Pauline K. Hinkle, 72, of Mt. Pleasant and formerly of Burlington and Morning Sun, died Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at Arbor Court in Mt. Pleasant.
A family guided Celebration of Life for Pauline will be held at a later date. Cremation Rites have been entrusted to the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main Street, Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfh.com
Lynn J. Walker, 93, of Danville, died Sunday, February 12, 2023 at Danville Care Center. He was born January 31, 1930 at home in rural Green City, Missouri to Charles and Esther Lafaver Walker. On June 6, 1954 he married Frances Clarice Lawhon in West Helena, Arkansas. She died November 20, 2020.
He was a lifelong farmhand working for Don Nelson and also was caretaker and maintenance worker for Bob Dodds Insurance. He was a member of New Song Christian Life Church in Lowell. Lynn enjoyed mowing, coon hunting, was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan, and loved anything strawberry and french fries.
Survivors include his sons Michael Lynn Walker and Evan F. (Joanne) Walker, both of Danville; son-in-law Jeff Ridgway of Danville; six grandchildren; Jeremiah (Chasity) Walker, Joshua (Becky) Walker, Miles (Heidi) Ridgway, Morgan (Ashley) Walker, Mindy (Tanner) Travis, Mitch Walker; four great-grandsons; Kameron, Gavin, Keagan and Emmet Walker; and the first great-granddaughter Chloe Travis, due any minute; brother Eugene Walker; and sisters, Esta Lee Fulghum, Marjorie Ann Keith and Ruby Heppe. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; daughter Kathy Ridgway on November 1, 2020; brothers, Robert, Wayne and Gerald and sister Mary Margaret Muder.
A visitation with the family greeting friends will be held from 1:00 – 3:00 pm Saturday, February 18, 2023 at Elliott Chapel, New London. According to his wishes, his body has been cremated and inurnment will follow at Jaggar Cemetery, rural Danville. A memorial has been established for New Song Christian Life Church. Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.
Rande L. Stauffer, 72 of Washington, died Monday, February 13, 2023, surrounded by his family at home.
His body has been cremated and will be interred at Elm Grove Cemetery at a later date. The family will receive friends from 1-4:00PM, Saturday, February 18, 2023, at the Beatty-Petersiem Funeral Home in Washington. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established for PAWS and More Animal Shelter.
Rande was born May 1, 1950, in Mt Pleasant, Iowa, the son of Ervin and Virginia (Wyse) Stauffer. He graduated from WACO High School in 1968. He was united in marriage to Jan (Wick) Prottsman on November 25, 1987, in New London. Rande started out his career as a track inspector for the Burlington Northern Railroad. He then pursued his passion of automotive as a service manager at several local area auto dealerships along with co-owning a local auto dealership. Rande co-owned Paul Revere’s Pizza, along with his wife Jan, for many years. You could usually find Rande in his garage restoring and collecting classic cars or spending time with his grandchildren. He shared this passion and was able to pass this on to his kids and grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife Jan Stauffer of Washington, IA, three children: Michelle (Truckie) Harbison of Crawfordsville, IA, Matthew (Miranda) Stauffer of Moscow, IA, Jaden (Michele) Prottsman of Riverside, IA, five grandchildren: Logan, Caedon, Adisyn, Joslyn, and Quintyn, his mother Virginia along with one brother and one sister. Rande also had his loving dog companions Libby, Jasper, and Bella.
Proceeding Rande in death was his father Ervin Stauffer and his loving dog Boomer.
Mount Pleasant Community School District
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
Mt. Pleasant CSD – Mount Pleasant Community High School
2104 South Grand Avenue – Media Center
Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641
The Mount Pleasant Community School District School Improvement Advisory Committee will meet at 6:00pm on Wednesday, February 15, 2023
The Mount Pleasant School Board continues to discuss a possible change to the board director district structure. There are currently seven members. The number will remain the same. However, due to a change in population, the director districts are no longer balanced. The boundary lines could be re-drawn but this is also an opportunity to change-up the representation. The board is showing interest in creating two director districts represented by two directors for each. There would then be three at large members. There is also interest in going all at large members. Supt. John Henriksen will present the issue to the School Improvement Advisory Committee for input.
There was a full house for the Mount Pleasant School Board meeting Monday evening. Three different people addressed the Board during Citizen Comments. Mike Richtman shared his concerns that student participation in school activities is declining. He urges the school district leadership to define what programs are about and assess the programs to make sure kids are having the best experience possible.
