Beverly Jean Lamansky

By Yorke Prough · Thursday, May 23rd, 2024 at 6:04 am CDT

Beverly Jean (Dory) Lamansky of Fairfield, passed away at the age of 91, May 21, 2024.

Friends may call after 2:00 p.m. Friday, May 24, 2024 with the family present from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield. Funeral service and Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in East Pleasant Plain, Iowa. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Fairfield Community School District and directed to the family at 2946-122nd Blvd. Brighton, IA 52540.

Beverly was born in Cumberland, Iowa November 21, 1932, to Clark and Valera Dory.

Beverly graduated from Cumberland High School, Ottumwa Heights College, and Iowa

Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, Iowa and had over 25 hours of post graduate coursework.

She taught elementary school in Anita, Pleasant Plain, Brighton, Washington, and Fairfield.

Beverly was honored as Reading Teacher of the Year in 1988 and Teacher of the Year in 1996

in Fairfield.

Beverly was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. For many years after retiring from her career in education, Beverly and her husband of almost 66 years, Harry Roy Lamansky, enjoyed traveling and camping frequently with Beverly’s older sister, Marilyn and Marilyn’s husband, Richard, often going to Texas for weeks at a time and often to Branson, Missouri. Beverly especially loved spending time with and attending the school events of her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was always willing to babysit and help out in any way she could. She also enjoyed reading and attending sporting events.

Beverly belonged to several organizations over the years including the 95 Club, American

Association of University Women, Delta Kappa Gamma, Jefferson County Retired School

Personnel, Fairfield Women’s Club (Garden Department), Jefferson County Hospital Auxiliary,

Jefferson County Reading Association, and the Flexibles. She was also a member of St.

Mary Catholic Church in Fairfield.

Beverly was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Roy Lamansky, of Fairfield, Iowa; her mother, Valera Mae Edwards Dory of Cumberland, Iowa; her stepmother, Anna (Paasch) Dory and father, Clark Dory of Atlantic, Iowa; her daughter, RoAnne Larson of Fairfield, Iowa; her

Sisters, Nancy Copher of Joplin, Missouri, Margaret Hardy of Red Oak, Iowa, Marilyn Bernhardt

of Kansas City, Missouri; her only brother, Clark Dory of Perry, Iowa; and her aunt, Evelyn

Edwards Hemphill of Cumberland, Iowa.

Beverly is survived by her sons, Joseph (Brenda) Lamansky of Brighton, Iowa, Daniel Lamansky of Brighton, Iowa, and Ronald (Christe) Lamansky of Pleasant Plain, Iowa; her daughters, Lieutenant Colonel U.S. Army (Ret.) Jane Nefores (Chief Warrant Officer 3, U.S. Army, Ret. David Nefores) of Baltimore, Maryland, Barbara (Daniel) Mottet of Brighton, Iowa, and Karen (Heath) Foreman of Batavia, Iowa. Beverly’s surviving sisters are Rosemary Schrier of Atlantic, Iowa, Shirley (Richard) Ruge of Bellevue, Nebraska, and Sandra (Donald) Schlotzhouer of Atlantic, Iowa.

Beverly is survived by her grandchildren, Chad (significant other, Micheala Warren) Lamansky of Richland, Iowa, Thomas (Jennifer) Lamansky of Eldon, Iowa, Alison Connelly of Richland, Iowa, Abby (John) Utech of Agency, Iowa, April (Sergeant Ross Donelson, U.S. Army National Guard, Ret.) Donelson of Wayland, Iowa, Father John Lamansky (priest at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church) Iowa City, Iowa, Andrew (Kathleen) Lamansky of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, James (Michel) Lamansky of Columbus, Ohio, Nathaniel (fiancée Natalia Rodriguez) Lamansky of Darby, Montana, Cady (Richard) McCarty of Richland, Iowa, Cara (Josh) Beck of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Cala (Jerred) Leonard of Fairfield, Iowa, Cody (Kimberly) McCoy of Ottumwa, Iowa, Dr. Carissa (Dr. Kylan) Sojka-DeVries, Ryan (Whitney) Larson of Marion, Iowa, Specialist Four Kyle Larson, U.S. Army National Guard of Fairfield, Iowa, Bethany Larson of Tempe, Arizona, Dorian (fiancé Austin Carlson) Larson of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Andrea (Technical Sergeant Michael Warren, U.S. Air Force) Warren of Fairfax, Virginia, Erik (Tori) Nefores of Millers, Maryland, Dana (William) Elam of Kirksville, Missouri, Curtis Mottet of Brighton, Iowa, and Jennifer (Scott) Krause of Birmingham, Iowa.

