Henry County Jail
In the interest of keeping Henry County residents informed, the Henry County Sheriff’s office has requested KILJ post the daily jail count. During the jail referendum campaign it was publicized that the jail would be able to house additional inmates from surrounding counties and this would generate revenue for Henry County.
Date: 12-28-2022______
25_ Henry County Inmates
36 Out of County Contract Inmates
61 TOTAL
Molly Lou Dockendorff, 81, of Middletown, formerly of Danville, died Tuesday, December 27, 2022 at her home. She was born April 12, 1941 in Burlington to Kendall Victor and Marjorie Nellie Nuss Stevens. On April 4, 1964, she married William LaMonte “Monte” Dockendorff in Burlington; he died May 26, 1995.
She was a graduate of Danville High School and was a member of Danville United Methodist Church where she was a Sunday school teacher, participated in Bible Studies, and was a member of United Methodist Women. She was a member of the OES where she served as Grand Matron.
She worked as a carhop at Dogs & Suds in Burlington; IAAP; The Dixon Tribune in Dixon, California; and was a secretary at Burlington Medical Center Emergency Department and the Klein Center.
Molly enjoyed reading, spending time with family, and watching House, Murder She Wrote, and NCIS. Her doggie Cole was a great companion.
She is survived by her daughter Jacque Davis of Mt. Union; grandchildren, Caitlin Davis of Burlington, Macayla Davis of Tiffin, and Seth Davis of Mt. Union; great-grandchildren Rilynn and Raeleigh Caulfield; sisters Darlene Spencer of Burlington and Sandra Avritt of Henderson, Nevada; and many nieces and nephews. Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her son Brian and great-grandson Riley Caulfield.
The funeral service for Mrs. Dockendorff will be at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, January 4, 2023 at the Danville United Methodist Church with Pastor Jacob Yocum officiating. The family will receive friends at the church beginning at 10:00 until the time of the service. Following the service her body will be cremated with inurnment at Jaggar Cemetery next to her beloved husband and son. A memorial has been established for her great-grandchildren’s education. Elliott Chapel, New London, is assisting the family and online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.
Sarah Mae (Van Dee) Martens, 83, of Shellsburg, Iowa passed away Sunday, December 25, 2022 at Henry County Health Center, Mt. Pleasant. She was born December 1, 1939 in Iowa City to Augustine Joseph and Margaret Mary Holderness Van Dee. After graduating from Williamsburg High School, she moved to Cedar Rapids where she spent most of her life. She moved to Shellsburg, Iowa in 2009 where she spent the last years of her life.
On November 7, 1959, she married Vernon Charles Martens at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids; he preceded her in death.
Sarah held several jobs in her life time including Rockwell Collins, Wilson’s Packing House, Automatic Vending, and for the last ten years of her career, providing child care in her home. She was a homemaker, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend to many.
Survivors include four children; Sandy (John) Oberly of New London, Sheila (Mike) Gallagher of Burlington, Charlie (Lucy) Martens of Shellsburg, and Shirley Fraise of Palo, Iowa; her sister Florence (Robert) Moellers and brother Carl (Sandy) Van Dee; thirteen grandchildren; and fifteen great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; daughter Sarah Jane Hall; grandson Christopher Lee Benesh; and siblings, Mary Brown, John Van Dee, Ida Mahan, Grace Hotchkiss, Betty McGee, Andrew Van Dee, Edward Van Dee, Donald Van Dee, Michael Van Dee and Helen Mendenhall.
According to her wishes, her body has been cremated and there will be a private family graveside service at a later date. Elliott Chapel, New London, is assisting the family and online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.
Ricky “Easy” Oberly, 64, of Wapello passed away on Sunday, December 25, 2022 at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. A memorial has been established in memorial of Ricky. Sympathy notes may be left for the family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com. Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services of Wapello are caring for Ricky’s arrangements and his family.
