Author: Theresa Rose

Dean Leroy Hawkins, Sr., 77, of Wapello, formerly of Oakville, passed away on Friday, January 28, 2022 at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center.  Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Monday, January 31, 2022 at Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services of Wapello.  A memorial has been established for the family in Dean’s name.    Sympathy messages can be left for the family at www.sandfuneralservice.com.

Dean Leroy Hawkins, Sr. was born on February 19, 1944, in Oakville, Iowa the son of Burr and Laura (Strawhacker) Hawkins.  Dean was a 1964 graduate of Wapello High School.  On March 17, 1969, Dean was united in marriage to Darlene Russell in Missouri.  Dean worked for JI Case Company and as a farmer hand for David Wyss and Wayne Gerst.  Dean enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping, messing around in his shed and going to Cantril.  Dean will always be remembered for giving every one a rough time.

Dean will be deeply missed by his wife, Darlene; daughters, Terri Hull of Wapello and Patsy Hawkins of Wapello; son, Dean Hawkins, Jr. of Kingston; two grandson, Hunter and Zach; great-grandson, Keegan and siblings, Florence Kokus of Illinois, Mary Ann Manning of Mount Pleasant and Lester Hawkins of Wapello and several nieces and nephews.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Tina Hawkins and his siblings, Bertha Harvey and Gene Hawkins.

Arlene Amelia Johnson, 96, of Columbus Junction, passed away on Thursday, January 27, 2022 in Columbus Junction, Iowa.  Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m. on Monday, January 31, 2022 at Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services of Columbus Junction.  Burial will be in Columbus City Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 30, 2022 at the funeral home.   A memorial has been established for Haven’s Hope Thrift Store in memory of Arlene.   Sympathy notes may be left for the family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com.

Arlene was born March 8, 1925, in rural Columbus Junction on the farm of her parents, Rueben P. Allen and Bessie F. (Weese) Allen.    On July 10, 1941, she married Earl Johnson in Kahoka, Missouri.

Arlene and Earl had four children:  Earlene (Verl) Lekwa of Columbus Junction, Harold (Paulette) Johnson of Muscatine, Marty (Jayne) Johnson of Wapello, and Don Johnson (deceased).  Grandchildren: Jodie Johnson, Bart Johnson, Jeff (Tasha) Lekwa, David Lekwa, Brenda (Craig) Wilson, Monty (Dyan) Johnson.  Step Grandchildren: Tim (Stephanie) Sill, Thomas (Jessi) Staley; Great Grandchildren: Jarrett (Hannah Kephart) Lekwa, J.D. (Karley Shlee) Lekwa, Jobie Lekwa, Justus Lekwa, Kayla Marquardt, Ruger (Racheal) Dean, Remington (Nolan) Amelon, Brooke Wilson, Trevor Johnson, Haley Steinke, Tyson Steinke, Dakota Johnson.  Step Great Grandchildren: Nathan Sill, Brianna Sill, Lawrence Staley, Marilou Staley.  Great-Great Grandchildren: Kendyl Epperson, Brittney Wilson, Riley Amelon, Lane Amelon, Wren Lekwa. She is survived by one sister, Vivian Kay Wilson of Columbus Junction and many nieces and nephews and special friend Jennine Wolf of Washington, Iowa

She was preceded in death by her parents Rueben and Bessie Allen, husband Earl Johnson, son Don Johnson and grandson Joseph Michael Johnson, three brothers: Rueben Dean Allen, Don Palmer Allen, Ronald Daryl Allen; five sisters:  Erma Brown, Corrinne Moyer, Eula Deese, Naomi Stites and Geneva Snyder.

Arlene grew up in the rural area she was born in.  She attended Pleasant View country school.  She attended High School in Columbus Junction and later received her GED.

Arlene, loving known as Beanie, enjoyed traveling or just going for a ride in the car.  She loved visiting with family and friends and was ready to help when there was a need.  She baby sat for many children over the years and continued up into her early 90s.  She was one of those last “chefs” who could mix up a dish or pie without a recipe.  She enjoyed country music and listening to books on tape.

Growing flowers and plants brought her a lot of joy.  She could stick a broken piece of flower in to the ground and it would grow.

She and Earl lived in Arizona for several years.  She loved being close to two of her sisters and nephews there and going up to the mountains whenever they could.  She remained friends with many of the people she met while they lived there.

She was proud of her family and enjoyed spending time with them as often as she could.

