Author: Theresa Rose

David L. Weller, 60, of Oakland Mills, Iowa, passed away at 10:45 p.m. Saturday, July 25, 2020, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, after a long battle with heart complications.

He was born on August 11, 1959, in Keosauqua, Iowa, the son of Charles Pete and Ella Lucille (Cass) Weller. On December 25, 2012, he married Tami McAllister in Salem, Iowa.

He is survived by his wife: Tami; four sons: Jason (Shauna Stuart) Weller of Fort Madison, Josh (Lynette Farmer) Weller of Fort Madison, Daniel (Krista) McAllister and Mathew Weller of Oakland Mills; nine grandchildren; two sisters: Christine Haifley and Shelley Kerr. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother James Weller.

When David was younger, he was an avid horseman. He enjoyed riding and working on Harley Davidson motorcycles and mushroom hunting. Most of all, David enjoyed spending time with his family especially his grandchildren.

Friends may call after 12:00 noon Friday, July 31, 2020, at Schmitz Funeral Home in Farmington, Iowa, where the family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. that afternoon.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in his memory for his son Mathew’s Education Fund. Checks can be written to Tami McAllister-Weller.

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

Raymond “Doc” Dill, 93, of Morning Sun, Iowa, died peacefully surrounded by his children on July 23, 2020 at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City, IA.  A Memorial Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2020.  Details will follow via the Morning Sun News Herald, FaceBook, and on the Snyder & Hollenbaugh website. A memorial has been established to Heifer International in Doc’s name.   Online condolences for the family may be sent to www.sandhfuneralservice.com.  Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services of Morning Sun, formerly The Hagele and Honts Funeral Home, is caring for Doc’s arrangements.

Raymond E. Dill was born on October 15, 1926 in Sterling, Kansas to Robert and Connie (Dougherty) Dill.  Doc was a graduate of Sterling High School and joined the Army where he served for 1 year at Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, Colorado as part of the Army Corp of Engineers.  When WWII ended, he returned to Sterling College where he completed his degree.  In 1946, he married Peg Martin with whom he subsequently had four children.  For two years following their marriage, he taught junior high science and coached the boys’ basketball team in Nickerson, Kansas.

He went on to Veterinary School graduating from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas.  In 1955, the family moved to Morning Sun, Iowa where he established his much loved veterinary practice caring for large and small animals.   His veterinary career spanned 65 years until health issues forced him to retire in December 2019.

Doc was a man of many and varied interests.  He was an accomplished hunter, one of the first bow hunters in the state of Iowa.  His love of hunting took him on two safaris in Africa as well as many exciting hunts across the U. S.  Hunting highlights included two trips to Alaska where he was dropped by helicopter in the Arctic Circle to hunt caribou and moose.  He taught many young hunters to love and respect the outdoors.

He was a collector of antique medical instruments and equipment, especially Civil War items.  He also enjoyed buying and refinishing antique furniture, bringing back to life beautiful pieces.

Over the years he was involved in various community events.  He was the official veterinarian for the Louisa County Fair for 56 years.  Because of his service, he was inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame. He served on the Morning Sun School Board for many years.  He received the Citizen of the Year Award in 2010 because of his community involvement.

He enjoyed the solitude and beauty of nature which he often captured in his photography.  He was known as a compassionate man with a kind, caring heart.  He treated all animals with gentleness and loved sharing life with his clients and friends.  In 2000, he married Karen Quigley whom he loved and with whom he experienced many special life adventures.  He was also a tremendously loving father and grandfather.

Doc will be deeply missed by his children, Nan Boren of Beaver, PA, Don (Cathie) Dill of Howard, CO, Jeanne (Mike) Svobodny of Winona, MN and Debbie (Rick) Seele of Morrison, CO; grandchildren, Andrea Henning, Ashleigh (Don) Misson, Jake Seele and Ali Seele; great-grandchildren, Hannah, Bennett and Evelyn Misson; sister, Roberta McFarland of Topeka, KS and sister-in-law, Elaine Dill of Sterling, KS.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Karen Quigley-Dill in 2015, and his brother Frank Dill.

Melanie A. Boyd, 59, of New London, died Tuesday, March 31, 2020 in the emergency department at Henry County Health Center due to complications of heart disease.  She was born September 16, 1960 in Mt. Pleasant

to Richard E. and Marilyn J. Nelson Wick.  On June 9, 1979, she married Jay Boyd in New London; they later divorced.

Melanie was a 1978 graduate of New London High School.  She worked in shipping and manufacturing at Mackay and more than twenty years at Winegard.  She enjoyed drives through Geode State Park, mushrooming, old westerns, and socializing with her friends.

Survivors include her parents of New London; her children, Jason (Miranda) Boyd of Clive and Jessica (Jeremy) Dean of Burlington; three grandsons; sisters Michelle (David) McIntyre of Danville and Cheryl (Danny) Parks of New London; sister-in-law Pam Wick of New London; and nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her grandparents and brothers, Michael and Tony Wick.

According to her wishes her body has been cremated and inurnment will be held at Burge Cemetery, rural New London.  A Celebration of Life will be held at 5:00 PM, August 1^st, at the New London Veterans of Foreign War Post #7641 at 802 E. McKinley, New London.  A memorial has been established in memory of Melanie Boyd.

Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.

On Saturday, July 25, 2020, Patricia Joyce Huggins Spurgeon, 81, of New London, went home to be with the Lord, after a short battle with cancer.  She was surrounded by her family.  She was born the youngest of eight children on May 19, 1939 in Bloomfield, Iowa to Ralph and Verna Veatch Huggins.  Patricia was a graduate of Pulaski High School.

On June 17, 1961, she married James “J.B” Spurgeon in Centerville.  She was a stay at home mom when her children were little and retired from PSSI in Mt. Pleasant after more than twenty years as a payroll secretary.

She enjoyed flowers and gardening; attending the Iowa State Fair; trying new recipes; lunches with friends; and time spent with family, especially her great-grandchildren.

Besides her husband of 59 years, Pat is survived by her children, Belinda  Conner of New London, Debra (Bob) Thomas of Illinois, and Jeff Spurgeon of New London; three grandchildren, Whitney (Chris) Amburn and Cody Conner both of New London and Peyton (Evelynn) Thomas of Norwalk, Iowa; seven great-grandchildren, Zander, Ryker, Trinity and Scarlett Amburn; Blake and Finley Conner; and Calvin Thomas; one brother Wendell Huggins of Evergreen, Colorado; nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

She was preceded in death by her parents; granddaughter Sarah Conner; great-granddaughter Gracelyn Amburn; brothers Don and Charles Huggins; sisters Wanda Fuller, Viola Thomas, Shirley Stivers, and Betty Huggins; and several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

According to her wishes, her body has been cremated and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.  A memorial has been established and online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.

Janet L. Shumaker, 81, of Mt. Pleasant passed away on Saturday, July 25, 2020, at Sunnybrook of Mt. Pleasant.

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