Gene Smith, 90, of Farmington, Iowa, passed away at 10:05 a.m. Monday, July 18, 2022, at the Keosauqua Health Care Center in Keosauqua, Iowa.

He was born on March 14, 1932, in Bible Grove, Missouri. His mother was Lewis Ione Miller – Smith, who raised him and his four siblings. His father was Arthur H. Smith. On October 7, 1961, he married Mary Jo Hanshew in Farmington. Together, they enjoyed the Bible teachings at the Farmington and Bonaparte Baptist Churches.

Survivors include his wife: Mary Jo; three sons: Bryan (Donna) Smith of Quincy, Illinois, Bradley (Mami) Smith of Tokyo, Japan and Brent (Amnat) Smith of Bangkok, Thailand; three grandsons: Andrew (Reagan), Phillip (Alicia) and Patrick; six great grandchildren: Tinsley, Bentley, Hollis, Landon, Grier and Wellman. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother; father; three brothers and one sister.

Gene attended elementary schools in Milton and Farmington and graduated from Farmington High School in 1950. He was inducted into the Army in 1952 and proudly served with the Second Infantry Division in Korea in 1953 and 1954 receiving Presidential Unit Citations for the 1953 Spring Offensive and the 1953 Summer Offensive and was promoted to the rank of staff sergeant. He attended Black Hawk Junior College in Burlington and graduated from Northeast Missouri State Teachers’ College in 1960 with a B.S. degree in education. Gene was a classroom teacher for thirty-four years, teaching in Cincinnati, Iowa, Round Lake, Illinois and Farmington, Iowa, retiring in 1994. He was an avid Green Bay Packers fan for more than fifty years. Dogs were his favorite pets, especially Cleo. Gene enjoyed playing baseball at different levels, watching his three sons grow up and become successful businessmen, attending his three grandsons’ soccer, baseball and football games and visiting his great grandchildren.

Friends may call after 12:00 noon, Thursday, July 28, 2022, at Schmitz Funeral Home in Farmington, where the family will receive friends from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

A memorial service will be held at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, July 28, 2022, at Schmitz Funeral Home in Farmington with Pastor Mark Caston officiating.

Burial will be at a later date with full military rites presented by the Farmington American Legion Richardson – Anthony Post #231.

Memorials have been established in his memory for the Farmington American Legion or Bonaparte Baptist Church.

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

Gerald Douglas Jennings (age 56) of Winfield, passed away at his home on July 20, 2022 surrounded by his wife and children following a six year battle with cancer. He was born on April 29, 1966 in Burlington, Iowa to Royal & Mae June (Mohnssen) Jennings.

Gerald was a graduate of Winfield-Mt. Union High School and attended Indian Hills Community College.  He was a farmer and was employed at the Walmart Distribution Center for thirty-four years as a mechanic.

Gerald married Karen Kimble on October 12, 1996 at the First Presbyterian Church in Winfield, Iowa.

Gerald loved following his children in all their activities and was extremely proud of their accomplishments throughout their high school and college careers. He was a talented mechanic who could fix almost anything, and he was famous for his chili.  In his free time, he enjoyed watching football, playing golf, and anything that involved cold beers with the guys.  Gerald loved time spent growing up on, and later taking the reins of, the family farm, which was his favorite place to be. Gerald was a longtime member of Twin Lakes Recreation Center, where he had served on the board of directors and was a member of the Kaaba Shrine.

He is survived by his wife of twenty-five years, Karen Jennings of Winfield, IA; his children Sam (Taylor) Jennings, Molly Jennings, and Jack Jennings of Winfield, IA; his mother June Jennings of Winfield, IA; his sisters Cynthia Phillips of Agency, IA, Barb Delany of California, and his brother Alvin Jennings of Ottumwa, IA; his sister-in-law Kathy Kimble of Winfield, IA; his brother-in-law John Scieszinski of Albia, IA; his parents-in-law Trevor and Bonnie Kimble of Morning Sun, IA; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father Royal Jennings; his beloved big sister Annette Scieszinski; his brothers-in-law Kerry Phillips and Steve Delaney, and an infant brother Bradley Jennings.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 24^th from 2pm-5pm at the First Presbyterian Church where the family will be present. Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 25^th at 10am at the First Presbyterian Church in Winfield.

