Joan M. Nichting, 90, of Pilot Grove, IA died June 4, 2022.  She was born April 29, 1932 near Houghton, IA to Bernard J. and Cecilia Pieper Holtkamp.  She was united in marriage to Sylvan J. Nichting on October 14, 1952 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Houghton, IA.  They lived in their home in Pilot Grove, IA for 63 years.  She was a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker who built her life around her family and her church.  Joan loved her family unconditionally and enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  She will be deeply missed by them all.  She valued education, hard work, and generosity, and could be counted on to get things done.  Joan was a devout Catholic and left a wonderful legacy of faithfulness and love for the Lord.  A member of St. James Catholic Church, a highlight of her life was serving on the Renovation Committee, which she described as a labor of love.

Joan was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Sylvan, of 64 years, her parents, three brothers, Rev. Karl Holtkamp, Linus Holtkamp, Robert Holtkamp, and two sisters, Martha Link and Margaret Schierbrock.

She is survived by one daughter, Sylvia Wetta (Robert) of Vestavia Hills, AL; three sons, J.J. Nichting of La Jolla, CA, Thomas Nichting (Janet) of Omaha, NE, and Michael Nichting (Heather) of Rochester, N.Y.; grandchildren Bryan Wetta (Luisa), Michael Wetta (Kristen), Emily Buerger (Fritz), Kathryn and Mark Nichting; great-grandchildren Ben, Megan, Claire, Jack, Caroline, Charles, and Henry Wetta, Madeline, Juliet, and Owen Buerger.

Her body has been donated to the Department of Anatomy at Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, NE.  Per her wishes, a memorial mass and burial for immediate family will follow at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for St. James Catholic Church in St. Paul, IA and St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Mt. Pleasant, IA.  Memorials may be mailed to Barr Holtkamp Funeral Home, P.O. Box 247 in West Point, IA  52656.  Online condolences to the Nichting family may be made at the Barr Holtkamp Funeral Home website, www.barrholtkampfuneralhome.com.

Dan Holsteen, 81, of Wapello, passed away with his family by his side on Saturday, June 4, 2022 at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington.   Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 9, 2022 at the Wapello United Methodist Church.  Burial will follow at the Wapello Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services of Wapello.  Memorials have been established for Wapello United Methodist Church, Wapello Ambulance and Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House.   Sympathy messages can be left for the family at www.sandfuneralservice.com.

Daniel C. Holsteen was born on June 17, 1940, in Burlington, Iowa the son of Robert W. and Geraldine H. (Washburne) Holsteen.  Dan graduated from the Huron High School in 1958 and served in the National Guard.  On August 9, 1964, Dan was united in marriage to Merideth Korf at the Mediapolis First United Methodist Church.   Dan was a devoted and passionate lifetime farmer  in the Wapello area.  He was member of the Wapello United Methodist Church and Farm Bureau, past member of the Louisa Cattleman’s Association and served several years on the drainage district board.  He enjoyed classic cars, antique tractors, going on tractor rides, attending tractor pulls, Old Threshers, Iowa State Fairs and a good piece of Custard pie.  His greatest enjoyment was his children and grandchildren, particularly attending their sporting events.  He was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan.

Dan will be deeply missed by his wife, Merideth; children, Darren (Shelly) Holsteen of Wapello, Stephanie (John) Witte of Mediapolis and Roxanne (Kevin) Kropf of Marion; grandchildren, Jake (Katy) Holsteen, Jessica (Caleb) Gerst, Rachel Holsteen, Jacob (Liz) Long, Paige (Craig) Carlson, Renae (Greg) Goldensoph, Nicole (Joe) Bloomberg, Joelle (Dalton) Shadle, Kendra Witte, Justin Witte, Brandon Kropf and Tyler Kropf; great-grandchildren, Weston, Blakely, Graham, Collins, Kenna, Oakleigh, Logan, Hayden, Eloise and three on the way; brother, David Holsteen of Burlington and nephews, Todd and Travis Holsteen.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Richard Holsteen.

Bertha Mary Merschbrock, 94, of West Point, Iowa, passed away at 9:43 a.m. Monday, June 6, 2022, at the West Point Care Center, West Point, Iowa.

She was born on January 23, 1928, in Fort Madison, Iowa, the daughter of Frank and Eva (Moeller) Harvey. On September 20, 1947, she married Ambrose Henry Merschbrock in Houghton, Iowa. He preceded her in death on June 3, 1993.

