Author: Theresa Rose

Dorothy (Swartzendruber) Gingerich, 93, of Kalona, died Sunday, October 31, 2021, at her home following a lengthy illness. A celebration of life will be held Wednesday, November 3, 2021, at 10:30 AM at Kalona Mennonite Church with Pastor Josh Lundberg officiating. The service will be available via Livestream at the Kalona Mennonite Facebook page. Burial will follow at the South Gingerich Cemetery in rural Kalona. Masks are required at visitation and at the service. The family will greet friends from 4 – 7 PM, Tuesday, November 2, 2021, at the Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona. In lieu of flowers memorials may be designated to Kalona Mennonite Church.

Dorothy Jane Gingerich was born July 5, 1928, near Noble, Iowa, the daughter of Lee and Emma (Wyse) Swartzendruber. She attended Eicher and Stringtown rural schools. While at home she helped her folks with their sorghum making business. Dorothy worked at Maplecrest Turkey Plant before she was married. On June 12, 1956, she was united in marriage to Cleo V. “Butch” Gingerich at Bethel Mennonite Church near Wayland. Dorothy did childcare in her home and did house cleaning and childcare for folks in their homes. Dorothy was baptized in Sugar Creek Mennonite Church, attended Bethel Mennonite and Iowa City Mennonite Churches and was currently a member of Kalona Mennonite Church. While she was still able, she participated in the women’s sewing groups at church.  She enjoyed crocheting, and volunteering at school when the children were little.

Survivors include two children: Marsha (Arlis) Diener of Kansas City, KS, Vaughn Gingerich of Kalona, a number of nieces and nephews, and one sister Wilma Knepp of Iowa City.

Preceding Dorothy in death were her parents, her husband Cleo in 2011, a stillborn brother and one sister Arlene Troyer.

Charles “Kenneth” Crabill, 81 of Keosauqua died on Tuesday October 26, 2021 at University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. In accordance with his wishes his body was donated to the University of Iowa Deeded Body program. Memorial service will be held at 11:00AM on November 11, 2021 at Pedrick Funeral Home, Keosauqua with Larry Shipley and Sally Barrett officiating. Visitation will be an hour prior to the service beginning at 10AM at the funeral home. Private burial of cremains will be at a later date in Thompson Cemetery with military rites by Sargeant-Osweiler Post No. 563 American Legion, Bonaparte. Memorials to the American Cancer Society or Van Buren County Hospital Cardiac Rehab may be left at the funeral home or mailed to the family at P.O. Box 516, Keosauqua, IA 52565.

Kenneth was born on August 31, 1940 in Ferris, IL to James and Mildred Thompson Crabill. He lived in many locations during his early childhood years in both Illinois and Southeast Iowa due to his father’s career as a farm hand. Most of his later childhood years were spent in Henry, Louisa and Des Moines Counties. During high school his family lived in the New London area and he graduated from Morning Sun High School in the class of 1958. Shortly after graduation Kenneth joined the Navy where he was stationed in Newfoundland as a crew member of an early warning flight crew. After his time was up in the Navy in 1961, he moved to Burlington and started work at Sylvania Manufacturing and later at General Electric. During this time, he met his wife to be, Joann, they were married on June 1, 1962 in the Bonaparte Baptist Church. The couple then moved to Morning Sun. In 1968 the family moved to Bonaparte where he farmed and was a Dekalb Seed Dealer until retirement due to health issues in 2010 and they moved from the farm to their current home in Keosauqua. Kenneth had been a United Methodist Church last supper performer for many years and a member of the Bonaparte United Church. He also was a former Bonaparte Lions Club Member, active in Sargeant-Osweiler Post 563 American Legion, was a Harmony School Board member, on the Van Buren County Soil and Water Conservation, Van Buren County Supervisor Boards and was a member of the Iowa Pork Producers.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Joann of Keosauqua, two daughters, Lisa Crabill (Patrick) of Des Moines and Melissa (Roy) Truly of Kaufman, TX, a brother, Don (Carol) of Red Bud, IL, two granddaughters, Julianna Thomas of Poughkeepsie, NY and Addison Truly of Kaufman, TX, a AFS daughter, Xenia Rodriguez of Honduras, many nieces and nephews and friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Jim, John and Dean Crabill, three sisters, Doris Crabill in infancy, Donna Jean Smith and Joan Mathers.

Dean Delmar Wurtzel, 82, of New London died Friday, October 29, 2021 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.  He was born May 20, 1939 in Waukon, Iowa to Delmar and Carrie Anderson Wurtzel.

He graduated from high school in Waterville, Iowa.  On November 30, 1963, he married Teresa Ann Palmer in Burlington.  For more than thirty years, he worked at General Electric in Burlington.

He was a member of Long Creek United Methodist Church and enjoyed volunteering at the church. In his younger years he was quite a baseball player and was a huge fan of the Cubs and Packers.  Following retirement, he loved helping a local farmer.

Survivors include his wife of New London; daughters, Kendra Lyons of Davenport, Regina Wurtzel of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and Wendy (Ryle) Roseke of Lowden, Iowa; six grandchildren; one great-grandson; siblings, Norb (Helen) Wurtzel, Jean (Jim) Gruber, Bob (Kay) Wurtzel, Ronnie (Marge) Wurtzel and Donnie (Julie) Wurtzel; nieces and nephews.  His parents preceded him in death.

A memorial service will be held at 12:00 pm, Wednesday, November 3, 2021 at Elliott Chapel, New London with Pastor Dan Baker officiating.  Visitation will begin at 9:00 am, with the family greeting friends from 11:00 until the time of the service.  Cremation has been accorded and inurnment will follow at Long Creek Cemetery, rural Danville.  A memorial has been established for the Des Moines County Humane Society.  Online condolences may be shared at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.

Stanley Dwain Burkholder, 92 of Washington, died Friday, October 29, 2021 at the United Presbyterian Home in Washington.

Funeral services are set for 11:00AM, Friday, November 5, 2021 at the Bethel Church with Pastor Curt Kuhns officiating. The service will be livestreamed on the Beatty-Peterseim Facebook page. Burial will follow in the Bethel cemetery. The family will receive friends 2 hours prior to the service at the church. The Beatty Peterseim Funeral, Cremation Care and Monument Service is assisting with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to the Bethel Church or Crooked Creek Christian Camp.

Stanley was born June 7, 1929 on a farm north of Wellman, IA the son of Christian and Emma Ellen (Yoder) Burkholder. He was united in marriage to Elsie Irene Reschly, September 12, 1948 in Wellman, IA.

He was a farm hand and carpenter for over 30 years, working for Wayland Carpenter Shop and Graber Home Improvement. He also drove a bus for WACO Schools. He was a faithful member of the Bethel Church, 911 board for 16 years, Gideons and Lions Club for 33 years.

Survivors include children, Dwain (Kathleen) Burkholder of Ocala, FL, Steven Burkholder of Cedar Rapids, IA, Jean (William) Molander of Weeki Wachee, FL, Warren Burkholder of Marion, IA, Suzanne (Sam) Smith of Columbus Junction, IA, Marlene (Scott) Carver of Trenton, IA; brothers, Donald Burkholder, Lathrop, MO, Roger (Sherri) Burkholder, Palm Coast, FL, sisters, Opal Reschly, Crawfordsville, Mary Jane (Omer) Troyer, North Port FL; 19 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and one great-great grandson.

He was preceded in death by his parents, step mother, Elta, wife Elsie Nov. 5, 2015, brothers John, Daniel, Ernest, Oliver and an infant brother.