Cecilia Kruse

By Yorke Prough · Monday, September 18th, 2023 at 2:13 pm CDT

Cecilia Elizabeth Kruse, 100, of Donnellson, Iowa passed away on Saturday, September 16, 2023.

Ceil was born on October 29, 1922, to Anna and George Mehmert of West Point, Iowa. She was a lifelong member of St. Mary of the Assumption Church in West Point, IA and there married Herman Kruse on November 9, 1944. Ceil was preceded in death by her parents; brothers: Joe and Barney; sisters: Martha, Marietta, Ruth, and Gertie. She was preceded in death by her husband on September 7, 2006. Her sister Rosie Ping of West Point, IA survives. Ceil lived independently on the farm until June 2023.

Her family meant the world to Ceil and she is survived by son: Dan Kruse of Argyle, IA; Jeanne Foecke (Jim) of Pilot Grove, IA; Connie Kruse of Dayton, TN; Kitty Kruse-Winnike of Riverside, IA; Sue Kruse (Jeff Fullenkamp) of Johnston, IA; and Jan Foecke (Joe) of Kansas City, MO. Grandchildren:  Jodi Burch (Craig) of Ft. Madison, IA; Tom Kruse (Sarah) of West Point, IA; Brian Foecke (Kathleen) of West Point IA; Jamie Foster of Washington, IA; Ben Foecke (Sue) of Des Moines, IA; April VanHamme (Justin) of West Point, IA; Kelsey Winnike (Gabe Starbeck-Miller) of San Diego, CA; Mason Kruse-Hoyer (Pooja Narayan) of Hanover, MD; Alison Cox (Aaron) of West Des Moines, IA; Bill Ayakatubby (Josh) of Kansas City, MO; Beth Lukehart (Bryan) of St. Joseph, MO; Dave Foecke of Gower, MO; and Dan Foecke of Adamsville, AL. Great Grandchildren include: Brock and Taylor Barnes of Ft. Madison, IA; Tyler, Payton, and Asher Burch of Ft. Madison, IA; Albert, Luke, and Joseph Kruse of West Point, IA; Mikaela Richter (Isaac) of West Point, IA; Mallory Foster of Iowa City, IA; Alayna Foster of Washington, IA; Lauren and Max Foecke of Des Moines, IA; Jackson VanHamme of Ames, IA; Toby and Fletcher VanHamme of West Point, IA; West Winnike of San Diego, CA; Zuri Narayan-Hoyer of Hanover, MD; Landry, Eli, and Finn Cox of West Des Moines, IA; Austin, Tucker, and Kaybree Lukehart of St. Joseph, MO. One Great Great Grandchild includes Adalyn Richter of West Point, IA. Ceil will be greatly missed by her family.

Ceil cultivated many friendships throughout her lifetime in the West Point, Houghton, and St. Paul communities; workplaces such as Schaeffer Pen Company, J.J. Nichting’s, Metromail, West Point Care Center, Donnellson Care Center, Motorola; and card clubs. Ceil enjoyed baking, painting by numbers, word puzzles, reading, listening to music, watching movies, and visiting with others in person and by phone.

Family will receive visitors from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in West Point, IA.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 23, 2023, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in West Point, with Father Dan Dorau as celebrant.

Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, West Point, IA.

Memorials may be made to Holy Trinity Catholic Schools or St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church.

Nathan Simonson

By Yorke Prough · Monday, September 18th, 2023 at 2:03 pm CDT

Nathan Simonson, 30, of Keokuk, Iowa, passed away Friday, September 15, 2023, at his home. Arrangements are pending at Schmitz Funeral Home in Donnellson.

Plank Road Closure

By Yorke Prough · Monday, September 18th, 2023 at 1:50 pm CDT

Plank Road will once again see a section closure as crews will be working. The Des Moines County Road Department has announced that Plank Road, between Sunnyside Ave and West Burlington Ave will be closed on Tuesday, September 19th and plans to reopen by 8am on Thursday, September 21st. This closure will be in between 10684 and 10696 for road replacement work.

