Shirley A. Steele

Shirley A. Steele, 84, of Mt. Pleasant and formerly of Burlington and Ottumwa, died Monday, July 12, 2021 at Savannah Heights in Mt. Pleasant.

A graveside memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, September 17 at the Agency Cemetery, Agency, IA. There will be no visitation at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 N. Main St., Mt. Pleasant, which is caring for Shirley and her family. Online condolences may be left at www.kimzeyfuneralhome.com.

Shirley was born June 17, 1937 in Ottumwa, the daughter of Willard Lloyd and Dorothy Pauline (Grant) Waddle, Sr.

Shirley was a longtime homemaker dedicated to raising her children. She was a longtime member of the Bethel United Pentecostal Church in Ottumwa and attend New Life Pentecostal Church in Burlington after moving there. She was adeptly gifted in embroidery and created many pieces. She loved to listen to Christian music and read her Bible. She would also like to go and play Bingo every now and then. Above all, she loved to spend time with her grandchildren.

Shirley will be missed by her children – Nancy Ward of Oskaloosa, Gary (Ali) Ward of Colorado, Carla Dowell of Burlington, Peggy (Christina) Ward of Burlington, Kathy (Dan) Lenning of Marshalltown and Mark Steele of Burlington; a brother – Willard Lloyd (Jeri) Waddle, Jr. of Sioux Falls, SD; 5 grandchildren – John Dowell, Keefer Steele, Ashley Fox, Tara Ward and Danika Steele and 5 great grandchildren.

Her parents, a sister – Patricia Steele and a brother, Larry Waddle, precede Shirley in death.

Henry C. Boecker,

Henry C. Boecker, 87, of Mt. Pleasant passed away on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, at the Veterans Medical Center in Iowa City.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, July 16, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at the Salem Congregational Church in Salem with Pastor Aaron Helterbran officiating.  Burial with Full Military Honors conducted by the Henry County Honor Guard will be in the Salem East Cemetery in Salem.  The family will receive friends from 10 until service time on Friday at the church.  A memorial has been established to the Salem Congregational Church in his memory.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.murphyfuneralandmonuments.com

Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant is caring for his arrangements.

Prep Baseball: New London Wins, Other Prep Finals

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

No. 7 (1A) New London 11, Danville 1 

The No. 7 ranked New London Tigers used a five run 4th inning to break the game open, as they rolled into Saturday’s District Final with an 11-1 win over Danville last night.

Tucker Gibbar had two hits and four runs batted in, while Carter Allen drove in two as well.

New London pounded out eight hits and was also aided by six Danville walks.

Hecniel Rodriguez earned the win, throwing four innings allowing just two hits and one run while striking out six.

Kooper Schulte worked a perfect 5th to preserve the win, he fanned two.

Jaden Bauer scored the only run of the game for Danville. He was also the losing pitcher.

Danville closes their season 6-15.

The win improved New London to 24-1.

They’ll take on Sigourney on Saturday night at home in the district final.

You can listen to that game on FM 105.5 and kilj.com.

Sigourney 13, Notre Dame 7 

Sigourney rallied for four runs in the 5th inning and eight runs in the 6th, as the Savages came from behind for a 13-7 win over Notre Dame last night.

The Nikes led 7-1 heading into the bottom of the 5th before Sigourney erupted.

Brady Oleson clubbed a three-run homer to pace the Nike attack offensively.

Dylan Kipp added two hits, including a double.

Cade Streigle had three hits and three runs batted in for the Savages, who improved to 19-5.

They’ll battle with New London Saturday night for the right to move into the substate final.

Notre Dame ends their year 12-13.

Williamsburg 13, Mediapolis 0

Mediapolis was blanked by Raider pitching, as Williamsburg cruised into the district final with a 13-0 win last night.

Williamsburg earned a matchup with Mid-Prairie Saturday night.

Max McClure had the lone hit for the Bulldogs.

Brody Wardenburg homered for Williamsburg.

Mediapolis ends their season 19-10.

Prep Softball: Highland Falls to Lisbon, Cardinal Downed

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

No. 4 (1A) Lisbon 8, Highland 6 

Lisbon jumped out to a 3-0 lead and held on for an 8-6 win over Super Conference standout Highland yesterday, punching their ticket to the 2021 State Softball Tournament.

Highland knocked off Winfield-Mount Union 1-0 in 14 innings Monday to advance to the regional final last night.

Jessica Kraus took the loss for the Huskies, pitching 4.2 innings allowing five hits and four earned runs.

