Wendell Dean Linder, 84, of West Burlington, Iowa, died Friday, February 21, 2025 at Arbor Court, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. He was born August 2, 1940 in Mt. Pleasant to Donald LeRoy and Marjorie Louise Woline Linder.

He graduated from New London high school and shortly after spent 2 years in the Army reserves. He was a member of the West Burlington Christian Church and a proud, longtime member of the Lion’s Club.

Wendell married Dorothy Ann Hoel on August 15, 1963. He was a Vice President for 34 years at the West Burlington Bank. He loved all animals especially his dogs; loved to travel and was an avid fan of Iowa Hawkeyes basketball.

Survivors include his son Ryan (Wendy) Linder of Tempe, Arizona; granddaughter Annika Linder of North Liberty; step grandchildren Taylor Smith and Troy Finney; sister-in-law Brigitte Linder; brother-in-law Bill (Linda) Hoel; nieces Julie Yoder Messer, Kathy Yoder Ringer, and Bonnie Linder; nephews Chris and Mitch Hoel, and Scott and Charles Price; as well as a host of very good friends and neighbors.

He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; sons Matthew and Ross; sister Donna (Bob) Yoder; brother Jerry Linder; sister-in-law Doris Hoel Price; niece Kristina Price; and nephew Brett Hoel.

Visitation will begin at noon Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at Elliott Chapel, New London, with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Graveside services will be at 1:00 P.M. on Thursday, February 27 at Burge Cemetery, rural New London, with Pastor David Behlman officiating.

In lieu of flowers, a Go Fund Me account has been established for Animal Lifeline of Iowa or Animal Rescue League of Iowa; both no kill shelters.

Elliott Chapel, New London, is assisting the family with arrangements and online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.

Karen Rosalee Oester Chapman, R.N. ended her trip down the slippery slope of dementia on Friday February 21 at Henry County Health Center. She was 85. Karen was born on the “real” Memorial Day (May 30) in 1939 in Elk Lick Township, Pennsylvania. The Township is in southern Somerset County and also is the home of Mount Davis, the highest point in Pennsylvania, named for her maternal Great-Grandfather, Civil War Veteran John Nelson Davis.

            A 1957 graduate of Somerset High School, she graduated from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in 1960. Early the following year Karen wed George Chapman, who she had met while a nursing student and he was serving in the United States Army.Three children followed in rapid succession, cutting her nursing career short and making her a full-time stay-at-home mom.

The couple spent the first 15 years of married life in the big city suburbs of New York and Chicago. They then completely changed the family’s life-style and moved to the remote mountain town of Silverton, Colorado where they owned and operated a weekly newspaper for the next fifteen years.

The next fifteen-year slot was filled with the operation of a bed and breakfast in Murray, Kentucky. Following that they returned to Silverton for six years and moved to Mount Pleasant in 2010 to be closer to family.

Karen is survived by her husband, George, sons Grant (Dianna) of Jefferson City, Missouri, Tod, and daughter Jill, both of Mount Pleasant; three grandchildren, Dawn Yearington (Jake) of Westline, Missouri, Geordan Chapman of Itasca, Illinois and Emma (Tyler) Davis of Verona, Wisconsin; and three great grandchildren.

Although she only spent a short time pursuing her chosen career of nursing, Karen spent a lifetime of kind and considerate care of others. She volunteered every time she was asked, and often before she was asked. Among the range of tasks Karen undertook were, Cub Scout Den Mother, teaching ESL to migrant farm workers in Kentucky, Home Hospice visitor, Meals on Wheels delivery, ambulance driver (on wintery Colorado roads), and more. In 2000 she was singled out by the Four Rivers Behavioral Health organization (in Kentucky) for six years of dedicated service to that organization.

Church was important for Karen and she not only served on many boards and committees at the churches she attended in various locations. She sang in the choir at most and played piano for services as needed. She served at least two terms as Moderator of the First Congregational Church in Silverton.

Care and cremation are being handled by Kimzey Funeral Home. No local services are planned. Interment will be at a later date in Hillside Cemetery, Silverton, Colorado.

For those interested in making a charitable donation in Karen’s name, please consider the Alzheimer’s Association.

Shana McKuen, 55, of Mt. Pleasant, died Sunday, February 23, 2025 at
Aspire of Washington, Washington, Iowa.  Arrangements are pending at
Elliott Chapel, New London.

Wendell Dean Linder, 84, of West Burlington, Iowa, died Friday, February 21, 2025, at Arbor Court, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.

Visitation will begin at 12 P.M. on Wednesday, February 26, at Elliott Chapel with the family present from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Graveside services will be at 1:00 P.M. on Thursday, February 27 at Burge Cemetery, rural New London, with Pastor David Behlman officiating.

A Go Fund Me account has been established for Animal Lifeline of Iowa and Animal Rescue League of Iowa, both no kill shelters.
Elliott Chapel, New London, is assisting the family with arrangements and online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.

Diana “Dee” Ruth Johnson, 78, of Danville, died Thursday, February 20, 2025 at Medical Center Downtown, Iowa City. She was born January 13, 1947 in Kansas City, Mo. to Harold Bamford and Virginia Ruth Snelson, and raised by her mother and adoptive father Charles McCabe.

She attended grade school in Kansas City and high school in Danville, where she graduated in 1967. She attended Lincoln Christian College in Lincoln, Illinois for 1 year. On July 26, 1968, she married Wayne Johnson in Middletown, Iowa; then later that same day in Henry County!

Dee worked at F&M Bank, Kirlin’s, Hobby Lobby, the Christian Bookstore, the Kum & Go in Middletown, housekeeping at the post office in Danville and cleaned the West Burlington Christian Church and sold Avon. She attended West Burlington Christian Church, and later became a member of the New London Christian Church, she was in several BSF Bible Study groups between New London, Mt. Pleasant and Iowa City

She was a member of the Danville Lion’s Club, The Moose in Burlington, and the Red Hat Society and volunteered at Old Threshers main ground and campground for over 50 years. She and Wayne enjoyed many camping trips over the years. She was a collector of Angels, Precious Moments, teapots, and anything Disney. She loved to crochet and was an avid reader of Christian novels and devotionals. She loved snow and everything Christmas. We learned very early Christmas presents were never opened until the Christmas Story from Luke was read.

Dee was always encouraging and loved to hug everyone. She attended all of her children’s events as a chaperone or spectator. She was a devoted wife, mom, gram Dee and known as “even better gram Dee” to her great grandkids. She saved and made copies of EVERYTHING she liked on Facebook so she could share with her friends.

Survivors include her husband; sons Michael Johnson of Austin, Texas; Joshua (Brandi) Johnson of Burlington; daughters Michelle (Troy) Warth of St. James, Missouri; Johanna Hand of Clarksville, Tennessee. 19 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and birth father.

Visitation will start at 12 P.M. on Friday, February 28 at Elliott Chapel with the family present from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Funeral services will be at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, March 1 at the New London Christian Church with Pastors Rod and Nathan Cooper officiating. Interment will be held at Prairie Grove Cemetery, rural West Burlington.

Memorials have been established for Be There Ministries, the New London Christian Church, and Shiloh Children’s Camp.

Elliott Chapel, New London, is assisting the family with arrangements and online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.