Author: Theresa Rose

Kenneth A. “Doc” Panther, 77, of West Point, Iowa, passed away at 2:04 p.m. Thursday, April 14, 2022, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa.

He was born on September 15, 1944, in Fort Madison, Iowa, the son of Albert Edward and Edna M. (Holtkamp) Panther. On April 11, 1970, he married Mary Lynn Fedler at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in West Point.

Survivors include his wife: Mary Lynn; daughter: Heidi (Brian) Kanealy of Cedar Rapids; son: Ed (Jen) Panther of North Liberty; two granddaughters: Emma and Jillian Panther; sister: M.J. (Stan) Boeding of West Point; five brothers: Tony (Nancy) Panther of West Point, Mike (Linda) Panther of Fort Madison, Don Panther of West Point, Bill Panther of West Point and Bernie (Karen) Panther of Winfield, Missouri; stepbrothers and sisters: Bob (Sharon) Fullenkamp, B.J. (George) Gay, Joe (Karen) Fullenkamp, Jeff (Sue Kruse) Fullenkamp, Ann (Ted Abhalat) Shambo and sisters and brothers-in-law: Jane Panther, Joan (Harold) Holtkamp and Larry Fedler. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; step-father: Glenn Fullenkamp; two brothers: Larry and Karl Panther; two sisters-in-law: Jeannie and Cindy Panther.

Kenny was a 1963 graduate of St. John’s Catholic High School. He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam era. He was a mechanic for twenty-five years. He then did plant maintenance at Arctic Glacier and went on to retire as an electrician from Mohrfeld Electric.  There wasn’t very much that he couldn’t fix. Kenny was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the West Point American Legion Holtz – Geers Post #668. He was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan. He enjoyed golfing, working in his garden, working on his 1969 Mercury Cyclone CJ and most of all, spending time with his family.

Friends may call after 12:00 noon, Monday, April 18, 2022, at Schmitz Funeral Home in West Point, where the family will receive friends from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. A parish rosary will be recited at 4:00 p.m. and a Christian wake service will be held at 6:30 p.m.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in West Point with Father Dennis Hoffman as celebrant.

Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in West Point, Iowa with full military rites presented by the West Point American Legion.

A memorial has been established in his memory for St. Mary’s Catholic Church or the West Point American Legion.

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

Alan D. Huisinga, 76, of Mt. Pleasant, formerly of Carlisle, IA, died Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City.

A celebration of life for Alan will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, April 23, 2020 at the First United Methodist Church, 309 North Main Street, Mount Pleasant. The Reverend David Bracht-Wagner, Senior Pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the Forest Home Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant, with graveside military honors conducted by the Henry County Honor Guard and the Iowa Military Funeral Honors Detail.

Visitation will be from 12 Noon to 8 PM on Friday, April 22, at the First United Methodist Church. The family will be present to receive friends from 4-7 PM. An additional visitation will be held on Sunday, April 24, from 2-5:00 p.m. at the Family Life Center of the Carlisle United Methodist Church, 405 School Street, Carlisle, Iowa.

Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to either the First United Methodist Church, the Midwest Old Threshers Foundation or the Carlisle Area Dollars for Scholars.

The celebration of life may be viewed on the First United Methodist Church YouTube Channel or Facebook page.

The Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 N. Main St., Mt. Pleasant, is caring for Alan’s arrangements.

Al was born August 20, 1945, in Williams, Iowa; he was the son of Joe and Ruth Ione (Smedley) Huisinga.  Upon graduation from high school, Al joined the U.S. Army and served as a Specialist in NATO’s Central Army Group stationed in Seckenheim, Germany.  After being (honorably) discharged from the Army, Al enrolled in the AIB College of Business in Des Moines where he met his future wife, Melinda Shepp.  After graduating, they were married on Valentine’s Day 1971 and recently celebrated their 51^st wedding anniversary.  They both later attended Upper Iowa University, earning their B.S. Degree in Business Administration.

In 1970, Al began his career in insurance as the Chief Accountant for Farmland Insurance Company in Des Moines.  Two years later he joined EMC Insurance Companies as Accounting Manager of Employers Modern Life Company, retiring in 2009 as President, Chief Operating Officer and board member of EMC National Life Company.

Al’s favorite quote was “volunteerism is the rent you pay for the space you occupy” and he lived up to that quote while a resident in both the Carlisle and Mt. Pleasant communities.  Al was the founder and charter board member of the Carlisle Area Dollars for Scholars chapter and served as co-chair of the steering committee to build the Carlisle Aquatic Center.  Al also served as Administrative Council chair, treasurer, Sunday school teacher, UMYF leader and KIDS HOPE USA mentor for the Carlisle United Methodist Church.  While working in Des Moines, Al served as a board member of the South Suburban YMCA, a board member of the Iowa Dollars for Scholars, a Tocqueville Society Member of the United Way of Central Iowa and chairperson of the District Superintendent Board of the Des Moines District of the United Methodist Church.