Arrangements are in the care of Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services, Winfield.  Online condolences may be left for the Jennings family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com.

Inurnment is being delayed until such time that current policy restrictions on sale of open burial lots in the Winfield cemetery are lifted.

Merry Anne Welsch, aged 73, of Winfield, Iowa passed away suddenly on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 at University Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa.  A visitation will be held on Monday, July 25, 2022 from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral Home in Winfield, Iowa.  Funeral services will be at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, July 26, 2022 at the Winfield United Methodist Church in Winfield, Iowa.  A burial will be held on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 11:00 A.M. at Prairie Cemetery in Fennimore, Wisconsin.  In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to Wray Welsch, which will be given to the Winfield United Methodist Church and the Winfield Fire and Rescue in Merry’s memory.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com

Merry, the daughter of Frank and Virginia (Monroe) Miller, was born on December 1, 1948 in Moline, Illinois.   On September 30, 1972, Merry married Walter Wray Welsch in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.

As a little girl, she lived in Erie, Illinois and Low Moore, Iowa.   Then, her family moved to a farm outside of Fennimore, Wisconsin.  She attended the Ideal and Rock Country Schools near Fennimore for elementary grades and Fennimore Community School District for Junior High and High School.  She graduated in 1966.

She attended Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa for 2 years, after which she transferred to Iowa State University, graduating in 1970.

She began her teaching career at Winfield-Mt. Union Community School District in Winfield, Iowa in the fall of 1971, teaching what is now known as Family and Consumer Science (Home Ec).  She taught there until the spring of 1977.

In 1975, Wray and Merry moved to Breezy Hill Farm in rural Winfield, making a wonderful home and farm life together for the next 47 years.  Together, they grew corn and soybeans and raised hogs.  Merry made many pies with the apples from their apple orchard and preserved produce from the garden.

For many years, Merry worked in the home while their daughters were young.  As the girls became school-aged, Merry returned to education by substitute teaching.  In 1990, she became the Family and Consumer Science teacher at WACO Community School District in Wayland, Iowa.  She taught there for the remainder of her working years, except for a 1-year break in 2004-2005 when she taught at Highland Community School District in Riverside, Iowa.  She retired from WACO in 2010.

Merry was a talented seamstress taking great pride in executing the most difficult and detailed patterns for clothing, accessories, and quilts.  She loved traveling out West to places like Mount Rushmore, Jackson, Wyoming, or Yellowstone National Park.  She also loved visiting Branson, Missouri and all of the area fabric shops.  Merry enjoyed spending time with her family, and her grandchildren brought her a special joy.

Survivors include her husband, Wray; two daughters and sons-in-law, Erin and Matthew Chambers of Mitchellville, Iowa, and Caitlin and Noah Edwards of Callaway, Maryland; four grandchildren, Abigail Chambers, Owen Chambers, Wyatt Edwards, and Elliott Edwards; two brothers, Monroe Miller and Lyman Miller; and one sister, Jen Miller.

Her parents, Frank and Virginia Miller, preceded her in death.

Richard A. Tolander, 93, of Ankeny, IA, formerly of Mt. Pleasant, passed away peacefully on his birthday, Tuesday, July 12, 2022. He was born in Wayne Township, Henry County IA, born to Eugene A. and Mable M. (Trowbridge) on July 12, 1929. Richard attended Olds Consolidated School until 1942 and graduated from Yarmouth High school in 1947.

In 1948 Richard joined the army and served in the occupation of Japan and the Korean War. He was awarded a Japan Occupation medal. During the Korean War, he was awarded a Korean Service Medal, 2 campaign ribbons and 5 Bronze Stars. Richard was honorably discharged in 1952.

