Robert Starman

Robert L. Starman, 86, of Mt. Pleasant passed away on Friday, December 1, 2023, at the Veterans Hospital in Iowa City.

Graveside Services will be held on Friday, December 8, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Chapel of Forest Home Cemetery in Mt. Pleasant. Burial will be in the Forest Home Cemetery.  Bob’s family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday at the Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant.  Memorials may be directed to Shriners Hospital for Children in his memory.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.murphyfuneralandmonuments.com

Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant, is caring for his arrangements.

Mary Bain

Mary Jo Bain, 77 of Davenport, IA, died Thursday, November 30, 2023, at her home.

A private family graveside will be at the Wayland Cemetery in Wayland Iowa. In lieu of flowers the family would like memorials to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation or the Wayland Cemetery. The Beatty-Peterseim Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.

Mary Jo was born June 10, 1946, in Washington, Iowa, the daughter of Ralph G. and Frances Elizabeth (Stalder) Bain. She graduated from WACO in 1964, Moline Public Hospital School of Nursing, University of Illinois and received her master’s in nursing from the University of Iowa.

She was employed for many years with the Moline Public Hospital and later with the Visiting Nurses at Genesis in Davenport. She lived most of her life in Silvis, IL, retiring in 2006 and moved to Davenport in 2021.  She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, knitting, playing cards, sharing her crafts with family, attending her family’s sporting events, was an avid Hawkeye fan and was patriotic.

Survivors include brothers, Donald Bain of Wayland, Thomas Bain of Wayland, and Gary (Loree) Bain of Sigourney, IA; sisters, Barbara (Allan) Smith of Davenport, Kathryn (Mike) Furlong of Davenport, IA, Linda Bredberg of Davenport, Nancy Bain of Santa Ana, CA, Marlene (Greg) Pelster of Crawfordsville, and Lora Bain of Wayland, IA.; many nieces, nephews and long-time work friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Russell.

Washington Teen Arrested on Sexual Abuse Charges

Devon Knerr of Washington was arrested on Wednesday by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. The 19 year old was charged with sexual abuse in the third degree. Knerr assaulted a minor earlier this year and the case was reviewed by the Washington County Attorney’s office. Knerr is now being held on a $10,000 cash only bond in the Washington County Jail.

Mt. Pleasant Woman Involved in Rollover Denied Aircare Due to Weather

There was a motor vehicle accident in Washington County on Sunday afternoon. A rollover occurred on Highway 92 between Quince and Redwood at approximately 3:38pm on December 3rd. Allyson Cotrell, 32, of Mt. Pleasant, was driving a minivan when she lost control of the vehicle and it rolled, eventually being considered totaled.

Cotrell was extricated from the vehicle via mechanical means and transported to the University of Iowa Hospital. Aircare was unable to fly due to the inclement weather conditions.

Big Changes for Southeast Iowa Union for 2024

The Southeast Iowa Union is expecting big changes as 2023 gives way to the new year. According to a letter sent to their subscribers, beginning January 2nd, 2024, the Southeast Iowa Union will begin releasing a paper twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday, rather than a new edition every week day.

Economic pressures are the listed reason for this change, as they believe it is “unsustainable” to continue printing five days a week.

Other changes that come with this impact the way readers find information. Obituaries will now be published online as they are received. They will still be in the physical paper on Tuesday and Thursday. Sports stories will be posted after the contest, and a full version will follow in the print edition. Dear Abby and daily comics will be phased out, but the puzzles will continue in the newspaper.

New rates will appear on the next renewal notice.

Monday Morning Mobile Home Fire in Burlington

At 1:50 AM on December 4th , 2023, the Burlington Fire Department and West Burlington Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire located at 11912 DMC HWY 99 Lot 103 in rural Burlington. Burlington firefighters arrived at 2:01 AM to find flames showing from a mobile home trailer.

The uninsured mobile home is owned by Roger Steffenmier who was not at home during the incident. Three roommates that were awake at the time of the fire were able to make it out safely. Firefighters were able to revive the family cat. There were no working smoke alarms present and the structure is considered a total loss.

The cause of the fire was due to improperly discarded smoking material, and it has been determined to be accidental.

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries reported, and firefighters cleared the scene at 3:51 AM. Eleven initial firefighters arrived and were assisted by Danville Fire Dept., Gladstone Fire Dept., REC Electric, Alliant Gas, and Des Moines County Sheriffs Dept.