Beverly is survived by her great-grandchildren, Quinn, Kaelyn and Kinnick McCoy of Ottumwa, Iowa, Cody Mitchell, Levi, Hunter, Mitchell, and Rowan Connelly of Richland, Iowa, Brody, Liam and Myra Donelson of Wayland, Iowa, Bailey, Joseph, Isabelle and Tate Lamansky, of

Richland, Iowa and Joseph, Emma, Joshua, and Jacob Warren of Richland, Blake, Knox,

Aleigha and Brielle Lamansky of Eldon, Iowa, Sylvia Lamansky of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania,

Michael James Lamansky of Columbus, Ohio, Madilyn and Ellie McCarty of Richland, Iowa,

Lincoln Leonard of Fairfield, Iowa, Owen, June and Willem Beck of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Waverly and Wendelin Sojka-DeVries of Ashland, Oregon, Emma Larson of Fairfield, Iowa, Evie Larson of

Marion, Iowa, Liam and Bodhi Nefores of Millers, Maryland, Brogan, Avanley and Phaelan

Mottet of Fairfield, Iowa, Bria Elam of Kirksville, Missouri, Skye Krause of Ames, Iowa, and Rory

Krause of Birmingham, Iowa.

Jean Hepker

By Yorke Prough · Thursday, May 23rd, 2024 at 5:50 am CDT

Jean I. Hepker, age 74, of Mt. Pleasant, formerly of Marengo, passed away peacefully Monday, May 20, 2024, at Arbor Court Nursing Home in Mt. Pleasant. Funeral service: 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 24, 2024, at Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo with Roy Libby officiating. Burial will be at Dunkard Cemetery in Toddville, Iowa. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m., until service time at 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 24, 2024. In lieu of flowers memorials may be contributed to the American Diabetes Association for diabetic research.

Jean is survived by her daughter Tonya (Joe) Campbell-Golding, of TN; two grandchildren Melanie Campbell, of FL and Gabriel Whaley, of Mt. Pleasant; two sisters Ellen (Dave) Ewing, of NC and Janice (Jim) Hoylman, of Webster.

She is preceded in death by her parents Warren and Virginia; two sisters LaVonne Hinkle and Carol Jean Hepker, in infancy; and a brother Kenneth Hepker.

Jean Irene Hepker was born August 10, 1949, in Cedar Rapids, the daughter of Warren and Virginia Lee Hepker. She graduated from Iowa Valley High School in 1968. Jean was united in marriage to Donald Campbell and to this union Tonya was born. The couple later divorced.  She was a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Marengo until she moved to Iowa City.  Jean loved being an active member of the church, helping with mission projects and teaching Sunday school. Jean worked at Oral B and also provided childcare in her home for many years until she moved to Chatham Oaks in Iowa City. Jean enjoyed working on activity books, reading, doing word searches, and watching the Iowa Hawkeyes. She moved to Arbor Court Nursing Home in  Mt. Pleasant where she liked to contribute to the activities there and also attended Wellspring Evangelical Free Church.

Online condolences: www.klosterfuneralhome.com

Iowa Outdoors – Busy Memorial Day Weekend Ahead!

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024 at 3:19 pm CDT

Iowa state parks and forests are gearing up for a busy Memorial Day weekend, the traditional start of the outdoor summer recreation season.

“Park visitors are excited to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather after a long winter inside,” said Sherry Arntzen, chief of the DNR’s State Parks, Forests and Preserves Bureau. “Our parks offer a variety of activities for all enthusiasts from hiking the trails to picnicking, fishing and swimming. There’s something for everyone while enjoying the outdoors.”