As always, this is weather permitting and may end up taking longer.

Jimmie Beckman

By Yorke Prough · Monday, September 18th, 2023 at 11:49 am CDT

Jimmie R. (Jim) Beckman, 84 of rural Mt. Pleasant passed away on Friday, September 8, 2023 at his home.

Jim was born on December 17, 1938, in Burlington the son of Carl Wallace and Ella Laura (Bohlen) Beckman.  Jim was united in marriage to Donna Lachmann on October 18, 1959, at the Peace Lutheran Church at Prairie Grove.  Throughout his life he was very active in many community and church activities.  He served on the Access Energy Cooperative Board for 18 years, Henry County Cattleman in which he received Cattleman of the Year award, longtime Farm Bureau member, Henry County ASC committee for many years, 4-H leader for 25 years, 4-H Youth Beef Committee, Lockridge Lions Club, Luther League sponsor and member of the Music Boosters and Athletic Boosters.   Jim grew up in the Peace Lutheran Church Parish, of West Burlington, and as an adult he became a member of the First Augustana Lutheran Church of Lockridge.  He served as Sunday school teacher and was on the Church Council.

He is survived by his wife, Donna of 63 years of rural Mt. Pleasant, his children, Roger (Marjorie) Beckman of Mt. Pleasant, Dean Beckman of Decorah and Dale Beckman of Mt. Pleasant, one granddaughter Anna J. Beckman, his brothers and sisters, Robert W. (Marlene) Beckman of Mediapolis, Donald R. Beckman of Danville, Rodney (Naomi) Beckman of Keosauqua, Joyce Beckman and Marjean (Tom) Gerdes, both of Danville, a sister-in-law, Rose Alice Beckman of Ohio, a brother-in-law, James McGlaughlin, of Marion and his sister-in-law, Teresa (Donald) Lachmann-Jones of Cedar Rapids and several nieces and nephews.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Rev. Richard Beckman, one sister, Verletta McGlaughlin and a sister-in-law, Barb Beckman.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at 2 p.m. at the Peace Lutheran Church, 13646 Beaverdale Road, West Burlington, with Rev. Jerleen Schlesser officiating.   Burial will follow in the Prairie Grove Cemetery, West Burlington.  There will be a time of food and fellowship beginning at noon on Saturday at the church until time of service.  A memorial has been established 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.

Larry Edgington

By Yorke Prough · Monday, September 18th, 2023 at 10:36 am CDT

Larry Edsel Edgington, 73, of Mt. Pleasant, formerly of New London, died Thursday, September 14, 2023 at The University of Iowa Hospitals, Iowa City.

He was born in Burlington on September 30, 1949 to Edsel Burl and Carla Jean Kinsinger Edgington.  He was a 1967 graduate of New London High School and graduated from Iowa Wesleyan College.

On September 21, 2022, he married Tina June Jenkins at East Lake Park, Mt. Pleasant.   He was a member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Mt. Pleasant, and attended New London Christian Church.  Larry was a farmer, worked as a Transportation Dispatcher, and drove a school bus for Mt. Pleasant School District.  He enjoyed gardening, hunting, mushroom hunting and walking in the forest.  He loved spending time with family and was an avid Chicago Bears fan.

Survivors include his wife of Mt. Pleasant; stepdaughter Amber Jenkins of Mt. Pleasant; sons Shane of Windsor, Colorado, Christopher of Burlington, Brandon of Iowa City, Jacob (Katie) of Manchester, John of Mt. Pleasant, and Jediah of Mt. Pleasant; eight grandchildren, Patrick, Olivia, Madison, Miles, Jonah, Maren, Isla and Finnegan; one great-grandson Kaden; two sisters, Roma Edgington and Pam Wick, both of New London; two brothers, Wendell of Ft. Madison and Ferlin of New London; aunts; and nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Gary.

A graveside memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM, September 30, 2023 at Jaggar Cemetery, Danville.  Visitation will begin at noon at Elliott Chapel, New London, on September 29, 2023, with the family greeting friends from 5:00 – 7:00 PM.  In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for Mt. Pleasant High School FFA.   Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.