Ricky Leroy Oberly was born on May 30, 1958 in Muscatine, Iowa the son of Andy and Bonnie (Beeding) Oberly. Ricky was a self-employed master electrician. He enjoyed motorcycles and automobiles.
Ricky will be deeply missed by his mother, Bonnie Oberly of Wapello; sons, Andy Oberly of Wapello and Lloyd Oberly of Burlington; brother Alvin Oberly of Wapello; niece, Shayla and nephew, Kyle.
Ricky was preceded in death by his father; two brothers, Rodney and Billie Dale Oberly and his grandparents.
A year of court maneuvers and legal complications began in January in the case of the two teens charged in the death of Fairfield High School Spanish teacher Nohema Graber. The prosecution and the lawyers for Willard Miller and Jeremey Goodale would spend all of 2022 going back and forth without a trial taking place for either teenager.
The morning of January 9, 2022 the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a house on fire on Cornell Drive outside of Mount Pleasant. But the investigation by the Sheriff’s Office and the Mount Pleasant Police Department determined James Ollom of Mount Pleasant, intentionally set fire to the inside of the residence after a family disturbance. He was charged with Arson in the First Degree and three counts of Attempted Murder.
Numerous area fire departments were called out the evening of January 23 to a fire on Merrimac Road. The Wayland Fire Department arrived first on scene to find two structures owned by Eichelberger Farms fully engulfed. The buildings along with sows and pigs were lost. Wayland Fire Chief Matt Leichty did not know yet this morning what started the fire. He did say no one was injured fighting the blaze.
On the afternoon of January 28 HCHC CEO Robb Gardner announced in a letter to hospital staff, EMS and volunteers that he would be resigning his position as CEO effective June 30. Matt Wenzel, President and CEO of Great River selected Teresa Colgan, chief clinical officer at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center, to become the next HCHC CEO and also serve as Great River Health’s regional clinical integration officer. At the time Gardner said he would be taking time to consider his next career move. By the end of 2022 he and his wife had moved to the Des Moines area after it was announced in September that Gardner had been hired by the Iowa Hospital Association as Chief of Staff.
February 16 the Mount Pleasant School District Music Program saw the power of community during a fundraising event on KILJ Radio. $52,157 was raised in just three hours thanks to support from individuals, families, organizations and businesses. The goal was $30,000 for new uniforms and formal wear. The radio a thon overshot that goal so the Music Boosters could then purchase a much needed trailer for the program and have additional funds for the support of music k thru 12.
Iowa Wesleyan University was once again recognized for academic excellence by U.S. News & World Report for 2022 Best Online Programs. The national ranking placed Iowa Wesleyan in the top 210 for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs, third in Iowa. In addition, Iowa Wesleyan was ranked highest in Iowa for Best Online Bachelor’s Program in Business. This recognition came shortly before the annual Founders Day celebration on February 17, 2022, Iowa Wesleyan University commemorated 180 years since its founding. The local university hosted a Presidential Roundtable Session featuring two previous presidents, William N. Johnston, Ed.D., and Steven E. Titus, J.D., Ph.D., their spouses, and current president, Christine Plunkett M.B.A., along with her husband, John Watson.
On February 28, at 5:07pm Des Moines County Sheriff’s deputies along with the Mediapolis Fire Department responded to an address in rural Mediapolis after receiving a 911 call from a man asking for help. Sheriff deputies and fire personnel arrived and found a man who had fallen through the ice while fishing. After pulling this subject to safety it was learned that a second man had also fallen through the ice and was still under the water. Mediapolis Fire Department utilized their training and equipment to begin searching for this second subject. At 6:35pm the second subject was pulled from the water. The two were identified as brothers, Patrick and Michael Vaughn from Davenport Iowa Patrick Vaughn was pronounced deceased at Southeast Iowa Medical Center upon arrival.
March 9 the Midwest Old Threshers Association hosted the Chamber’s Alive After 5 event in order to announce that Leroy Van Dyke with Jimmy Fortune and the Malpass Brothers, The Bellamy Brothers, Maddie & Tae and Russell Dickerson would be the 2022 Reunion entertainment on the KILJ stage.