Campers are urged to plan ahead when visiting Iowa state parks and forests for Memorial Day weekend. Most electrical and full hookup sites in busy parks are already reserved, so campers may want to consider non-electric sites or at “hidden gem” parks a little further away from home. Additionally, Iowa state parks and forests offer around 950 non-reservable sites available on a first-come, first-served basis, with most people choosing to stay Thursday through the weekend.

To find site availability and make a reservation, go to https://iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com/ For an up-to-date list of park and trail closures due to renovations or weather-related alerts, visit: http://www.iowadnr.gov/Places-to-Go/State-Parks/Alerts-and-Closures

Park visitors can help take care of the parks by cleaning up trash after themselves, and carrying out what they brought in. Please park vehicles in designated parking lots and not along roadways. If visiting beaches, be aware that most swimming areas do not have a lifeguard on duty, and pets must be kept off beaches and be on a leash.

“We hope that campers enjoy their time and make memories while staying in our parks and recreational areas, and do so safely and return again,” Arntzen said.

Tips

  • Keep track of the weather and have a plan in case of severe weather
  • Pack bug spray, sun screen and a basic first-aid kit
  • Check the registration kiosk for activities in the area
  • Don’t burn trash
  • Don’t bring fireworks
  • Be a good neighbor. Observe quiet hours and pick up after yourself

Here is the link to the full Iowa Outdoors: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/bulletins/39dd0ae

Flags at Half-Staff Tomorrow

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024 at 2:59 pm CDT

Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in Iowa to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in honor of Matthew Dickerson, an employee of the Iowa Department of Transportation who was killed on May 16 while working on I-80 near Council Bluffs.

 

“We honor the memory of Matthew Dickerson and his service to the state of Iowa as he is laid to rest this week,” said Gov. Kim Reynolds. “Kevin and I pray for his wife, daughters, parents, and extended family during this difficult time.

 

“This senseless tragedy never should have happened. I urge all drivers to be alert when approaching any work area at any time. The workers on our interstates and roadways deserve our full attention and respect. Please be vigilant and reduce your speed whenever you’re near work areas to keep everyone safe on Iowa’s roads.”

 

Flags will be at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex. Flags will also be half-staff on all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state.

 

Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties, and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flags at half-staff for the same length of time.

New Agricultural Science Center Coming to WACO Thanks to Eichelberger Farms

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024 at 2:21 pm CDT

Eichelberger Farms has announced plans to construct an Agricultural Science Center for the WACO Ag program and FFA Chapter. The new facility will feature two classrooms, two locker rooms, a kitchen, specialized rooms for rabbits, poultry, and swine, pens for other large animals, as well as a greenhouse. There will also be a conference room to facilitate meetings with community partners who provide valuable real-world experience to the students. This would include guest speakers, land lab partners, and volunteers to train FFA contest teams.

The goal and vision of the facility is to create realistic workprelated opportunities for students that are not present in a typical school setting. The new ag center will allow the program to continue its education of agriculturally related topics with industry standard lab spaces and experiences.

Plans are to start construction in the fall of 2024 or spring of 2025, and the building will be located on the current High School campus in Wayland.

Janice Crabill – Pending

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024 at 2:11 pm CDT

Janice E. Crabill, 87, of Scottsdale, Arizona and formerly of Mt. Union, New London and Mount Pleasant, died Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at the Eckstein Center, Scottsdale.  Arrangements are pending at Elliott Chapel, New London.

Martha Pratt

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024 at 2:05 pm CDT

Martha L. Pratt, 79, of Salem passed away on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at her home in Salem.  

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at the Murphy Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant, with Pastor Gary VanNyhuis officiating.  Burial will follow in the Salem East Cemetery. Friends may call after 2 p.m. on Friday at the Murphy Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. that evening.  A memorial has been established in her memory.

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

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

Forklift Accident Leaves Victim Dead

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024 at 1:32 pm CDT

On May 21, 2024 at approximately 1:46 p.m. Burlington Police Officers responded to assist the Burlington Fire Department with a reported forklift accident at Industrial Service Corporation, 1731 N Roosevelt Ave. Upon arrival, the victim was located and initially transported to Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center via ambulance. The victim was later transported to the University of Iowa Hospital. The victim, Sam K. DeJanes, age 64, later succumbed to his injuries. The facts and circumstances surrounding this incident remain under investigation by the Burlington Police Department.