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
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, 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
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
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
JoAnn Gail Ostby was born on December 24, 1944 in Fergus Falls, MN, the daughter of Myrtle (Fronning) and Morris Baasen. At age 2, her mother passed away. Her father married Avis (Pikop) in 1954. She was baptized and confirmed at rural Rock Prairie Lutheran Church, Elbow Lake, MN. JoAnn graduated from Elbow Lake High School, and she obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD in 1966. She peacefully entered into eternal rest February 5, 2023 in Winfield, IA at Sunrise Terrace Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.
The family welcomes donations as an expression of sympathy instead of flowers. Please make contributions to the Family of JoAnn Ostby and mail to Cheryl Crawmer, 3723 147th St., Urbandale, IA 50323. The contributions will be split between the three county public heath nursing services where JoAnn worked.
JoAnn met Frank Ostby during her senior year at Augustana and they were married on June 8th, 1968 at Rock Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Elbow Lake, Minnesota. They were married 52 years. They set a great example of how to love your spouse in good times and bad. Frank and JoAnn had three children, Cheryl, Kris and Paul.
JoAnn worked for 42 years in various fields of nursing, with the last 17 in public health. She worked as an RN for Rochester Methodist Hospital in Rochester, MN, Palmer Memorial Hospital in West Union, IA, NIACC as an LPN instructor in Calmer, IA, Craft Care Center in Panora, IA, and Dallas County Hospital in Perry, IA. JoAnn also worked in public health nursing in Guthrie County, IA, Redwood County, MN and in Worth County, IA. In her last years of nursing, she supervised the home care for the elderly who were able to remain in their own homes. Once retired, JoAnn and Frank spent time at Orangewood Shadows in Mesa, AZ for the winter.
JoAnn was very active in the various churches where she was a member. Her involvement included choir pianist, organist, Stephen Ministry and circle (bible study) to name a few. JoAnn had a huge heart and was a dedicated servant for God. JoAnn used her talents and passions to serve others. She loved to knit, sew, quilt and bake. Most of the items she made were for various missions of her churches. Her grandchildren’s favorites were her donuts and sugar cookies. She always had a tin of them in her freezer. She loved music; she played the organ and piano at church and the clarinet in bands in Mason City, IA and at Orangewood Shadows (Mesa, AZ). In addition to the church, JoAnn volunteered often with various medical clinics (blood donation, flu clinics, etc.).
JoAnn also loved spending time outdoors: hiking, walking, canoeing, tube floats, golfing and biking. Many of these were incorporated into camping and family trips. She also liked to travel. Frank and JoAnn traveled to Norway twice, they took a Panama Canal cruise, an Alaskan Cruise and they went to various places around the US. JoAnn liked to play cards and other games with her family and friends. With cards, she always said she had a bad hand, but then seemed to win. She loved to read, which is one of the few things she was able to continue to do despite her Parkinson’s. She was very proud of her three kids, and her grandchildren brought her great joy.
JoAnn was known for her faith, kindness and huge heart for service. She will be greatly missed.
JoAnn is survived by her children Cheryl (Travis) Crawmer of Urbandale, IA, Kris Davis (Mike Scheidt) of Van Meter, IA and Paul (Julie) Ostby of Mount Pleasant, IA; her sister Carlyn (Ron) Nordby of Wilmar, MN and brother Eugene Baasen of Hutchingson, MN. There are eight grandchildren: Justin and Madison Crawmer, Jacob and Emma Davis, Brittan, Zachary (Brianna), Anna and Kolbein Ostby; sister-in-law, Eldora (Jack) Kelly of Springfield, VA and several nieces, nephews and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank, her parents and various other relatives.
A funeral service for Mrs. Ostby will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 11 at the Swedesburg Evangelical Lutheran Church. Pastor Jeffery A. McPheron will officiate. Burial will be at later date in the Hillcrest Cemetery in Albert Lea, MN. Friends may call from 12 Noon to 7 PM on Friday at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 N. Main St., Mt. Pleasant. The family will receive friends from 10-11 AM Saturday morning at the church.
On-Line condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfh.com
Joyce A. Newton, 73, of Oquawka, Illinois, formerly of Farmington, Iowa, passed away at 2:57 a.m. Saturday, February 4, 2023, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa.
She was born on May 7, 1949, in Keokuk, Iowa, the daughter of Don Eugene and Betty (Hedden) McBride. On April 9, 1971, she married John Newton in Dallas City, Illinois.
Survivors include her husband: John; one daughter: Julie (Jeff) Sims of Oquawka, Illinois; one son: Jeff (Resa) Newton of Hillsboro, Iowa; five grandchildren; Alonzo and Citlally Morales, Auset Sims, Jasmine Seitz and Sebastian Newton; one brother: Darrell (Christine) McBride of Farmington, Iowa and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and daughter: Joanna Newton.
Joyce was a 1967 graduate of Harmony High School. She worked as a waitress at Country Kitchen and the Bridge Cafe. She also worked for Riverside Plastics. Joyce was an avid reader and enjoyed ceramics, watching television shows and movies.
A visitation will be held with the family receiving friends from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at Schmitz Funeral Home in Farmington, Iowa.
A funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 8, 2023, with Pastor Chad Welch officiating.
Burial will be at Greenglade Cemetery, Farmington, Iowa.
A memorial has been established in her memory for the Epilepsy Research Foundation.
Schmitz Funeral Home of Farmington is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com.