Survivors include her children: Robert (Barbara) Merschbrock, Richard (Kathy Smith) Merschbrock, Dan (Marsha) Merschbrock, Dale (Deina) Merschbrock, Dennis (Patty) Merschbrock, Deb (Dave Lohman) Cook and Diane (Roger) Bailey; seventeen grandchildren and twenty-eight great grandchildren. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband: Ambrose; son: Ronald; granddaughter: Heather; two brothers and three sisters.

Bertha graduated from Donnellson High School. She retired from the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant. She was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in West Point, the Altar and Rosary Society of the church, American Legion Auxiliary, Senior Citizen Club and the YMCA Water Aerobics. She enjoyed playing euchre and quilting.

Friends may call after 12:00 noon Friday, June 10, 2022, at Schmitz Funeral Home in West Point, where the family will receive friends from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. that evening. A parish rosary will be recited at 4:00 p.m. and a Christian wake service will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 11, 2022, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in West Point with Father Dennis Hoffman as celebrant.

Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in West Point, Iowa.

A memorial has been established in her memory for St. Mary’s Catholic Church or West Point Fire and Rescue.

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

Mike Harbison, 55, of Morning Sun, passed away on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at
Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington.  A celebration of life for Mike will be from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 18, 2022 at the Morning Sun Community Center.  Words of Remembrance will be shared at 11:00 a.m. by Phil Earnest. A memorial has been established in Mike’s name.    Sympathy messages can be left for the family at www.sandfuneralservice.com.  Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services of Morning Sun are caring for Mike’s arrangements and his family.

Herbert Michael Harbison, Sr. was born on April 6, 1967 in Burlington, Iowa, the son of Tom and Sherry (Fletcher) Harbison.  Mike was a 1985 graduate of Morning Sun High School.  On July 25, 1987, he was united in marriage to Wendy Rodruck in Mount Pleasant.  Mike worked as a truck driver all of his life and owner/operator of Mike Harbison Trucking.  You would never meet a person who had more knowledge of Mack Trucks than Mike.  One of his biggest life highlights was the commercial “The Horn” that he had the honor to be a part of.  Mike traveled to many truck shows and truck pulls and received numerous awards. He was a member of the ATHS and ATCA antique truck clubs.   His family and grandchildren and the time he spent with them was the most important thing to Mike.

Mike will be deeply missed by his wife, Wendy; children, Herbert “Mike” (Abby) Harbison, Jr. of Mediapolis, Kayla Harbison of Morning Sun and Lilly Harbison of Morning Sun; his parents, Tom and Sherry Harbison of Morning Sun; grandchildren, Noah, Mackenzie, Josey, Kylee and one on the way; siblings, Jim Harbison of Morning and Tom “Truckie” (Michelle) Harbison of Crawfordsville; nieces and nephews, Kayla, Hannah, Zach, Logan and Caedon; great niece and nephews, Liam, Ella and Wyatt and aunts, Cindy (Randy) Wagg and Ann (Doug) Lee.

Mike was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Richard and Lillian Fletcher and his paternal grandparents, Herbert “Stub” and Mildred Harbison.

Marvin John Gingrich, 82, of Denmark, Iowa died at 8:05 am Sunday, June 5, 2022 at his home.  He was born February 24, 1940, in Iowa, a son of Frank J. and Lucille (Staff) Gingrich.  On June 26, 1960, he married Kay Raid at Denmark, Iowa.

He attended Sawyer Grade School through the 8th grade and then graduated from the Denmark Academy High School in 1958.  He was a farmer.  He attended the Denmark Congregational United Church of Christ.

Marvin is survived by his wife, Kay; one brother, Harold Gingrich of Woodland Hills, California; one sister, Irene Hoskins of Denmark, Iowa; numerous nieces and nephews,  adopted grandchildren: Morgan Bobb (Jake) Swanson and Zach (Aubree) Bobb, and numerous friends .  He was preceded in death by his parents and two sons, Troy and Tod.

Per his wishes, his body has been cremated.  His family will greet friends from 1:30 – 3:00 pm Sunday, June 12, 2022 at the Denmark Congregational United Church of Christ in Denmark.  A Celebration of Life Service will follow and begin at 3:00 pm Sunday at the church.  A private burial will be held at a later date at Fairview Cemetery.  A memorial has been established for the Denmark Firefighters Foundation, Inc. and the Fairview Cemetery, contributions may be mailed to Kay Gingrich at 808 Houston Ave, Fort Madison, Iowa 52627 or to Barr Memorial Chapel.  Barr Memorial Chapel is honored to serve the Gingrich family and an online guest book may be found at www.barrmemorialchapel.com.