Quail Population is Decreasing, Iowa Landowners Encouraged to Help

By Yorke Prough · Monday, September 18th, 2023 at 9:48 am CDT

Iowa landowners with marginal cropland are encouraged to seed now native warm-season grasses. Conservationists with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) believe this will benefit the northern bobwhite quail and other wildlife. Those who own land adjacent to trees, brush, and pasture are also encouraged.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) grants funding. NRCS has ~$1.2 million available to landowners in 35 southern Iowa counties to implement quail habit-improving practices. These include conservation cover, brush management, upland wildlife habitat management, early successional habitat management, and tree and shrub establishment.

NRCS Assistant State Conservationist for Programs in Iowa, Sam Adams, says that landowners can apply at their local NRCS office for EQIP conservation practice funding. The first cutoff to apply for Iowa NRCS programs for fiscal year 2024 is Nov. 3.

Northern bobwhite quail habitat has decreased by 30 million acres nationwide due to a rise in cattle grazing non-native forage. Quail populations have decreased by 80 percent the past 60 years.

Darrell Geib, Area Resource Conservationist for NRCS in Atlantic, says it is important for landowners to sign up early this year. “We want to give our conservation planners time to work with landowners on habitat development this fall,” he said. “Areas adjacent to CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) ground and old pastures will be prime locations for these practices.”

To help reconnect cattle and quail, NRCS is working with producers to manage for native warm-season grasses that create productive and palatable grazing options for livestock while benefitting quail and other wildlife species. Common native warm-season grasses include switchgrass, big bluestem, eastern gamagrass, and Indiangrass.

In addition to improving soil and water quality, warm-season grasses can boost livestock productivity and provide habitat for pollinators.

Visit the NRCS website for more information about practices to help restore quail habitat. To apply for program funding, visit your local NRCS field office.

Central Lee Community School District Honored One of Iowa’s Top Workplaces

By Yorke Prough · Monday, September 18th, 2023 at 8:20 am CDT

The Des Moines Register has named the Central Lee Community School District as one of its 2023 Iowa Top Workplaces.

Central Lee has earned the Top Workplace award four times in the past five years and is one of only a handful of school districts being recognized across the state.

“We are immensely proud and deeply grateful for the recognition of Central Lee as an Iowa Top Workplace for 2023,” said Mark Hulsebus, Board of Education President. “This honor reflects the unwavering dedication and commitment of our educators, staff, and community, who together create an environment where excellence thrives. We will continue to prioritize our students’ wellbeing and academic success as we move forward with even greater enthusiasm and determination.”

Central Lee School District is known for offering a diverse range of academic and co-curricular opportunities to its students. Nearly 400 students enroll in the district through open enrollment each year, cementing it’s status as a great district.

Additionally, over half of Central Lee staff members are alumni, highlighting the deep connection that former students maintain with the district and community long after they graduate. Central Lee is also celebrated for its exceptional career and technical education programming at the high school level.

“This distinction is a testament to our exceptional culture at Central Lee, which would not be possible without our dedicated staff and students,” said Dr. Andy Crozier, Superintendent. “Our success is rooted in the unity of purpose among our staff, their unwavering commitment to executing our mission, and the strong connections we foster within our school community. It reaffirms our dedication to providing a nurturing environment where students can flourish academically and personally.”

 

Suspected Seizure Leads to Single Vehicle Accident

By Yorke Prough · Monday, September 18th, 2023 at 8:17 am CDT

There was a single vehicle accident in Lee County on September 17th at 1:46pm. The driver was a 29-year-old male from Keokuk with a history of seizures.

He was traveling east on 340th street, near Mississippi River Road when he lost his ability to control the car. It is suspected he had a seizure. The car crossed over Mississippi River Road and struck a power pole, continuing through a steep ditch, eventually coming to rest in a bush. The driver and passenger were both taken to the hospital by ambulance. The vehicle was towed, and the owner of the bush did not want damage to be claimed. The driver and passenger were both taken to the Fort Madison hospital by Lee County EMS.