James D. Conaway

By Theresa Rose · Monday, February 13th, 2023 at 6:11 am CDT

James D. Conaway, 91 years, of Fort Madison, Iowa died Friday, February 10, 2023 at the West Point Care Center, West Point, Iowa.  He was born April 13, 1931 in Des Moines, Iowa, a son of John R. and Winifred M. (Murray) Conaway. He married Norma Jeanne Hyde, they had three children: Diane, Jim and Joy.  They later divorced.  Jim married Carol Jean (Powell) Burris on August 1, 1973.  She preceded him in death on May 17, 2003.  On April 20, 2007, he married Joyce (Keller) Burton.  She survives.

 

Jim’s father worked for AT&T, so his family lived in many places as he grew up.  He graduated from Hamburg High School, Hamburg, Iowa in 1948.  He attended Drake University on a football scholarship.  Jim worked for the Santa Fe Railroad, starting in 1950, and retired as Road Foreman of Engines in 1986.  He was a member of Holy Family Parish, Knights of Columbus, Elks and an endowment member of the National Rifle Association.  He enjoyed hunting and fishing, and was a pilot and flew float planes in Canada for fishing trips.

 

He is survived by his wife, Joyce Burton of Fort Madison; three children: Diane Saar (Danny Lasswell) of Fort Madison, James (Debbie) Conaway of Carolina Beach, North Carolina; Joy Calvert of High Springs, Florida; four step-children: Kenneth Burris of Cold Water, Mississippi, Connie (Russell) Boeding of Waterloo, Iowa; Cindy (Miles) Wellman of West Point, Iowa and Tony Burton of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; one sister, Virginia Scott of Missouri; eleven grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Carol, and one sister Judith Schwery.

 

The family will meet with friends from 5:00 – 6:30 pm Thursday, February 16, 2023 at the Barr Memorial Chapel, Fort Madison, with a Christian Vigil Service to follow at  6:30 pm.  Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am Friday, February 17, 2023 at Holy Family Parish, Ss. Mary and Joseph Church, Fort Madison, with Father Joseph Phung as Celebrant.  Following Mass his body will be cremated. Burial will be at Bucklin Masonic Cemetery, Bucklin, Missouri at a later date.

 

A memorial has been established for Holy Family Parish and Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice, contributions may be left at Barr Memorial Chapel.  Barr Memorial Chapel is honored to serve the Conaway/Burton family and an online guest book may be found at www.barrmemorialchapel.com.

Cletus Samuel Miller

By Theresa Rose · Monday, February 13th, 2023 at 5:54 am CDT

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. Services are pending at the Beatty Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona.

Services are pending at the Beatty Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona.

Dennis J. Fitzpatrick

By Theresa Rose · Monday, February 13th, 2023 at 5:45 am CDT

Dennis J. Fitzpatrick, 79, longtime Mt. Pleasant pharmacist, died Sunday, February 12, 2023 at the Henry County Health Center in Mt. Pleasant.

Funeral arrangements are pending at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main Street, Mount Pleasant.

Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfh.com

Community Can Look Forward to Using the Children’s Discovery Center

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, February 8th, 2023 at 1:40 pm CDT

The Mount Pleasant Public Library Children’s Discovery Center is now open.  A space to play, explore and learn actually was conceived and launched in a small way at the local library before covid but then closures and staff changes put the project on hold and kept it from growing.  However, over the last year Director Kayleigh Septer and Children’s Library Amy Willson have led the way on taking the designated space and turning it  into what, they hope, will be a special place for families. Tuesday afternoon Miss Amy had a chance to see the kids check out everything the Discovery Center offers.   She said that libraries can and have to be so much more now.  There’s no admission cost and it is not required to be a library patron. The Discovery Center is located on the lower level of the Mount Pleasant Public Library Civic Center on East Monroe Street.  Take the sidewalk between the east side of the Civic Center and Wisdom Quest and follow the signs.  For the month of February the hours are Tuesdays from noon to 2 pm and Fridays from 10 am to noon.  The staff hopes to expand the hours in the future.

Norma Jean Pforts (Updated)

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, February 8th, 2023 at 5:40 am CDT

Norma Jean Pforts, 93, of Yarmouth, died Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at her home. She was born June 23, 1929 in Henry County to Philip and Mildred Wick Logan.  On February 24, 1952 she married Herbert Pforts in New London.  He died April 7, 2011.

She was a graduate of New London High School.  Norma was a homemaker and a farm wife.  She was a member of the Mt. Union United Methodist Church and Circle Club, and played the organ at church for over thirty years.  She was a member of TTT Club; enjoyed gardening, yardwork, cooking, playing the organ and piano for weddings and funerals; and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include her daughter Vicki Barton of Mt. Union and son Kevin (Angela) Pforts of Burlington; grandchildren, Mitchell (Shannon) Pforts of Mt. Union, Justin Pforts of Mediapolis, and Angela (Chris) Claypool of Marshalltown; six great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.  She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

Visitation for Mrs. Pforts will be held from noon until 4:00 pm, Sunday, February 12, 2023 at Elliott Chapel, New London.  A funeral service will be at 10:00 am      Monday, February 13, at the Mt. Union United Methodist Church with Pastor Nancy Sutherland officiating.  Burial will follow at Trinity Cemetery, rural Mt. Union.  A memorial has been established for the Mt. Union United Methodist Church.  Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com

 

 

Monthly County Conservation Board Meeting

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, February 7th, 2023 at 6:58 am CDT

The Henry County Conservation Board will hold their February 2023 Board meeting on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at 5:30 pm in the
conservation board meeting room at the office in Oakland Mills. Items on the agenda will include: FY23-24 Budget Discussion,
Facility/Recreation Area Updates, Director Update, and Naturalist Reports. Please contact the conservation department if you have any questions, 319-986-5067

Work release escape of Ross Cobler

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, February 7th, 2023 at 5:36 am CDT

Ottumwa – Ross Thomas Cobler, convicted of Domestic Abuse Assault-3rd or Subsequent Offense in Wapello County, failed to report to the Ottumwa Residential Facility as required Friday.

Cobler is a 36-year-old white male, height  5′ 10″, and weighs 203 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on 10/26/22.

Persons with information on Cobler’s whereabouts should contact local police.

 

For more information on the state’s work release program, please see Iowa Code 904.901-904.910