Marc Moeller

Marc Charles Moeller, age 69, of Mt. Pleasant, IA passed away on Nov. 30 in Mt. Pleasant.

Marc was born on January 4, 1954 in Denison, Iowa, the son of George Arnold and Elvera Marie (Schultz) Moeller, both of whom were born in Iowa. He was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Schleswig, Iowa and later confirmed there on April 7, 1968. Marc graduated from Schleswig Community High School in 1972, and from the University of Iowa in 1976. He admitted he was drawn to the University of Iowa because he played football for the Schleswig Hawks and their school colors were black and gold.

 

Marc grew up on a farm northwest of Schleswig, and liked being outdoors. He enjoyed hunting and fishing at a local pond and at Spirit Lake. He was proud of being in 4-H, showing club calves and pigs at the Crawford County Fair in Denison, Iowa. Along with his brother, they broke and rode sorrel ponies for a neighbor. Dad was not happy with this venture. Later, Marc and his siblings became attached to and rode a full-size Buckskin horse named “Buck” which was used for cattle chores. During their high school years, they fed out a pen of five head of Hereford cattle for the Schleswig Calf Show Days held in September of each year. The family also raised hogs and fed them out; and they purchased feeder calves in the fall and fed them out as well. He picked up several key German phrases during his childhood years. Both of his parents spoke German, using it when they did not want their children to understand the conversation.

 

Marc was united in marriage to Sharon Mae (Shari) Thompson on June 26, 1982 at St. John Lutheran Church in Newhall, Iowa.

 

He followed and watched Hawkeye football and basketball games. He loved to work in the steel building on their small hobby farm southwest of Mt. Pleasant. He liked playing Euchre and other games. He listened to music from the fifties to the seventies, classic rock, and many other groups. He also took pleasure in attending the various sporting events and activities of their three children including cross country, track, volleyball, soccer, and band. He enjoyed humorous stories told by others as well.

 

He was employed in various banking positions as an agricultural lender in several southeastern Iowa communities including Keystone, Newhall, and Washington. He and his family moved to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa in 2000. Marc concluded his career by working at Pilot Grove Savings Bank at both the Mt. Pleasant office and the Pilot Grove, Iowa office for the past 19 years and retired from there on December 31, 2018. He missed talking and working with fellow employees in addition to the personal contacts with his customers and friends at the bank.

 

Locally, Marc was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Mt. Pleasant, and served there as president and elder. He loved watching their grandsons and he called them the “Moeller boys” since he grew up with two older brothers. He had regard for following and discussing politics, and also appreciated the conservative point of view. He encouraged his own children to be grateful for everything.

Marc was preceded in death by his parents and three older siblings, Larry (1944 – 1951), Connie (1947 in infancy) of Schleswig and Dennis Moeller (1948 – 2020) of Petersburg, Nebraska.

 

Survivors include his wife Shari; daughter Jill of Lander, Wyoming; son Tyler and his wife Josie and their three sons Leo, Hugo, and Otto (true joys) of Mt. Pleasant; and daughter Lisa Bycroft and her husband Colby of Ankeny; one older brother Louis Moeller of Atkins, Iowa; one younger sister Carla Schmidt and her husband Bob of Pierre, South Dakota. In addition, he is survived by many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews, great friends and good helpful neighbors.

 

Honorary pallbearers are: Peter Moeller, Allison Williams, John Moeller, Annie Kvamme, Chris Thompson and Tim Thompson.

 

According to his wishes, cremation has been entrusted to the care of Olson-Powell Chapel & Crematory of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.

 

Visitation will be at Faith Lutheran Church on Friday, Dec. 8th from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at 910 E Mapleleaf Dr, Mt. Pleasant, IA. The funeral service will take place at 10:30 on Saturday, Dec. 9th at Faith Lutheran. His inurnment will be at St. John Lutheran Cemetery, Newhall, Iowa.

 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorial contributions may be made to Faith Lutheran Church for Son Shine Academy.

 

A special thank you to EveryStep Hospice. The family is grateful to them for helping achieve the goal to keep Marc at home. Memorials may also be directed to them at 118 N. Main Street, Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641-2052.

 

www.powellfuneralhomes.com

Paul Moeller – Pending

Paul William Moeller, 74, of Salem, Iowa, passed away at 8:00 a.m. Thursday, November 30, 2023, at his home in Salem. Schmitz Funeral Home in West Point is assisting the family with arrangements.