Terrific freshman shortstop Sarah Burton had two hits and a run batted in while classmate Payton Brun had three hits — all doubles — and three RBI.

Highland closes their season 22-7.

Iowa City Regina 5, Cardinal 4 

The game went to 11 innings, but it was finally Regina who clawed home a run to defeat upset minded Cardinal 5-4, earning a trip to Fort Dodge to the 2021 State Softball Tournament.

Cardinal held a 4-1 lead into the 7th frame, before the Regals countered with three runs of their own to force extras.

The Comets took that lead in the bottom of the 6th, rallying for three runs off of Regina pitching.

The loss ends Cardinal’s wonderful postseason run at 17-14.

Regina, off to the 2A State Tournament, improved to 19-12.

Prep Softball: State Tournament Field Set

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

The 2021 State Softball field has been set, here are the first round matchups in full, set to be played at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge:

Class 1A: 

No. 1 Newell-Fonda vs. No. 8 North Butler

No. 4 Southeast Warren vs. No. 5 Sigourney

No. 2 Wayne vs. No. 7 Remsen St. Mary’s

No. 3 Lisbon vs. No. 6 Clarksville

Class 2A:

No. 1 Wilton vs. No. 8 Pella Christian

No. 4 Earlham vs. No. 5 North Union

No. 2 North Linn vs. No. 7 Iowa City Regina

No. 3 Central Springs vs. No. 6 Underwood

Class 3A: 

No. 1 Davenport Assumption vs. No. 8 Clarke

No. 4 Atlantic vs. No. 5 Anamosa

No. 2 Mount Vernon vs. No. 7 Estherville-Lincoln Central

No. 3 Williamsburg vs. No. 6 West Liberty

Class 4A: 

No. 1 Winterset vs. No. 8 Oskaloosa

No. 4 Carlisle vs. No. 5 Boone

No. 2 Western Dubuque vs. No. 7 North Polk

No. 3 ADM vs. No. Clear Creek-Amana

Class 5A:

No. 1 Fort Dodge vs. No. 8 Bettendorf

No. 4 Waukee vs. No. 5 Cedar Rapids Kennedy

No. 2 Pleasant Valley vs. No. 7 Southeast Polk

No. 3 Iowa City High vs. No. 6 Ankeny Centennial

College Basketball: Wesleyan to Host Conference Tournament

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

Mount Pleasant — Iowa Wesleyan will host the conference tournament for the upcoming basketball season, Continental Athletic Conference officials have announced.

Wesleyan will also be the host program of the men’s and women’s golf tournament scheduled for May of 2022.

The conference basketball tournament will come to Mount Pleasant February 25-27th and be played at Ruble Arena.

The champion, runner-up, and consolation winner will all receive automatic qualification to the national tournament, which will begin on March 11th.

Sports, Wednesday, July 14th

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com 

Prep Baseball: New London Wins, Other Prep Finals:

No. 7 (1A) New London 11, Danville 1 

The No. 7 ranked New London Tigers used a five run 4th inning to break the game open, as they rolled into Saturday’s District Final with an 11-1 win over Danville last night.

Tucker Gibbar had two hits and four runs batted in, while Carter Allen drove in two as well.

New London pounded out eight hits and was also aided by six Danville walks.

Hecniel Rodriguez earned the win, throwing four innings allowing just two hits and one run while striking out six.

Kooper Schulte worked a perfect 5th to preserve the win, he fanned two.

Jaden Bauer scored the only run of the game for Danville. He was also the losing pitcher.

Danville closes their season 6-15.

The win improved New London to 24-1.

They’ll take on Sigourney on Saturday night at home in the district final.

You can listen to that game on FM 105.5 and kilj.com.

Sigourney 13, Notre Dame 7 

Sigourney rallied for four runs in the 5th inning and eight runs in the 6th, as the Savages came from behind for a 13-7 win over Notre Dame last night.

The Nikes led 7-1 heading into the bottom of the 5th before Sigourney erupted.

Brady Oleson clubbed a three-run homer to pace the Nike attack offensively.

Dylan Kipp added two hits, including a double.

Cade Streigle had three hits and three runs batted in for the Savages, who improved to 19-5.

They’ll battle with New London Saturday night for the right to move into the substate final.

Notre Dame ends their year 12-13.

Williamsburg 13, Mediapolis 0

Mediapolis was blanked by Raider pitching, as Williamsburg cruised into the district final with a 13-0 win last night.