The Mount Pleasant School Board met in special session Monday night and approved several personnel items including hiring a new Middle School principal. Mark Adams would replace Nathan Lange, who’s resignation was effective at the end of the school year. Adams came to Mount Pleasant from his position with the Van Buren County Community School District as the 7 thru 12 principal. The board also voted to hire Mount Pleasant High School graduate Brandon Ridinger as the new Director of Technology.
At the end of the quarter the Henry Supervisors passed the first reading of an amendment to the County’s Voting Precinct Ordinance. All of Henry County was previously in the same House and Senate Districts but the map approved by legislation due the 2020 census resulted in splitting up the county. Salem Township, Tippecanoe Township and Center Township including the cities within them are in State House District 87 and Senate District 44. Jackson Township, Baltimore Township, New London Township Trenton township, Marion Township, Canaan Township, Scott Township, Wayne Township, Jefferson Township including the cities within them are in State House District 95 and Senate District 48. Due to these changes many of Henry County residents would see their polling places change as well.
On December 27, 2022 at approximately 9:40 AM, the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office responded to the east bound lanes of US Highway 34 west of Danville Rd near mile marker 253 in reference to a single motor vehicle fatality accident. An initial investigation at the scene determined the vehicle had been driven off the roadway and struck two culverts before coming to rest in the south ditch of US Highway 34. The driver of the vehicle, 42-year-old Stephen Dockendorff, was located in the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. This accident is still under investigation by the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office.
The Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by West Burlington Police, Danville Fire and Rescue, and the Burlington Fire Department.
Henry County Jail
In the interest of keeping Henry County residents informed, the Henry County Sheriff’s office has requested KILJ post the daily jail count. During the jail referendum campaign it was publicized that the jail would be able to house additional inmates from surrounding counties and this would generate revenue for Henry County.
Date: 12-27-2022______
22_ Henry County Inmates
37 Out of County Contract Inmates
59 TOTAL
Donna Belle Colton, 93, of Mount Pleasant, formerly of New London, died Friday, December 23, 2022 at Addington Place, Mount Pleasant. She was born May 7, 1929 in Seaton, Illinois the daughter of Emmet and Grace Dalrymple Johnson. She graduated from Burlington High School in 1947. On September 16, 1951, Donna was united in marriage to Lyal Colton in Burlington; he died April 20, 2004. She was employed by Northwestern Bell Telephone Company, Burlington; Farmers State Bank and New London State Bank, New London; and retired in 1988 from Iowa Industries, Champion Spark Plug after 31 years.
She was a member and past Elder of New London Presbyterian Church. She had been active with Dover Museum of New London; was a past volunteer at Henry County Health Center; and was a member of the Moose Lodge, Eagles Auxiliary, and Champions on the Go Local 1237. Donna loved time with her family, grandchildren, and friends, and enjoyed playing cards and dancing.
Survivors include her daughter Jelen (Jon) McCall of Mount Pleasant and son Galen (Alison) Colton of Centennial, Colorado; grandchildren, Corbin (Shelbi) Remick, Crawfordsville, Dana (Marcus) Loyd, Columbus Junction, Gable Colton, Centennial, Colorado and Ryan (Lori) McCall, Austin, Texas; great-grandchildren, Nolan, Layne and Hayden Remick; Oliver and Oaklyn Loyd; and Mikel McCall. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; sisters Pauline Brock and Irene Bradford; and brother George Johnson.
The funeral service for Mrs. Colton will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, December 31, 2022, at Elliott Chapel, New London with Pastor Linda Smith and Rev. Maury Campbell officiating. Burial will follow at Burge Cemetery, rural New London with a luncheon immediately following at the New London Presbyterian Church, 400 N. Elm Street. The family will receive friends beginning at 9:30 until the time of the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for New London Presbyterian Church; Dover Museum; and EveryStep Hospice. Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.
