Carolee Wilhite, 86, of Donnellson, Iowa, passed away at 3:00 a.m. Friday, January 6, 2023, at the Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in West Burlington, Iowa.

She was born on December 15, 1936, in Kirksville, Missouri, the daughter of John Elmer and Margie Bernadine (Jacobs) Harris. On March 12, 1955, she married Ronald A. “Pappy” Wilhite in Kirksville, Missouri. He preceded her in death on March 6, 2007.

Survivors include her two sons: Ronald (Paula) Wilhite of Wever, Iowa and Lennie (Stacie) Wilhite of Donnellson, Iowa; two granddaughters: Jessica Major of North Liberty, Iowa and Ashley (Brent) Wilson of Washington, Iowa; two grandsons: Austin Wilhite of Donnellson, Iowa and Adam Wilhite of Donnellson, Iowa; five great grandchildren: Westin, Luke, Blake, Ryland and Carsten and one sister: Joyce Wait. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband: Ron and sister: Dana.

Carolee was a member of the Donnellson United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women. She retired from Borg-Warner. She then worked at Raisin’ Em Up Day Care. She enjoyed reading, camping, traveling, gardening and her cat “Keyto”.

Visitation will begin at 12:00 noon Thursday, January 12, 2023, at Schmitz Funeral Home in Donnellson, where the family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. that evening.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 13, 2023, at Maple Hills Cemetery in Kirksville, Missouri with Carolyn Pundt officiating.

Burial will be at Maple Hills Cemetery in Kirksville.

A memorial has been established in her memory for Donnellson Fire and Rescue or PAW Animal Shelter.

Schmitz Funeral Home of Donnellson is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com.

Wendy Lee (Kite) Chase, 44, of Sperry, Iowa, formerly of Bonaparte, Iowa, passed away at 12:34 p.m. Thursday, January 5, 2023, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa.

She was born on December 22, 1978, in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, the daughter of Otis James “Jim” and Sandra (Stecker) Kite. On October 9, 2010, she married James Chase at Harrisburg Church.

Survivors include her husband: Jim; children: Kale, Lily and Tessa; mother: Sandra (Bob) Batten of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; father: Jim (Teresa) Kite of Bonaparte, Iowa; brothers: Trae (Kyli) Kite, Cory (Jill) Kite and Tyler (Tiana) Kite; step-brothers: Trevis (Tembi) Batten and Eric (Annie) Batten. Also surviving are several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents.

Wendy was a graduate of Harmony High School. She attended Kirkwood Community College to become a surgical technician. She later received her RN license from Southeastern Community College. She worked as a registered nurse at Morning Sun Care Center. Wendy enjoyed camping and canoeing at Current River each year. Most of all, she enjoyed being with her family.

Family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday, January 8, 2023, at Schmitz Funeral Home in Farmington.

A funeral service will held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, January 9, 2023, at Schmitz Funeral Home in Farmington.

Burial will be at Vale Cemetery in Bonaparte.

A memorial has been established in her memory.

Schmitz Funeral Home of Farmington is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com.

Shelley Jo Armstrong went home to Jesus on January 5, 2023 at age 61, at home with her loving husband holding her in his arms.

Shelley was born to Virgil and Judy Peterson on June 18, 1961, and lived in Armstrong, IA until her family moved to Rolfe later in her childhood.

Shelley met her husband, Chris, on January 25, 1982 at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant, IA.  They married June 25, 1983, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Rolfe, IA.  They made their home in Mt. Pleasant, then Richland, IA, where they had their daughter Abigail on December 11, 1989. Abigail and her husband Jacob bore Chris and Shelley their beautiful granddaughter and Shelley’s best friend, Micah, on August 28, 2019.

Shelley’s true passion was music and she received a Bachelor’s of Music Education degree from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1984. Shelley worked many years as an educator at Pekin and Highland School districts. Shelley had an amazing ability to engage and teach children and used her abilities to run an after school program called Club JAM (Jesus and Me), create a children’s program called Little Lambs (teach Sunday school) at New Song Christian Life Church, and organize summer reading programs at the Richland Public library. Shelley ended her career by working as a paraeducator with an amazing young man from 1^st grade until graduation. She put her all into enriching his education and was incredibly proud of the young man he grew up to be. Although Shelley only had one child she was a mother figure to many other children throughout her lifetime. Shelley and her husband Chris were also daycare providers to their 3-year-old granddaughter in retirement and enjoyed being Mimi and Papa to little Miss Micah Anne.