Upon his retirement from EMC National Life and moving to his wife’s hometown of Mt. Pleasant, Al said it took a while before people quit referring to him only as “Melinda’s husband.”  He soon became involved in the community by volunteering to serve as Executive Director of the Old Threshers Foundation and joined both the Noon Rotary and the Kiwanis Club.  Al also served a four-year term as a member of the Mt. Pleasant City Council, Healthy Henry County Communities board, Chamber of Commerce Tourism Committee, Mt. Pleasant Community High School Foundation board, founding steering committee member of the Mount Pleasant Festival of Lights and served as Endowment Chair on the Administrative Council of the First United Methodist Church.

Al earned the Golden Tassel Award from Citizens Scholarship Foundation of America and Volunteer of the Year from the Carlisle Area Dollars for Scholars.  He also received the Paul Harris Fellow Award from Rotary International.  Together Al and Melinda received Citizens of the Year from the Carlisle Chamber of Commerce and the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance, Chamber Ambassadors of the Year, Iowans of the Day from the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation and the Volunteer Award from Midwest Old Threshers.  Out of all the awards received or positions held, Al’s favorite title was “Papa”.

Survivors include his wife, Melinda (Shepp) of Mt. Pleasant (also of Carlisle, Iowa); daughter, Kristin Sieren of West Des Moines, Iowa; grandsons, Lincoln and Conrad; brothers Robert (Cindy) Huisinga of Denison, Iowa, Phillip (Debbie) of Denison, Iowa, Richard (Cindy) of Surprise, Arizona; sister, Pauline (John) Tyer of Des Moines, Iowa, eleven nieces and nephews and numerous cousins, including double cousins.  Al was preceded in death by his parents, his older brother, Larry, and his son, Chad Michael Huisinga.

Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to either the First United Methodist Church, the Old Threshers Foundation or the Carlisle Area Dollars for Scholars.  The Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 N. Main Street, Mt. Pleasant, is caring for Al’s arrangements.  The Celebration of Life church service may be viewed on the First United Methodist Church You Tube Channel or Facebook page. Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfuneralhome.com

Tommy Ray Jenkins, 66, of Croton, Iowa, passed away at 2:29 p.m. Thursday, April 14, 2022, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa.

He was born on February 18, 1956, in Keosauqua, Iowa, the son of Ottis and Martha (Maxwell) Jenkins. He married Dixie Randolph, they later divorced. On August 7, 1985, he married Tina Armstrong in Farmington, Iowa.

Survivors include his wife: Tina; three daughters: Sasha (Byron) Rich of Fleming Island, Florida, Lacey Jenkins of Niota, Illinois and Elizabeth (Kevin) Thornburg of Donnellson, Iowa; honorary son: Carlin James, Jr.; nine grandchildren: Jordan, Kaidan, Camden, Weston, Jolee, Norah, Ashby, Allison and Carlin; great grandson: Tobias; two sisters: Colleen (Steve) Treece and Cheryl Hootman; brother: Cecil Barnes; honorary brothers: Melvin Easton and Marty Munford. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers: James and Perry; special aunt and uncle: Vickie Randolph and Ervin Jenkins.

Tommy was a 1975 graduate of Harmony High School. He was a member of the Sons of the American Legion Richardson – Anthony Post #231 in Farmington. He enjoyed fishing, racing, watching Westerns and spending time with family. Tommy was always the life of the party.

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

Friends may call after 12:00 noon, Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at Schmitz Funeral Home in Farmington, where the family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. that evening.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at Schmitz Funeral Home in Farmington, with Michael Browning officiating.

Burial will be at a later date at Croton Cemetery in Croton, Iowa.

Memorials have been established in his memory for the Sons of the American Legion or Camp Footprint.

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

Hazel L. Roath, 97, of Mt. Pleasant passed away on Monday, April 11, 2022, at Savannah Heights of Mt. Pleasant.

Funeral arrangements are pending at the Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant

Dean A Wittmayer “Lost Cause”, 62, of Agency passed away at 1:30 AM Wednesday April 13, 2022 at University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics in Iowa City.  In accordance with his wishes his body has been cremated and a celebration of life will be held at 11:00AM Saturday April 23, 2022 at Chommey’s Bar and Grill in Eldon.  He was born May 23, 1959 to Rae Wittmayer in Gardner, MA.  He lived in Gardner and Washington Iowa most of his formattable years, before moving to Brighton, Mt. Sterling and eventually just outside of Agency. Dean received his education through Job Corp and was a member of AARP.

He enjoyed spending time with old friends, listening to Pink Floyd and drinking Black Velvet.  He rode motorcycles all of his adult life.  He will be missed by all.

Left to cherish his memory are, four stepsons, Joshua Kinaman of Ottumwa, Jesse Leverne of Boone, Christopher Ryan Leverne of Agency and Nicholas Leverne of Des Moines, a step-brother, Daniel Wittmayer, step-mother, Laurie Wittmayer O’Neill, a son, David Hudson, a daughter, Amy, 13 step-grandchildren, many other family members and Friends.

He was preceded in death by a brother, David who was killed by a train at the age of 9 in Washington.

Alan Huisinga, age 74 of Mount Pleasant, passed away Wednesday, April 13. Funeral arrangements are pending at the Kimzey Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant.