Washington County 7th-8th grade 4-H students are invited to attend Region 19’s 4-H Trip to St. Louis, Missouri April 4th-5th. 4-H students will visit the St. Louis Aquarium, Grant’s Farm, have lunch at Union Station, take a tram ride to the top of the St. Louis Arch and an overnight stay will be spent at the Challenger Learning Center participating in the Space Mission Program and Rocket Program.
Space is limited and registrations will be accepted online first come, first serve.
The final registration cost is $270 due to Washington County Extension. For more information about Region 19 7th-8th grade trip or Washington County 4-H program, contact the Washington County Extension Office at 319-653-4811.
Follow “Washington County 4-H – Iowa” on Facebook.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has recently received funds for disadvantaged schools to plant trees.
The IRA Trees for Schools Grant provides reimbursable grants to eligible public and private schools and school districts to purchase trees, mulch and supplemental watering when school is not in session (June – September). Eligibility is determined by 25 percent or higher free and reduced lunches and/or schools in communities eligible through the Forest Cover and Socioeconomic Assessment Tool.
A total of $105,000 in funds are available to help increase and diversify tree canopy on school grounds, encourage students to take an active part in planting trees, and increase the benefits trees provide to students. Grant funding up to $5,000 per project is competitive and non-match.
Marian Louise Luedtke, 77, a resident of Grimes, Iowa, formerly of Fairfield,
passed away Saturday, January 4, 2025 at her sister’s home in Iowa City, surrounded by family.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Burial will be in Evergreen
Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Carnegie Museum, McElhinny House
Foundation, or First Lutheran Church and mailed to the family at 809 SW
Timberview Dr., Grimes, Iowa 50111. Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield is assisting
the family.
Louise was born February 23, 1947 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, the daughter of
John and Marian (Powers) Kellogg. The family moved to Matteson, Illinois where
Louise was raised. While attending Iowa State University, she met Gene Luedtke.
They were married July 26, 1969 in Park Forest, Illinois. They celebrated 50 years
of marriage prior to his death August 18, 2019.
Louise worked for many years as the secretary for First Lutheran Church and then at First Christian Church. Louise was a member of PEO, Fairfield Women’s Club, Wit and Wisdom Club in Fairfield, Iowa State Alumni Association, and the Grimes Golden Group.
Louise enjoyed attending her grandchildren’s sporting events and
performances, sewing, quilting, gardening, and watching Iowa State athletics.
Those left to honor her memory include her children, Nathan (Julia)
Luedtke of Waynesboro, Virginia and Meghan (Brandon) Jones of Grimes, Iowa;
five grandchildren, Nicholas Luedtke, Avery Luedtke, Holly Luedtke, Molli Jones
and Maddyn Jones; sisters, Martha (Eddy) Waldschmidt of Iowa City and Mary
(Eivind) Nilsen of Lake Stevens, Washington; brothers, John (Diane) Kellogg of
Essex Junction, Vermont, Craig (Ginia) Kellogg of Wenatchee, Washington, and Bob (Laura) Kellogg of Flower Mound, Texas; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents.
Online condolences may be made to Louise’s family by viewing her obituary
Dennis Don Wilkins, 84, of West Point, Iowa, passed away at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at the Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in West Burlington, Iowa.
He was born on December 11, 1940, in Fort Madison, Iowa, the son of Don D. and Dorothy M. (Slee) Wilkins. On September 26, 1964, he married Kathleen Rider at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Farmington, Iowa.
He is survived by his wife: Kathy; children: Tom (Donna) Wilkins of Pleasantville, Iowa, Jani (Greg) Wickett of Humboldt, Iowa, Deb (Kevin) Nimke of Eldridge, Iowa; grandchildren: Brant Wilkins, Aaron Wilkins, Mason (Taylor) Wickett, Ryder Wickett, Grant Nimke and Derek Nimke. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; mother and father-in-law: Ed and Garnett Rider; brothers: Craig and Gene; sister-in-law: Pat and granddaughters: Grace Nimke and Sydney Nimke.
Dennis was 1959 graduate of Donnellson High School. He worked as a surveyor for Lee County Secondary Roads and Santa Fe Railroad. After retiring, he helped Kathy as a custodian at Marquette/Holy Trinity Catholic School. He enjoyed being around the kids so much that he made it a permanent position. Dennis thoroughly loved music and always had a radio on wherever he was. He particularly enjoyed country music and anything sung by Elvis Presley. Dennis was very creative and would often pen a rhyme to add in family and friends birthday cards. Halloween was his favorite holiday and he would often dress up to scare the neighborhood kids during treat or treat night. He thoroughly enjoyed carving pumpkins and giving them away. Dennis was an avid sports fan and watched just about any sporting event on television. He especially loved the Iowa Hawkeyes and St. Louis Cardinals. Dennis loved his dog, Zoie, as she was his best friend. Above all else, Dennis loved following his children’s and grandchildren’s activities. He was their biggest fan.
His body has been entrusted to the crematory of Schmitz Funeral Home for cremation.
A visitation will be held from 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m. Friday, January 10, 2025, at Schmitz Funeral Home in West Point, where the family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. that evening.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 11, 2025, at Schmitz Funeral Home in West Point with Father Dan Dorau officiating.
Burial will be at Evangelical Cemetery in Donnellson at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established in his memory for Holy Trinity Catholic School or West Point Fire and Rescue.Schmitz Funeral Home of West Point is assisting the family with arrangements. On-line condolences to the family may be left at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com
The Mount Pleasant City Council will meet in Regular Session on Wednesday, January 8, 2025,
at City Hall, 307 E. Monroe Street, second-floor meeting room at 5:30 p.m.
AGENDA
1. Roll Call.
2. Consent Agenda: To the Public -All items with an asterisk(*) are routine
by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion and a roll call of the Council members.
There will be no separate discussion of items unless the Mayor, a Council member
or citizen so request, in which event the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and
will be considered in its normal sequence on the Agenda.
3. Receive & file communications.
4. Approve agenda.
* 5. Approve minutes of previous meetings.
*6. Approve payment of bills.
*7. Receive report of Officers including Resolution No. 2025-01 approving December 2024
transfers.
8. Old Business-
a) Approve the renewal of a Class E Retail Alcohol License for Wal-Mart Inc #784
located at 1045 N Grand Avenue.
b) Approve the renewal of a Class C Retail Alcohol License, Special Class A Beer
Permit, Outdoor Service and Catering for The Grange Public House and
Brewery LLC at 129 S Jefferson Street.
9. New Business
a)Approve new vehicle for Public Works Department.
b)Approve the appointment of Drew Schumacher, Director of Public Works to TEA
-21 (Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century).
c) Resolution approving Task Order No. 4 with McClure Engineering for the
Excluded Area Taxi lane Project related to the Airport Taxi lane Hangar Project.
D) resolution improving task order number five with McClure engineering for box hanger rehabilitation project,
E) approve change order number one for the hanger roof rehabilitation project
F) resolution approving supplemental task order related to task order number two for the hanger roof rehabilitation project, G) approve demolition bid for 207 South. Marion,
H) approve new cigarette permit for Iowa wine and spirits at 109 South Jefferson St.
10. public forum,
11. adjourn to meeting in regular session on Wednesday, January 22 of February at 5:30pm
Melvin Leo “Shorty” Moeller, 84, of West Point, Iowa passed away Saturday evening, January 4, 2025. Shorty was born May 2, 1940 to Joseph and Cecilia (Geers) Moeller of Pilot Grove, Iowa. On September 8, 1962, he married Maureen Christina Steffensmeier. He was a 1958 graduate of St. James High School, St. Paul. He served in the National Guard. He was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, West Point, and of the Knights of Columbus. He served on the West Point Utility Board, the Sweet Corn Festival Committee, and St. Mary’s Parish Council, as well as volunteering for numerous charities. Shorty was a farmer, and he worked hard, always making sure the farm was taken care of. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, and later in life, he enjoyed playing golf with his friends at Green Acres. He shared his love of stories for the outdoors with everyone he knew, and he did not know a stranger. Shorty was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who loved spending time with his family. Through the years, he was his children and grandchildren’s biggest fan in all their activities. He will be greatly missed by all who know him.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Maureen Moeller; his children: Dean (Judy) Moeller, Amy Mueller (Brad Vandenberg), and Ann (Bernie) Abolt; grandchildren: Megan (Wes) McGraw, Mitch (Sarah Grace) Moeller, Stephanie (Kurt) Winnike, Abby (Justin) Mehmert, and Austin (Amanda) Abolt; step grandchildren, Tara (Gavin) Sides and Jason (Jaime) Mueller; sixteen great grandchildren; siblings: Kenny (Jean) Moeller, Mary Moeller, Jeanice (Mark) Schwartz, Coleen (Gene) Dingman, and Joyce (Bruce) Maupin; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, son-in-law Dan Mueller, granddaughter Amanda Lynn Moeller, and brother Eugene “Mick” Moeller.
His family will greet friends from 9:00 – 11:00 am Friday, January 10, 2025 at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, West Point, Iowa. A Memorial Mass will begin at 11:00 am Friday, January 10, 2025 at the church, with Reverend Dan Dorau as Celebrant. Shorty donated his body to the University of Iowa Deeded Body Program. Following their studies, his body will be cremated and a private family Catholic Committal Service and burial will be held at Calvary Cemetery, West Point. A memorial has been established for Lee County Hospice or Holy Trinity Catholic Schools. Barr Memorial Chapel is honored to serve the Moeller family, and an online guest book may be found at www.barrmemorialchapel.com.http://www.barrmemorialchapel.com