Shelley was incredibly creative and loved to write music, skits, and create craft projects for club JAM, the summer reading program, and her church. Shelley and her husband Chris were wedding singers for many years and led worship at New Song Christian Life church their entire marriage. Shelley was the most thoughtful gift giver and would always love to create memorable experiences for those she loved. Shelley lived an intentional life that impacted many.

Shelley fought a courageous 5-year battle with ovarian cancer with Warrior Woman as her alter ego. She was incredibly kind to all medical staff who helped her along the way to the end. All who know or have known Shelley felt her impact deeply on her life. She was a great woman of Faith and believed fully that Jesus would heal her whether in life or death. Although the last few years of her life were difficult, she handled them with grace and laughter and kept herself in the Word of God every single day.

Shelley was preceded in death by her mom and dad, Judy and Virgil Peterson, and is

survived by her husband Chris, her daughter Abigail (Jacob) Schaver (Kalona, IA), her granddaughter

Micah, and her sister Vicki Lockman (Waukee, IA).

Visitation with the family present will be from 5:00 – 7:00 PM Friday at Life Church, 2205 – 2^nd Street, Coralville, Iowa 52241.  The funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, January 14, 2023 at the church, Rev. Brian Swafford officiating, with a luncheon immediately following. Committal services will be held at 3:00 PM at Sharon Hill Cemetery, at the corner of J Avenue and 6^th Street in Kalona.

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

Bertha Carola Panther, 94, of West Point, Iowa, passed away at 1:15 p.m. Thursday, January 5, 2023, at the West Point Care Center in West Point.

She was born on January 24, 1928, in Traill County, North Dakota, the daughter of Jacob and Bertha (Mueller) Pulskamp. She was the eighth of ten children and worked on the family farm until after graduation from Notre Dame Academy in Willow City, North Dakota, where she was valedictorian. She worked at a Red Owl Grocery for a time after graduation. It was in North Dakota where she met Urban Panther at a church card party. The two were married the following year on June 21, 1949, in Hillsboro, North Dakota. They bought their first house in Mayville, North Dakota, where she started her career as a mother. Bertha and Urban had two children in Mayville prior to moving to rural Donnellson, Iowa, where she continued her, approximately forty year, career of raising ten children.

When the children were old enough to be on their own, Bertha embarked on a career in health care as an aide, later joining the dietary staff at the West Point Care Center, then the Donnellson Care Center. On “retirement” she continued to volunteer at her two care centers of previous employment. Bertha was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in West Point,  Iowa, the Altar and Rosary Society of the church and the former St. Anne’s Circle Daughters of Isabella and numerous community volunteer organizations, as well as engaging in seasonal work at local seed companies.

Bertha enjoyed traveling, revisiting her home state of North Dakota annually as well as exploring the continental United States and Hawaii. The highlight of her travels included a trip to Europe, where she was able to visit the Vatican.

A stroke in early 2000 slowed Bertha down considerably, but even through an ever challenging health status, her determination and sense of humor did not diminish.

She is survived by five sons: Jim (Norma) Panther of Iowa City, Iowa, Bob (Joanne) Panther of Bemidji, Minnesota, Mark (Teresa) Panther of West Point, Iowa, Joe (Chris) Panther of Fort Madison, Iowa and Greg (Tammy) Panther of Keokuk, Iowa; four daughters: Becky Aldrich of Davenport, Iowa, Mary (Kevin) Overton of West Point, Iowa, Janet (Keith Adams) Panther of Cumming, Georgia and Mindy (Chris Roxberg) Robey of West Point, Iowa; twenty-one grandchildren; twenty-six great grandchildren and three siblings: Joe Pulskamp, Sr. Mary Jane Pulskamp and Leo (Roberta) Pulskamp all of North Dakota. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband: Urban; two sons: John and one in infancy; one brother and five sisters.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday, January 8, 2023, at Schmitz Funeral Home in West Point where a parish rosary will be recited at 2:00 p.m. and a Christian wake service will be held at 4:00 p.m.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 9, 2023, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in West Point with Father Joseph Phung as celebrant.

Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, West Point.

A memorial has been established in her memory.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com. Schmitz Funeral Home of West Point is assisting the family with arrangements.