on December 27, 1926, at the Mount Pleasant Hospital. Helen began her academic career at the Bethel Country School before going to New London. After graduating from New London High School in 1944, Helen began working at the New London Telephone Company.
On June 5, 1949, Helen married the love of her life, Roland D. Lauer, at Beulah Methodist Church. Thus began her full rich life as a farm wife in the Pleasant Lawn community. She was always willing to help and spent many hours creating tasty meals to “keep everyone going” with many ingredients from her productive garden.
In her early years she was a member of Farm Bureau Women and the Swedesburg Sewing Club. Helen also actively supported the Champion Clippers and Lucky Lassies 4-H Clubs. In 2018, she and Roland were inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame for their outstanding service and dedication to 4-H in Henry County.
Helen was a life long member of the Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, where she held many church offices and was an active member of United Methodist Women. Her faith, family and many friends were the passion of her life.
Helen is survived by her daughter, Donna (William) Stradt; grandchildren: Martin (Kristen) Stradt, Adam (Anne Yount) Stradt, Ryan (Sarah) Lauer, and Renee (Todd) Smith; and great grandchildren: Dalton Smith, Tessa Smith, Hayden Stradt, Talan Stradt, Elizabeth Yount, Jackson Lauer, Benson Lauer, Lillian Lauer and Elliott Stradt. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a son Roger, and a brother Perry.
Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, July 26, 2021 at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel in Mount Pleasant. Pastor Jeff McPheron will officiate. Burial will be in the Forest Home Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10:00 am until service time on Monday. A memorial fund has been established for the Wesley Chapel Church and Henry County Extension – 4H (to assist with membership fees). The Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel is caring for Helen and her family. www.powellfuneralhomes.com
Prep Baseball: New London Looking to Punch State Ticket Tonight
By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com
Oskaloosa — The New London Tiger baseball is one step away from their ultimate goal and they’ll play for the right to achieve it this evening when they battle the Raiders of Mount Ayr in a Class 1A Substate 5 Final.
New London, the seventh-ranked program in Class 1A, enters 25-1.
Mount Ayr is 21-4, after defeating Martensdale-St. Mary’s on the road on Saturday.
The Tigers rallied to defeat Sigourney Saturday night, scoring three runs in the bottom of the 7th to walk off the Savages.
New London is of course led offensively by the three headed monster of Josh Catala, Kooper Schulte and Hecniel Rodriguez — but the lineup really does go nine deep.
Catala is the team leader with a .455 batting average, Schulte is second with three homers, while Rodriguez is first on the squad with 36 runs batted in.
The ball will likely be in his hands in tonight’s must-win game.
Rodriguez is 5-0 with a 1.35 ERA in 26 innings this year, second behind Saturday’s starter Josh Catala.
Meanwhile, Mount Ayr is led by Jaixen Frost, a sophomore, who has absolutely mashed baseballs this summer.
Frost is hitting .632 with eight home runs, eight doubles, two triples and 47 runs batted in.
He’s also stolen 25 bags as he’s already one of the Class of 2023’s prized players statewide.
He could be the one to get the ball tonight after staff ace Jaydon Knight threw six strong against Martensdale on Saturday, but the team could also turn to senior Brian Knapp.
Knapp holds a 2.08 ERA in 33.2 innings — second on the team — and is 5-1.
Tonight’s game will be played at Oskaloosa High School.
First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.
You can listen on FM 105.5 and kilj.com.
Prep Baseball: Fort Madison Falls to Central DeWitt
By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com
Fort Madison — Fort Madison’s terrific season came to a close last night falling at home to Central DeWitt 5-1 in a Class 3A Substate 4 semifinal.
The Sabers jumped out to a 2-0 lead after two innings and grew that advantage to 5-0 before the Bloodhounds scored a single marker in the 7th.
Colton Engeman was 2-for-3 while Jason Thurman drove in the lone run.
Thurman was the losing pitcher, throwing 3.1 innings allowing three hits and two runs.
Kane Williams worked 3.2 innings of relief. He allowed three runs all earned and four hits.
Fort Madison ends their season at 25-9.
Central DeWitt will now take on top-seeded Davenport Assumption in the Substate 4 finals.
That game will be played in Muscatine on Wednesday night.