On May 29, 1954, he was united in marriage to Marilyn Joyce Wolin at the Chapel of the First United Methodist Church, Mt. Pleasant by the Rev. Dr. James Marlin.  They celebrated 62 years together until her passing on October 7, 2016. Together they built their family with three sons; David (Annette) of Waterloo, Iowa, Duane (Diane) of Ankeny, Iowa, and Ralph (Deb) of Sugarland, Texas.

Richard worked at the elevator in Olds, IA before owning and operating a corn sheller and grain truck business for several years. After selling the trucks, he delivered fuel for the COOP in Mt. Pleasant where he retired at age 62. He worked part-time driving a school bus, provided maintenance at the apartment building where they lived and worked as a funeral associate at Kimzey Funeral Home during his retirement.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents and ten siblings.

Other survivors include 7 grandchildren; Abbey (Chad) Maxwell, Stephanie (Grant) Zielinski, Adam (Veronica) Tolander, Kristina (Trent) Wellman, Austin (Anna) Tolander, Preston Tolander and Jared Tolander; 1 step grandson, Nick (Melissa) Strauss, 10 great grandchildren, 2 step great grandchildren, two sisters; Martha Murphy of Las Vegas, Nevada and Florence Cambridge of Kalona, Iowa and many nieces and nephews.

Richard was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He considered everyone a friend and never judged anyone. He was loved by all.

We want to give special thanks and appreciation to his friends at the Penelope Apartments where he lived in Ankeny and to the Central Iowa VA Hospital and their doctors and nurses for the exceptional care they provided.

A memorial funeral service for Richard will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, July 29, 2022 at the First United Methodist Church, 309 North Main Street, Mount Pleasant. The Reverend David Bracht-Wagner, Senior Pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the Forest Home Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant, with military honors conducted by the Iowa Military Funeral Honors Detail and the Henry County Honor Guard. Friends may call from 12 Noon to 8PM on Thursday, July 28 at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 N. Main St., Mt. Pleasant. The family will be present to receive friends from 5-7 PM on that Thursday. On-Line condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Relay for Life of Henry County or to VA Central Iowa Health Care System. Family members can deliver any memorials.

Ellise Capen Tweed, 51, of New London and formerly Mt. Pleasant, died Tuesday, July 19, 2022 in New London.  She was born September 25, 1970 in Mt. Pleasant to Charles Ullom and Jean Percilla Capen Tweed.  She was a 1990 graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School.  In the summers she worked in the special education program at the County Home, Mt. Pleasant Library and Tolson’s Community Action Program. Following graduation, she worked at Hope Haven.  When they lived in North Liberty she attended the Christian Church in Coralville.

She enjoyed doing puzzles, coloring and drawing, walking, reading, playing with her niece and nephews, volunteering at nursing homes, and was activity director for a day which she loved.  Ellise loved everyone and all seemed to love her.  She had a wonderful laugh, knew everyone, and enjoyed seeing the FedEx man and the mailman.

Survivors include her mother of New London; sister Heather Schlarbaum (Bill) of New London; niece Angelica and nephews Hunter, Joshua and Caleb; Aunt and Uncle Marian (Jon) Engstrom; cousins Eric (Kelly) Engstrom and Laura (Christian Hossman) Engstrom; and many friends.  She was preceded in death by her father and her grandparents.

A Celebration of Life for Rev. Charles Tweed who died November 5, 2021 and his beloved daughter Ellise will be held at 1:00 pm, Monday, July 25, 2022 at Elliott Chapel, New London with Pastor David Mixon officiating.  The family will greet friends for light refreshments at the chapel following the service.  Private family inurnment will be at Burge Cemetery, New London.  A memorial has been established for Prader Willi Syndrome Foundation for research.  Online condolences for Rev. Tweed and Ellise may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.