Van Allen Fifth Graders Featured in School Board Student Spotlight 

Van Allen Elementary 5th Graders Present to the School Board

Fifth graders from Van Allen Elementary were recognized at Monday night’s Mount Pleasant School Board meeting for their leadership and Panther Pride. 

Teachers introduced the group of students, explaining how the fifth graders have taken on new responsibilities as the oldest students in the building. 

Students shared highlights from their work on the Homecoming Committee, where they helped plan dress-up days and design posters, and their roles in Morning Announcements, writing and reading daily updates for the school. 

They also discussed the Wellness Ambassador Program, which promotes healthy choices through activities like “Mighty Miler” runs, Wellness Days, and Field Day planning. 

Board members thanked the students for their enthusiasm and leadership, commending them for setting a positive example of Panther Pride at Van Allen. 

Public Hearing Held on P.E.O. Memorial Building Demolition Project

A public hearing was held Monday evening at the start of the Mount Pleasant Community School Board meeting regarding the estimated costs, specifications, and proposed plans for the demolition of the P.E.O. Memorial Building, located on the former Iowa Wesleyan University campus.

Architect Thomas McInerney presented details of the project, explaining that the plan calls for the full demolition of the two-story, reinforced concrete structure built in 1927. The project will include interior “soft stripping,” removal of electrical and mechanical systems, decommissioning of the geothermal system—preserved for potential future use—and complete basement and foundation removal, followed by site restoration.

The demolition also includes careful removal of the building’s cornerstone, which may contain a time capsule believed to have about a 70% chance of being present. McInerney noted that the building’s limestone cornices are deteriorating and pose a safety hazard.

“It’s already starting to have signs of decay,” McInerney said. “Pieces of the cornice are crumbling off, and it’s become a danger.”

The estimated cost of the demolition and restoration is $371,000, with bids due October 27th at 2 p.m. A contractor walkthrough is scheduled for this Thursday, and the work is expected to be completed by December 15th, before winter weather sets in.

District officials explained that no state grant funding is available for this project, unlike previous assistance the district received for the old gymnasium demolition. Superintendent John Henriksen shared that the district currently spends about $13,500 per year on utilities for the unused building and recently incurred an $8,000 repair bill after sewer and drain backups.

The building’s geothermal wells, located on the south lawn, are self-contained and not connected to other campus buildings. Those wells may be placed on standby for future district use.

The district has also worked closely with local and international P.E.O. chapters to allow for the removal and preservation of historical or sentimental items from the building, including plaques, medallions, and the inscription stone. Additionally, smaller items such as doors, doorknobs, and light fixtures will be offered to Preservation Station in Burlington for reuse and historical resale.

Despite the district’s plans, some community members spoke against demolition. One local resident, Tom Tipton, urged the board to consider rehabilitation rather than destruction, citing examples of historic buildings he has successfully restored in Mount Pleasant; The Colonial Apartments, The Union Block, Mt.Pleasant Civic Center and Library, Amtrack Depot and many other smaller projects in The city.

Another speaker, a software engineer from Cedar Rapids, proposed an adaptive reuse of the structure for a business venture specializing in digital media preservation. He noted that the building’s layout would suit his needs without major modification and asked the board to delay demolition to explore potential reuse options.

Henriksen responded that while the district had considered various scenarios when purchasing the central campus property for $1.1 million, the P.E.O. building was not viewed as viable for district use due to its deterioration and significant renovation costs—estimated between $1.5 and $2 million to restore safely and make code-compliant.

“We knew the P.E.O. building came with the purchase,” Henriksen said. “But given its condition and the financial liability it poses, we felt moving forward with demolition was the responsible step.”

No board action was taken on demolition during the hearing itself. Monday’s session was held to authorize the district to move forward with accepting bids, with final approval of a demolition contract expected after bids are opened later this month.

MOUNT PLEASANT PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION October 14th, 2025 5:30 P.M.

MOUNT PLEASANT
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
October 14th, 2025
5:30 P.M.
AGENDA
The Mount Pleasant Planning and Zoning Commission will meet on October 14th,
2025, at 5:30 p.m. in Mount Pleasant City Hall, 307 E Monroe St., in the large
conference room.
AGENDA:
1. Call to order
2. Approve minutes from September 30, 2025, meeting
3. Review Site Plan for Hershey Hall Parking Lot
4. Open forum
5. Adjourn

Joyce Elaine Bauer Gilleard

Joyce Elaine Bauer Gilleard, 85, of New London, Iowa, died Thursday, October 9, 2025 at New London Specialty Care. She was born September 10, 1940 in Burlington to Arthur Emil and Dorothy Aretha Judd Bauer. She married Gale Gilleard in 1959; they later divorced.

Joyce graduated from Danville High School and was a supervisor at the IAAP in Middletown for many years. She was of the Christian faith and a member of the New London Women’s Club and New London Women’s Bowling League. She enjoyed puzzles, playing rummy with her sisters, reading, and drinking tea and eating peach rings.

She is survived by two daughters; Terry (Jeff) Johnson and Wendy (Lonnie) Jones both of New London; three grandchildren, Whitney Greenleaf, Lance Jones, and Eli Johnson; six great-grandchildren, Lana, Jocelyn, Beckham, Cash, Liam, and Lydia; several nieces and nephews; and her loving companion, Max Kirkpatrick of New London.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Gene Bauer and Ralph Calhoun; and three sisters, Evelyn Sines, Linda Allen, and Lois Mohnike.

A private family burial next to her beloved father was held at Burge Cemetery. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for EveryStep Hospice and All God’s Creatures. Joyce’s family would like to thank the wonderful EveryStep staff for the excellent care and compassion they showed during her final journey.

Elliott Chapel, New London, is assisting the family and online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com

Dolores Eileen (Parker) Wittmer

Dolores Eileen (Parker) Wittmer, 91, of Mount Pleasant passed away peacefully on Friday, October 10, 2025, at the New London Specialty Care Center, with the comfort of Every Step Hospice.

 

Dolores was born on August 28, 1934, in Van Buren County, the daughter of Ancle and Nellie (Roberts) Parker.   She graduated from Keosauqua High School and went to college to get her degree in accounting.  Dolores was married to Harold Ensminger and later to Alie Wittmer who preceded her in death on November 8, 2003.

 

Dolores owned and operated the Speed Queen Laundromat in Burlington and was an accountant for many different businesses and individuals.   She worked for the Mount Pleasant local grain elevator, Messer Feeds and then later sold to Agri Center and retired soon after that.  Dolores loved the wilderness and the wildlife in it; she had many odd wildlife pets that visited her house daily that she fed and talked to and took care of as well.   

 

Dolores had no children but had good friends and neighbors to rely on.  Gary and Faye Newman looked after her and helped her after her husband passed away.  She became sick in 2022 and moved to the New London Specialty Care Center.

 

She is survived by her niece, Deborah Hoskins and her nephew, Stephen Hoskins. 

 

Dolores is preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, her sister, Miriam Hoskins, and her brother -in-law, Albert Hoskins. 

 

Dolores will be missed by all who knew her and especially her neighbors.

 

Private services will be held, and burial will be in the Forest Home Cemetery of Mount Pleasant. 

 

The Murphy Funeral Home of Mount Pleasant is honored to serve the family with love, comfort and dignity as we celebrate the life of Dolores Wittmer.

 

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

 

