At about 4:45pm this afternoon, The Mt. Pleasant FD, New London FD and Winfield FD were dispatched to Nebraska Avenue at 270th Street Northeast of Mt. Pleasant for mutual aid. A grass fire has gotten out of control and is now affecting CRP acres in that area. A structure located nearby the field was not, at this time on fire.
Michael Allen Westerbeck, 79, of New London, died Thursday, April 10, 2025 at New London Specialty Care. He was born April 5, 1946 in Mt. Pleasant to N.J. “Steve” and Mary Hannah Wellington Westerbeck. He was a 1964 graduate of New London High School.
He married Jean Miller in New London in 1967 and they later divorced. On May 16, 1986 he married Joyce Ann Gill. Mike was a long-time carpenter for Westerbeck Construction and later for Staley Construction, and also had his own handyman business.
He was a member of New London Christian Church where he was actively involved in Promise Keepers; assisted with cabinetry and painting for the new church; and did janitorial work for a short time. Mike was a member of the New London Volunteer Fire Department; served on the city council and the planning and zoning committee; played on men’s league at Deerwood Golf Club; and delivered Meals on Wheels until his health declined. He attended all of his children’s and later grandchildren’s activities. He enjoyed playing cards on Thursday nights; family time and holidays; going to the races where he was part of Steve Watts’ pit crew; and loved taking his grandchildren to the Burlington Bees games. He was a loyal follower of Caitlyn Clark and all the good she has done for Iowa. He and Joyce cherished their Friday night get togethers with several couples in town and Mike especially enjoyed his get-togethers with the “Morning Gang”.
Besides his wife, he is survived by his daughters Melissa Anne (Chris) Anderson and Jennifer Jayne (Damon) Loyd both of New London; step children Sandra Lynn (Kip) Esbaum of Lowden, Iowa, Patricia Jo Gill-Jones of New London, and Travis Eugene (Amy) Gill of Salem; seven grandchildren, Samuel (Alexis) Loyd, Layney (Judah) Cooper, Gaige (Maureen) Gill, Claire Jones, Laettner (Jalen) Esbaum, Elle (Mathew Meline) Esbaum, Pavin Esbaum; two great-grandchildren, Mac and Mara Gill; his brother Mark (Nell) Westerbeck of Georgia; nieces and nephews; and a host of good friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister Joyce Staley; two brothers, Norman and Dickie Westerbeck; and one grandson Logan Michael Esbaum.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at the New London Christian Church with Pastors Rod and Nathan Cooper officiating. Visitation will begin at 1:00 pm, Monday, April 14 at the church with the family receiving friends from 4:00 – 6:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for the New London Black and Gold Backers and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.
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Hubert H. Hamilton, 94, of Pleasant Plain, passed away Thursday, April 10, 2025 at Colonial Manor of Amana following a brief illness.
A graveside service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, April 14, 2025 at Antioch Cemetery, rural Fairfield. Memorials may be made to Wounded Warriors in care of 1012 Sunny Lane, Fairfield, Iowa 52556. Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield is assisting the family.
Hugh was born April 19, 1930 in Fairfield, to Clarence Wayne and Florence (Welch) Hamilton.
He was a veteran of the US Army and served as a medic in the Korean War.
Hugh held several jobs over his 94+ years, including a Tip-Top bakery delivery truck, a manager of a gas station (Omaha), a dump truck
driver (Dallas), and most of his later years as a long-haul truck driver both privately and for local carriers.
In Dallas is where he met his then to be wife, Mary. They shared a 28-year union until her untimely passing in 1988.
He was a lifetime friend to animals of every kind, and particularly had a love of horses, dogs and cats.
Hugh enjoyed trees, especially apple, pear and the somewhat rare persimmon. Asking Hugh to consider cutting down a tree was a task not for the faint of heart.
Hugh was an avid reader and enjoyed many of the Louis L’Amour and Zane Grey westerns and several periodicals.
He is survived by his daughters, Amy (Jim) Johnson, Fairfield; Martha (Marty) Symmonds, North Liberty, Iowa and Nancy Hamilton, Little Rock, Arkansas; as well as grandchildren, Conner (Kethra) Johnson, Cheyten Johnson, Corey, Kira and Alaina Symmonds and two great-grandchildren, Leta and Calvin McCoy.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Mary (Clements) Hamilton; brothers, Kenneth Hamilton of Omaha and Dale Hamilton of Chicago. Online condolences may be made to Hugh’s family at www.behnerfh.com.
Timothy “Tim” Wayne Bower was born February 1st, 1961 in Fairfield, IA. the son of H. Wayne and Audrey (Baity) Bower. He went home to the Lord at the age of 64 on April 7th, 2025 after a hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer that was diagnosed in December 2024. He was surrounded by the infinite love of his family as he left this world and entered the next part of his journey. Tim was known for many things throughout the communities in which he lived. He was a thoughtful professional leader, passionate advocate for education, avid woodworker, proud father and grandfather, and steadfastly in love with his wife of 38 years.
Those who knew Tim were aware of his pride in the long list of accomplishments that he achieved during his time here on earth, as he embodied the definition of ‘hard work’. Tim learned by the age of 10 how to show pride in his work by raising the 150 head of cattle while growing up on the family farm in Stockport (Fairfield), IA. He took this work ethic with him to Iowa State University, where he graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1984.
After college, Tim started his professional career at Mason & Hanger in Middletown (Burlington), IA where he played a key role in earning the company a Malcom Baldrige Quality Award. He taught classes at Southeast Community College. He was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (1979), a member of American Society of Quality (1990), and a Certified Quality Engineer (1991). In 1995, he graduated from the University of Iowa with an Executive Master of Business Administration degree. He continued his professional career at many different companies, but most notably, over 20 years with HNI in Muscatine, IA and eventually summarizing his career as the President at Flint Cliffs Manufacturing in Burlington, IA.
Tim was known for his public service throughout the communities in which he lived. He was an active member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Muscatine, IA where he held multiple leadership position and was trained with his wife as a Stephen Ministries leader. Also, he served as the Vice President of the Glasgow Cemetery Board. He used these opportunities to not only apply his mind, but most importantly to provide service, compassion, and love to the community where he lived.
While not formally an educator, he knew the importance of the community in providing a strong educational foundation for their youth. He knew that children are the future and felt it essential that he play a role in ensuring all kids’ success in life. This love for education and service led him to serve for 14 years on the Muscatine Community School District School Board where he was elected President and Vice President. His work with the school board guided him to be highly involved with education throughout the state. Specifically, he was a member of the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners for six years, appointed by Governor Branstad as the President of the inaugural Southeast Iowa STEM Advisory Board, and served on the 2020 Governor’s Economic State Advisory Board as the Director of the Education Sub-Committee. He continued this passion for education by serving on the Fairfield Community School District School Board for four years after moving back to Fairfield in 2018.
Although his professional accolades and community service were great, his love for his family and friends was greater. He married H. Karen Jane Randall on December 27th, 1986, in Burlington, IA. Tim and Karen raised three children. Later, he would have two grandchildren that he would love and spoil with many tractor rides. He provided for us countless trips to Iowa State University football and basketball games. He was in the stands at Jack Trice Stadium cheering on his Cyclones no matter the weather and staying until the end of countless losses and celebrations of wins where he would loudly sing Sweet Caroline and the ISU Fight Song. Tim and Karen served as the Co-Presidents of Muskie Band Boosters and traveled throughout the country following his children’s band with the famous Muskie Marching Band trailer. He sat for many nights at the kitchen table fighting about math homework and geeking out about science. He worked on numerous woodworking and furniture refurbishment projects in the garage, teaching his kids all that he knew. He and Karen’s marriage survived over 10 home renovations, which is a testament to their love for each other. Most recently, they joyfully renovated his childhood home. This last project brought him the most peace. Although his illness made it feel like he had been robbed the opportunity to enjoy more time at the farm, he knew that the love and memories he left behind was so much greater and enduring than death itself.
Tim will be remembered by so many people for his kind spirit, joy, and love. Tim lived with a smile on his face into his passing. He truly believed that death would bring him nothing but happiness. To have loved Tim on earth was the greatest honor and privilege that one could have been given in this lifetime.
Tim’s memory will continue living through his wife Karen Bower, daughter Brittany (Nathan) Oakley, son Aric Bower, grandchildren Caroline and Oliver, brother Ben (Judy) Bower, sister Melissa Olson, brothers- and sisters-in-law Robert (Jeanette) Randall, Barbara (Bob) Bailey, Judy Randall, Randy Kinney, Dave Propst, Brion and Lisa Oakley, over 50 extend family members, and many friends. He was greeted in heaven by his father and mother, H. Wayne and Audrey (Baity) Bower, daughter Megan Schultz, mother- and father-in-law, Page and Shirley Randall, and sisters-in-law, Deborah Kinney and Ann Propst.
The visitation for Tim will be held from 4:00-7:00pm, April 10th, 2025 at Lunning Funeral Chapel in Burlington, IA where the family will meet with friends. Funeral services for Tim will be held at 10:30am Friday, April 11th, 2025 at First United Methodist Church, 309 N Main St. in Mt. Pleasant, IA with Reverend Court Fisher officiating. Following the service a fellowship meal will be provided, prior to the burial at Glasgow Cemetery in Glasgow, IA.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in his memory for the First United Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant and Glasgow Cemetery. Go Cyclones!
