All Obituaries

Gerold Leroy Willey, youngest child of Willard & Maude E. (Rusk) Willey, was born at the family home in Mount Ayr on January 5, 1928. Gerold attended and graduated from Mount Ayr Community School in 1947. Football was his passion and he lived and breathed the sport. Gerold worked for his oldest brother, Clair, at Willey’s Plumbing all through high school and beyond. This experience directed his life long career in the plumbing and heating business. Gerold met his love of his life,...

Sharon Marie Case, daughter of Vern Kenneth and Marjorie Marie (Waddell) Priest, was born at home in Lamoni, Iowa on September 24, 1943. Sharon was delivered by her grandmother, Bertha Hammond Waddell. Sharon started school in Lamoni; went to country school for one year south of Decatur, Iowa; and attended high school in Shannon City and Kellerton. Sharon graduated in 1961 from the newly formed Grand Valley Community School in Kellerton. After graduating from high school, Sharon worked at...

Brenda Kay Sublett, daughter of Cecil R. and Dolores Kay (Perry) Sublett, was born in Medina, Ohio on June 16, 1966.  She was the oldest of three children being followed by Ralph and then Lodene.  The family moved to Iowa when the children were small and lived on a farm near Diagonal, Iowa.  Brenda graduated from the Diagonal High School and moved to Denver, CO where she lived for several years and then relocated to Omaha, Nebraska where she worked in the insurance industry;...

Shirley Irene Johnson, daughter of Wendall Leroy & Alice Pauline (Hansen) McMickle, was born February 24, 1924 at Nora Springs, IA. She was welcomed home by an older brother, Robert L, and the family grew with the addition of siblings Doris Pauline, John Wesley, James L. and Ronald Dean. Shirley grew up at Milton, Iowa. Shirley played basketball under the coaching of her dad and she always enjoyed watching girls’ basketball. She was baptized at the Grace Methodist Church in...

Mike Olszewski, son of Bernard & Anna (O’Neil) Olszewski, was born September 19, 1946 in Cook County, Illinois. He graduated from high school and served two years in the US Army in Vietnam. Mike married Phyllis Saville on December 7, 1996 in Grant City, MO. He worked several years at Trolley Industries (Gummy Bears) in Creston as a warehouse manager. He loved his job and enjoyed the people he worked with. Mike had most recently worked at Pursuit of Independence in Lenox, Iowa. He...

            Dale Larry Conn was born April 16, 1944 in Thayer, Iowa, at home, to Ivan and Opal (Glazebrook) Conn. He was welcomed home by Doris, Bob, Helen, Dick, Irene, Maurice, and Marian. The family moved around the Afton area over the years. He graduated from East Union High School in 1962. He moved to Omaha, Nebraska where he attended CE School of Commerce. He did go on to Bellevue University in Bellevue, NE and earned his Bachelors...

Austin Bowen, son of Larry and Sharon Bowen, was born January 22, 1979. Austin grew up in Delphos and Benton with is 2 older brothers. He graduated from Mount Ayr Community High School in 1998. Austin passed away January 16, 2019. He was preceded in death by his grandparents; father; and niece Charlcey Bowen. He is survived by his mother of Benton; brothers Judd and Eric; nephew Carter; nieces Macey and Abby. Per Austin’s request, there will be no services. Austin loved animals. In...

Anna Linkey, daughter of Joe and Josie (Prochaska) Skarda, was born September 4, 1916 at Bolivar, MO. The family moved to Iowa and she grew up in the Mount Ayr vicinity, graduating from Mount Ayr Community High School in 1933. Anna took teachers training in high school and taught country school for a few years. On May 14, 1938, she married Leo Linkey in Grant City, Missouri and to this union, Janis and Jim, were born. They farmed in Ellston and Tingley and moved to the Diagonal...

Richard Dale Scott, son of Noel and Georgia (Marrifield) Scott, was born November 24, 1935 at Jameson, MO. In 1949, he was promoted from the 8th grade at Jameson Community School.           Dick was born with Muscular Dystrophy, but he did not let that effect his life. He overcame the obstacles with determination and grace and there wasn’t anything that he couldn’t accomplish. Dick worked as a farm hand and at a saw mill and a filling...

Barbara Kay (Main) Reynolds was born December 24, 1934 to Elma E. (Stephens) Main and Weldon C. Main in Mount Ayr, Iowa.  She graduated from Mount Ayr High School in 1952. After graduation Barb was united in marriage to Richard Lee Reynolds on July 20, 1952 at the First Christian Church in Mount Ayr, Iowa. Barb and Dick welcomed five children into their family, Andrew Lee, Brenda Kay, Daniel Alan, Shelly Rae and Lori Ann. At 44 years of age, Barb sought a new career and attended...