Vivian Marie Bickett, 89, of Muscatine, formerly of Birmingham passed away at her home on Wednesday January 26, 2022.  As were her wishes her body has been cremated and private burial of cremains will be at a later date in Maple Hill Cemetery, Birmingham.  Memorials to Genesis Hospice may be mailed to the family at 126 North Street, Fruitland, IA 52749.  Friends may leave online condolences at www.cranstonfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Vivian was born on February 29, 1932 to William James and Beulah Bruey Tonkinson .  She was raised in the Birmingham area and attended Cedar #5 school in rural Jefferson County.  As a child Vivian babysat for several families in Fairfield and Batavia to which she traveled to by train.  She married Robert Clyde Ward on October 29, 1949 in Lockridge and they later divorced.  She then married Fred Bickett in 1987 at their home in Muscatine and they later divorced. 

Vivian worked at Dexter Company and the Glove Factory, both located in Fairfield until she became a mother and moved her family to Wilton, IA where she stayed home to care for her children.  When they were old enough, she went to work at Thatcher Plastics in Muscatine until her retirement in 1994.  Vivian loved flowers, her family, watching Wheel of Fortune and playing quarter slots at Catfish Bend and Riverside Casino where she had won a car on her birthday in 2013.

Left to cherish her memory are three daughters, Nancy Foor of Cape Girardeau, MO, Judy Haskins of Fruitland, IA and Tina Jarvis (Russell) of Troy, IA, two sisters, Wilma Hootman of Fairfield and Lola Kirchner of Stockport, six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and many other extended family and friends.  In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her son, Thomas Ward, a daughter, Dorothy Ward, four sisters, Mary Garrison, Melvia Peck, Kathryn Disney and Ruth Countryman and a brother, William Tonkinson.

Faye C. Heartsill, 87, passed away Friday, January 28, 2022, at her home in Salem.

Faye was born December 13, 1934, in Eckley, Colorado, the daughter of Elmer and Edna (Abbott) Lamb.  She graduated from Salem High School in 1952.  Faye was married to Charles R. Brown on May 22, 1952.  Then on June 29, 1963, she married Tonch C. Heartsill.  Faye was a clerk in Morrows Grocery Store for about a year, before working for Sylvania in Burlington for eight years until the plant closed.  In 1971 she began working for the U.S. Postal Service where she was a clerk. Faye was named Post Master in 1974 until retiring in 1997.  She had volunteered at the Lewelling Quaker Museum since 1992 and served as president of the museum for 22 years. She was a member of the Henry County Historical Society.

Faye is survived by two sons, Charles Brown of Cedar Rapids, Greg (Angie) Heartsill of Chariton; a daughter, Christine (Ken) Sylvester of Salem; a step son Harold (Kathy) Heartsill of Crystal River, FL; two step daughters, Linda (Dick) Smith of Mount Pleasant, Judy Odom of Moore, OK; step daughter in law Betty Heartsill of Salem; 15 grandchildren, 7 step grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, 17 step great grandchildren, 15 step great great grandchildren; brother Tom Lamb of Salem; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, stepson Chris Heartsill, a brother, two sisters and a step granddaughter.

Funeral service will be held 1:30 pm, Friday, February 4, 2022, at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow in the Salem South Cemetery. Visitation will be held 2:00 – 7:00 pm Thursday, February 3, 2022, at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel, where family will greet friends from 4:00 – 6:00 pm. A memorial fund has been established for the Lewelling Quaker Museum. www.powellfuneralhomes.com.

Helen Loy Gipple, 65, of Sun Prairie, WI, formerly of Winfield, passed away Tuesday January 11th, 2022 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City with family by her side.

>  Helen was born June 30, 1956 in Mt. Pleasant to Jack and Mildred (Owens) Gipple. She was raised on a farm northeast of Winfield with 2 brothers and 2 sisters. Helen graduated from WMU in 1974 and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Northeast Missouri State University.

>  Helen worked for Oscar Meyer, Kraft, and finished her career working in sales at NSF International.

>  Helen had many interests and hobbies. She collected antiques and enjoyed sewing. She loved to cook, spending many hours teaching her great niece and nephews. Helen loved to camp, always having a humorous story about her friends in Wisconsin or the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Helen loved Chihuahuas, having rescued many over the years. Helen enjoyed board games, more so if she won. She had a laugh that won’t be forgotten.

>  Helen was preceded in death by her grandparents, parents, one brother, and one sister. She is survived by one brother Sam (Carol) Gipple of Cedar Rapids, and on sister Mary (Gayle) Jensen of Ashland, Nebraska, many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.