B. Wayne Boeding

B. Wayne Boeding, 69, of Keokuk, Iowa, passed away at 8:26 p.m. Saturday, October 11, 2025 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.
Born November 23, 1955 in Fort Madison, Iowa, the son of Eugene A. and Doris A. (Abolt) Boeding. On October 30, 1998 he married Danielle Roberts in Keokuk, Iowa.
Survivors include his wife Danielle; two sons: Caleb (Tara) Bones and Declan Boeding; mother Doris Boeding of West Point, Iowa; two brothers: Steve (Sherry) Boeding of West Point, Iowa and Ken (Delain) Boeding of Danville, Iowa; sister Sandra (Tom) Klesener of West Point, Iowa. Sisters and brother-in-law: Brenda Boeding, Erica Martin, Cathy Roberts, Rhonda Perry, and Bret Roberts. Nieces and nephews: Amanda (Travis) Merta, Sam (Shari) Boeding, Shane (Lydia Chaddick) Boeding, Kyle (Stephanie) Boeding, Katie (Thomas) Linkfelter, Jeremy (Amy) Klesener, Jesse Klesener, Jacob (Akina) Stukey, Phillip (Kelly) Culpepper, and Andy (Sarah) Farnsworth. Also surviving are several cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father; and brother Jerry.
Wayne graduated from Fort Madison High School, he retired from J.I. Case where he was known as “Plain Wayne”. He was a member of U.A.W. Retirees. He was a very social person, he never knew a stranger, he enjoyed watching the river from his front porch, bingo, raising chickens, his antique International tractors, and watching his sons grow.
His body has been deeded to the University of Iowa Deeded Body Program.
The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 18, 2025 at Schmitz Funeral Home in West Point.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 18, 2025 at Schmitz Funeral Home in West Point with Father Dan Dorau as officiating.
Burial will be at a later date in Calvary Cemetery in West Point.
Memorials have been established in his memory.

Schmitz Funeral Home of West Point is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com.

Janet Winnifred Hendrickson Klein

Janet Winnifred Hendrickson Klein, 104 of Mount Pleasant passed away on October 7, 2025, at Park Place of Mount Pleasant.

 

Janet was born on February 7, 1921, in Washington, Iowa, the daughter of the late J W and Rubye (Lee) Hendrickson.  She lived in Gladwin before moving to Richland, Iowa.  On August 9, 1939, she eloped to Palmyra, Missouri to marry Frank V. Klein.  They met while attending Parsons College in Fairfield. Frank and Janet lived in Fort Madison for 49 years before his death in 1988. 

 

Janet was instrumental in starting a school in Fort Madison for special needs children, while serving on the Lee County School Board from 1956-1957, being the first elected woman to hold the position.

 

She loved to tat, crochet, quilt and sew.  She loved gardening and after her husband retired, they moved to the country near Donnellson where they took up golfing after many years of working and raising a family. 

 

Those thankful for sharing in her life include her children, Bryan (Rose Ann) Klein, of Rockvale, Tennessee, and Jack (Cathy) Klein, of Mission, Texas, her grandchildren, Sylvia, Sherri, Kurt, Beth, Todd, Kelly and Eric, her great grandchildren, Lisa, Matthew, Brittany, Jacob, Adina, Nicolas, Taylor, Tila, Antonio, Connor, Noah, Logan, Lucas, Emma and Raquel and her great-great grandchildren, Christian, Raylynn, Remi, Lilly, Katelyn, Lucious, Melody, Colt, Luke, Lilith, Jack and Charlotte and one great-great-great granddaughter, Kinsley along with her two sisters, Lugene Krieger, of Winfield and Catherine Betty, of Fairfield.

 

Janet was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Frank, one brother, George, one sister Wanda and twin daughters, Sally and Susan and daughter, Janet Kay.

 

A Celebration of Janet’s life will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Mount Pleasant with Reverend Court Fischer officiating.  Burial will be in the Oakland Cemetery in Fort Madison, Iowa.  A memorial has been established in her memory.

 

 

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

 

The Murphy Funeral Home of Mount Pleasant is honored to serve the family with love, comfort and dignity as we celebrate the life of Janet Klei

Rep. Jeff Shipley Named Chair of Iowa House International Relations Committee

Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley (R-New Hartford) has announced that Representative Jeff Shipley (R-Birmingham) will serve as Chair of the Iowa House International Relations Committee for the upcoming 2026 Legislative Session. 

“I am honored for this opportunity provided by Speaker Pat Grassley to serve as Chair of the International Relations Committee,” said Shipley. “I am excited for the chance to present the great state of Iowa to the world. I look forward to continuing the work to build the Iowa House’s relationships with other countries.” 

Shipley is currently serving his fourth term in the Iowa House. The 2026 Legislative Session is scheduled to convene on January 12, 2026.