Author: Theresa Rose

Mary Jo Wright, 69, of Mt. Pleasant passed away on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, at her home.

A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 7, 2022, at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. Father Paul Connolly will officiate.  Burial will follow in the Forest Home Cemetery.  Friends may call after 2 p.m. on Thursday at the Murphy Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant where the family will be present from 4 to 7 p.m. that evening.  Memorials may be directed to the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in her memory.

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

Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant, is caring for her arrangements.

LaVerne Westercamp, 81, of Farmington, Iowa, passed away at 2:53 p.m. Thursday, September 29, 2022, at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington, Iowa.

He was born on September 11, 1941, at his family home outside of Bonaparte, Iowa, the son of John and Elsie (Triplett) Westercamp. On December 7, 1968, he married Deah Gorman.

He is survived by his wife: Deah; six children: Laura Dean, Ginger (Craig) Cunningham, Dustin (Jill) Westercamp, Missy (Josh Mayes) Snider, Tianna (Dale) Fincher and Jed Westercamp; grandchildren: Terra, Winter, Chelby, Cheyenne, Courtney, Corby, Dalton, Denton, Jolene, Jonny, Justin, Reece, Seth, Konner, Kennedy and Paisley and many great grandchildren. He is also survived by three brothers: Rex, Marvin and Dave and two sisters: Velma and Audrey.

He was preceded in death by his parents: John and Elsie; granddaughter: Summer; three brothers: Hubert, Charles and Max and two sisters: Vivian and Joyce.

LaVerne was a lifelong farmer. He enjoyed working with livestock, hunting and riding his mule with family and friends. He would invite everyone to Funday Sunday every week!

His body has been entrusted to the crematory of Schmitz Funeral Home for cremation.

The family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at Schmitz Funeral Home in Farmington.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at Greenglade Cemetery in Farmington with Reverend Mark Caston officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established in his memory for Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House or Every Step Hospice.

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

Jack E. Hummell, 70, of Mt. Pleasant, died Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at his residence.

Per Jack’s request, there will be no visitation or memorial service. Cremation rites have been entrusted to the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 N. Main St., Mt. Pleasant. On-Line condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfuneralhome.com.

Jack Eldon Hummell was born April 11, 1952 in Burlington, IA. He was the son of Glen Eldon and Patsy Rose (White) Hummell. Jack moved with his family to Mt. Pleasant where he attended school and graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1970. On April 3, 1971 , Jack married Sandra Kay Anderson Stafford. The couple later divorced. On February 14, 2007 in Mt. Pleasant,  Jack was united in marriage to Darcey Ann Stortz.

Jack was a longtime machine operator for CECO Building Systems of Mt. Pleasant. He enjoyed many crafts, but most especially woodworking and making wind chimes. Jack enjoyed the outdoors and loved to go camping.

Those thankful for sharing in Jack’s life include his wife Darcey of Mt. Pleasant; 2 children – Jeffery Eldon Hummell of New London and Kimberly (Tab) Burns of Mt. Pleasant. 3 step-children – Joshua Stortz, Amanda Clark and Sarah (Doug) Slobodnik, all of Mt. Pleasant; 4 siblings – Carolyn (Tom) Seibert of Burlington, Rodney Hummell, Carol (Dan) Tackleson of Oklahoma and Tiffany (Aaron) Dilks of West Point; 4 grandchildren – Jenna Hummell, Samantha Alexander, Savannah Slobodnik and James Slobodnik; his step-mother – Velma Hummell of West Point and friends Charlie & Karen Bowman and Christine Lease.

His mother, father and a sister, Charlotte Hummell, precede Jack in death.

Dale Willard Parish, 65, of Keosauqua, Iowa, passed away at 12:22 a.m. Thursday, September 29, 2022, in Fort Madison, Iowa, after a short battle with cancer.

He was born on October 6, 1956, in Keosauqua, Iowa, the son of Clell and Madalynne (Steinmeyer) Parish.

He is survived by son: Lee Parish; two sisters: Jane Duke of Donnellson, Iowa, Sally (Dennis) Coleman of Belle Plaine, Iowa and brother: Ben (Mary) Parish of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Also surviving are several nieces, nephews, aunts and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister: Lynn Ann Parish in infancy.

Dale was a 1975 graduate of Van Buren High School. He worked for Dexter’s Foundry in Fairfield, Iowa, the railroad and farmed for the majority of his life. He enjoyed shooting pool, playing fast pitch softball, hunting and fishing. Dale was a social man, he never knew a stranger. He was always straight forward and you knew where you stood.

His body has been entrusted to the crematory of Schmitz Funeral Home for cremation.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

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

Irene Alma Orr Shutt, 100, of Mt. Pleasant and formerly of New London, died Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at Henry County Health Center, Mt. Pleasant.

Irene was born January 20, 1922 on a farm in rural Danville, the daughter of Marshall J. and Louisa W. Prehm Orr.  She attended all eight grades in a one room school, Long Creek No. I, and was honored for never being absent or tardy.  She graduated from Danville High School.  On May 24, 1945 she married Arthur Lewis Shutt at her parent’s home in New London.  He died October 31, 2009.

Irene was a longtime member of the New London United Methodist Church.  She belonged to the women’s circles, and taught Sunday School for 20 years.  She was a 50 year member of the New London Order of Eastern Star, holding many offices including Rainbow Advisor. She also was a Girl Scout leader for her daughters Brownie group in early years.  Irene was a 70 year member of the American Legion Auxiliary and did volunteer work at the Danville Care Center for 20 years.  She enjoyed gardening, sewing, jigsaw puzzles, word search, travelling, and watching the birds and squirrels.

Irene is survived by her daughter Etta Mae Boese of Mt. Pleasant; brother Dale (Joanne) Orr of New London; nieces and one nephew.  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, a grandson in infancy, sisters Evelyn, Ruby, and Wilma, and a niece and a nephew.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, October 7, 2022 at Elliott Chapel, New London.  An Eastern Star ceremony will be included in the service.  Visitation will begin after 9:00 AM Friday at the funeral home with the family receiving friends for one hour prior to the service.  According to her wishes, cremation has been entrusted to Elliott Chapel.  Inurnment will be held in Long Creek Cemetery immediately following the service.  A memorial has been established to the New London United Methodist Church.

Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com