Author: Kathy Snow

Connie Sue Best, 78, a resident of Fairfield, went home to her Lord and Savior, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, surrounded by her family at Addington Place in Fairfield.

Funeral services celebrating her life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 10, 2026 at Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield. Visitation will be one hour prior to services. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield. Memorials may be made to the Carnegie Museum or American Parkinson Disease Association – Iowa Chapter.

Connie was born September 21, 1947 in Des Moines, the daughter of George Robert and Alice Lorraine (Downey) Michelson.

Connie graduated from Lincoln High School and Grand View College in Des Moines, and Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin with her degree in teaching. She taught school in Racine, Wisconsin while earning her Master’s Degree in Library Science. This degree brought her to Fairfield the day Elvis Presley died for her job at Fairfield Middle School. She met her future husband, Tom, October 1984, and they were married March 30, 1985. She and Tom resided in Altoona, Iowa from 1985-2013.

Connie was a librarian for 38 years, finishing up her career at Colfax-Mingo Community School District in Colfax, Iowa. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, and loved word puzzles, reading, going out to eat, antiquing, and going to flea markets.

Connie was an avid bowler, winning the city championship several years while living in Fairfield, and excelled at beating Tom. Connie also loved playing golf with Tom and in the women’s league at Toad Valley Golf Course. Connie and Tom enjoyed 20 wonderful years of retirement.

Those left to honor her memory include her husband, Tom; stepchildren, Mike (Rhonda) Best of Keosauqua and Joni (Joe) Stever of Fairfield; daughter-in-law, Theresa (Nick) Graham of Fairfield; grandchildren, Brittany (Josh) Brdicko, Kelsey (Zach Moritz) Best, Zoe Best, Grace (Jacob Ihle) Stever, Chloe Stever, Sophie Stever, and Tanner (Hanna) Schafer; great-grandchildren, Briar and Quinn Brdicko, Jersey, Noah, and Elizabeth Schafer.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and stepson, Brian Best.

Online condolences may be made to Connie’s family by viewing her obituary at www.behnerfh.com.

Joann M. Gruener, 81, of Donnellson, Iowa, passed away at 3:18 a.m. Thursday, July 9, 2026, at the West Point Care Center in West Point, Iowa.

She was born on April 19, 1945, in Frederick, Wisconsin, the daughter of Robert William and Elsie (Karlson) Kellogg. On August 14, 1965, she married Steven Gruener, in Milltown, Wisconsin.

Survivors include her husband: Steven; sons: Robert (Susan) Gruener of West Point, Douglas (Jessica) Gruener of West Point; grandchildren: Kayla (Randy) Sanders, Chandler (Maria) Gruener, Sara (David) O’Donnell, Scarlett (Max) Johnson, Vivian (Corey) Vonkiedrowski; great grandchildren: Hoyt, Arrow, Arthur, Bruno. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; granddaughter: Myranda; great grandson: Aspen and siblings: Charlotte, Judy, Billy and Kenny.

Joann was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fort Madison. She enjoyed planting flowers, sewing and attending yard sales.

A visitation will be held from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. Sunday, July 12, 2026, at Schmitz Funeral Home in Donnellson.

A memorial service will be held 1:00 p.m. Sunday, July 12, 2026, at Schmitz Funeral Home in Donnellson, Iowa with Pastor David Poland officiating.

A memorial has been established in her memory for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

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

Curtis Arthur “Curt” Nehring, 82, of Mt. Pleasant, passed away on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 at the Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in West Burlington with his family at his side.

Curt was born August 23, 1943 in West Union, Iowa. He was the son of Donald Martin and Roena Virginia (Kutschat) Nehring. Curt and his family moved to New London when he was young. He continued his education there and graduated from New London High School. On January 18, 1964 in New London, Curt was united in marriage to Joan Marie Prottsman.

For 27 years, Curt was employed by the Blue Bird Bus Company in Mt. Pleasant. He worked primarily on the bus roofs, ensuring the proper installation for children’s safety. When the Blue Bird plant closed, Curt began a career with West Liberty Foods. First working as a meat packer and then in sanitation, Curt then began the West Liberty job he liked the best as a delivery driver for the finished product.

Curt was a devoted member of Faith Lutheran Church. He served as an Elder and Usher. He also spent many hours in the dining room of the Faith Lutheran’s “Beef & Noodles” tent at the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion. Curt was a member of the Mt. Pleasant CB Club. In his younger years, Curt was a member of a men’s bowling league. Curt also enjoyed many hours on the golf course. Curt was an avid sports fan. His favorite teams were the Chicago Cubs, the Iowa Hawkeyes, the Green Bay Packers and the Indiana Fever.

Those thankful for sharing in Curt’s life include his wife of 62 years, Joan; his children – Terry Nehring of Mt. Pleasant, Tammy Stark and her husband Monty of Mt. Pleasant, Debra Fox and her husband David of Mt. Pleasant, Joseph Nehring and his wife Morgan Miller of West Des Moines and Joshua Nehring and his partner Nicole Rodriguez of Iowa City. Curt is also survived by his 4 grandchildren and their spouses – Sheldon & Jacob Schroeder, Patrick & Bobbie Jo Fox, Chelsey & Nick Bianchi and Emily & Tyrel Johnson. Curt was also blessed with 6 great grandchildren – Addison, Alivia, Henleigh, Camden, Ava and Liam.

Curt’s parents, brother Ken Nehring , son Danny Nehring and granddaughter, Sydney Fox, precede him in death.

The funeral service for Curt will be 10:30 AM on Tuesday, July 14 at the Faith Lutheran Church, 910 E. Mapleleaf Drive, Mt. Pleasant. The Reverend Michael R. Scudder will officiate. Burial will be in the Forest Home Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant. Friends may call from 12-7PM on Monday, July 13 at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 N. Main St., Mt. Pleasant. The family will be present to receive friends from 5-7 PM.

Those considering an expression of sympathy in lieu of flowers may direct memorials to the Faith Lutheran Church.

Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfh.com