Sarah Johnson asked the Board if the monthly meetings could be live streamed and then could a link be posted so busy parents who can’t attend in person can access the meetings.
Senior Will Davidson spoke, thanking the School Board for allowing him four years ago to swim with the Burlington High School swim team. Davidson recently competed in the State Swim Meet.
Jessica Howard, once again, addressed the about her concerns with grade-alike elementary buildings saying the emotional factor is a bigger consideration that the academics or logistics and that such a change will affect many students emotionally. She had previously share her concerns at a recent Board work session.
The School Board tabled a vote on approval of a grade-alike elementary configuration until the March meeting. Supt. John Henriksen made the recommendation that the board commit to the change and table the vote with the idea that the change wouldn’t happen until the fall of 2024. That would allow more time to plan and carry out the various aspects of change. Mr. Henriksen also said he has spent the last month meeting with and listening to the concerns of staff and parents. He said he feels the opportunities created by grade-alike buildings out weigh any concerns about logistics or social emotional affects.
After a public hearing on the proposed school calendar for next year, the School Board approved the calendar with the changes…..making every Friday an early out day and scheduling spring break for the second week of March.
Cletus Samuel Miller, 93, of Mt. Pleasant, peacefully went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, February 11, 2023, at Park Place Elder Living in Mt. Pleasant. Visitation for family and friends will be 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 17, 2023, at Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona, IA, the funeral service will follow the visitation at 11:00 a.m. Pastor Tim Peter will officiate. The service will be available via Livestream at the Beatty Peterseim Facebook and Youtube pages. Burial will follow the service at East Union Mennonite Church, Kalona. A memorial fund has been established for Pine Lake Camp in Eldora, Iowa.
Cletus was born at home on December 13, 1929, in rural Kalona, the second of five children of Sam T. and Mary (Bender) Miller. He married Dorothy Hershberger at West Union Mennonite Church on January 7, 1951. He loved her dearly and enjoyed 72 years of marriage. Cletus was fortunate to live at home with Dorothy until the last two weeks. Cletus graduated from Iowa Mennonite High School near Kalona and went to Hesston College in Hesston, KS to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Education. He received additional teaching and administration degrees from Colorado State Teachers College (now UNC), Creighton University, and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He was a teacher, pastor, coach, and administrator over his career spanning Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, and Iowa. His coaching career culminated with a loss in the 1965 Colorado state 8-man football championship where he was named the NE Colorado Coach of the Year. His administrative career started in 1965 and ended with retirement in 1996 while serving at Tri-Center, Prairie City, and South Tama schools. In 2015, Cletus was honored by the IHSAA with an Administrator Award at the Boys State Basketball Tournament. Cletus served on many church, civic, camp, and community boards and committees in his 70+ years of joyful service to others. He had the unique ability to communicate with people of all ages and backgrounds while making each person feel important. His love of sports began with his grade school basketball team and continued for his entire life.
He will be sorely missed by his wife, Dorothy of Mt. Pleasant; four children, Dr. Linwood (Judy) Miller of Mt. Pleasant, Ron (Wanda) Miller of Goshen, IN, Sharon Miller of Mt. Pleasant, and Anthony (Lisa) Miller of Anderson, SC; eight grandchildren, Tom “Buster” McGehearty, Laura Miller Bjork, and Jennifer Clark; Nick Miller, Nathan Miller and Natalie Miller; Hannah Miller and Sarah Taylor; nine great-grandchildren; sister Dolores Miller, sister-in-law Doris Redding, brother-in-law Jake Flisher and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, mother, and sisters Arvilla Flisher, Darlene Logan, and Loretta Kauffman.
On April 8, 2022, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office received a call that human remains had been located east of Fairfield near the Fairfield Loop Trail and the BNSF railroad tracks. Deputies located human remains belonging to an adult male in a state of advanced decay.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation and have identified the remains as Harold “Hal” Bennett 11/12/1956. Mr. Bennett had been reported missing by family and friends to the Fairfield Police Department in the fall of 2020. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has determined there is no evidence of foul play and no threat to the public. The following agencies assisted the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office with this investigation:
Fairfield Police Department
Fairfield Fire Department
Jefferson County Medical Examiner
Iowa Office of State Medical Examiner
Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation – DNA Unit
Jackson (Wyoming) Police Department
The Jefferson County Attorney’s office said a special thanks is due the citizens who called the Sheriff’s Office and provided information to assist in this investigation. The Attorney also sent out condolences to the family and friends of Hal Bennett.