Williamsburg earned a matchup with Mid-Prairie Saturday night.

Max McClure had the lone hit for the Bulldogs.

Brody Wardenburg homered for Williamsburg.

Mediapolis ends their season 19-10.

Prep Softball: Highland Falls to Lisbon, Cardinal Downed

No. 4 (1A) Lisbon 8, Highland 6 

Lisbon jumped out to a 3-0 lead and held on for an 8-6 win over Super Conference standout Highland yesterday, punching their ticket to the 2021 State Softball Tournament.

Highland knocked off Winfield-Mount Union 1-0 in 14 innings Monday to advance to the regional final last night.

Jessica Kraus took the loss for the Huskies, pitching 4.2 innings allowing five hits and four earned runs.

Terrific freshman shortstop Sarah Burton had two hits and a run batted in while classmate Payton Brun had three hits — all doubles — and three RBI.

Highland closes their season 22-7.

Iowa City Regina 5, Cardinal 4 

The game went to 11 innings, but it was finally Regina who clawed home a run to defeat upset minded Cardinal 5-4, earning a trip to Fort Dodge to the 2021 State Softball Tournament.

Cardinal held a 4-1 lead into the 7th frame, before the Regals countered with three runs of their own to force extras.

The Comets took that lead in the bottom of the 6th, rallying for three runs off of Regina pitching.

The loss ends Cardinal’s wonderful postseason run at 17-14.

Regina, off to the 2A State Tournament, improved to 19-12.

Prep Softball: State Tournament Field Set:

The 2021 State Softball field has been set, here are the first round matchups in full, set to be played at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge:

Class 1A: 

No. 1 Newell-Fonda vs. No. 8 North Butler

No. 4 Southeast Warren vs. No. 5 Sigourney

No. 2 Wayne vs. No. 7 Remsen St. Mary’s

No. 3 Lisbon vs. No. 6 Clarksville

Class 2A:

No. 1 Wilton vs. No. 8 Pella Christian

No. 4 Earlham vs. No. 5 North Union

No. 2 North Linn vs. No. 7 Iowa City Regina

No. 3 Central Springs vs. No. 6 Underwood

Class 3A: 

No. 1 Davenport Assumption vs. No. 8 Clarke

No. 4 Atlantic vs. No. 5 Anamosa

No. 2 Mount Vernon vs. No. 7 Estherville-Lincoln Central

No. 3 Williamsburg vs. No. 6 West Liberty

Class 4A: 

No. 1 Winterset vs. No. 8 Oskaloosa

No. 4 Carlisle vs. No. 5 Boone

No. 2 Western Dubuque vs. No. 7 North Polk

No. 3 ADM vs. No. Clear Creek-Amana

Class 5A:

No. 1 Fort Dodge vs. No. 8 Bettendorf

No. 4 Waukee vs. No. 5 Cedar Rapids Kennedy

No. 2 Pleasant Valley vs. No. 7 Southeast Polk

No. 3 Iowa City High vs. No. 6 Ankeny Centennial

College Basketball: Wesleyan to Host Conference Tournament:

Iowa Wesleyan will host the conference tournament for the upcoming basketball season, Continental Athletic Conference officials have announced.

Wesleyan will also be the host program of the men’s and women’s golf tournament scheduled for May of 2022.

The conference basketball tournament will come to Mount Pleasant February 25-27th and be played at Ruble Arena.

The champion, runner-up, and consolation winner will all receive automatic qualification to the national tournament, which will begin on March 11th.

Kramer receives IHERF scholarship

Josh Kramer of Mount Pleasant, an associate of Henry County Health Center who is studying for his Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Chamberlain University, has been awarded a $3,500 scholarship from the Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation (IHERF), which is supported by the Iowa Hospital Association (IHA). Kramer is among 60 students from Iowa who have received assistance this year from the IHERF Health Care Careers Scholarship Program.

IHA established the IHERF Health Care Careers Scholarship Program in 2004 to help address the shortage of health care professionals and encourage young Iowans to establish or continue their careers with Iowa hospitals. The first scholarships were awarded in 2005 and now more than 625 students have benefited from the program.

In exchange for this financial support, students agree to work one year in an Iowa hospital for each year they receive an award. In this way, the scholarship program helps stabilize and enhance Iowa’s hospital workforce. Today, 380 scholarship recipients are working in Iowa hospitals.

IHERF is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Iowa Hospital Association. IHERF is a charitable nonprofit and exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.