Obituaries

Troy E. Custer, 38, of Tool, Texas, formerly of Le Mars, died Saturday, April 11, 2020. Troy was born Feb. 3, 1982, to Gary and Sandra Custer. Troy was very active in coaching Little League baseball and football. Troy enjoyed cheering on his favorite football team the Dallas Cowboys, barbequing, and making no-bake cookies...

Delores I. Gloyer, 100, of Merrill, died at Pinicon Place Assisted Living in Anamosa on Sunday, July 5, 2020. Delores Inez Gloyer was born April 10, 1920, in Sioux City, the daughter of George and Emma (Hines) Glau. She graduated from Central High School in Sioux City. Following high school, Delores worked as a nanny and housekeeper...

Jeanette Lucille Boever, 89, of Remsen, died July 3, 2020 at Happy Siesta Health Care Center in Remsen. Jeanette was born Feb. 24, 1931 to Leo and Clara (Berning) Heidesch in Remsen. She was raised on a farm southeast of Remsen. Jeanette loved living on the farm, driving the tractor, feeding the pigs, and milking the cows. She has one sister Betty...

Louise Elizabeth Sitzmann, 86, of Cherokee, died Wednesday, July 1, 2020, at the Avera Prince of Peace Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A graveside service will take place at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 8, at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Cherokee. Father Mark Stoll will officiate...

Patsy Elizabeth VanderKooi, 79, of Watkinsville, Georgia, made her way to heaven on Sunday, June 28, 2020, from her home. She was born in Athens, Georgia, on March 28, 1941, to the late John Thomas Morrow and Lizzie Mae Herring, She started her young life as an Army wife for over 14 years, moving from place to place, country to country, making a home at every stop...

David Mark Widman, 67, of Sergeant Bluff, died unexpectedly in Billings, Montana on June 27, 2020. David was born Sept. 30, 1952, in Sioux City, to William Ernest and Alice June (Heaton) Widman. He graduated from Lawton-Bronson High School in 1970 and Morningside College in 1975. On Aug. 12, 1978, he married Elizabeth Arnold and was blessed with 10 children and 21 grandchildren...

Marita (Masuen) Shearon, 94, of Le Mars, died peacefully in her home on Monday, June 29, 2020, surrounded by her family. Marita was born Aug. 18, 1925, in Oyens to Charles and Lena (Ruden) Masuen. Marita was married to John Henry Shearon on Sept. 2, 1943, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Nashville, Tennessee where John was stationed in the Air Force during World War II, until going overseas...

Larry Oltmanns, 87, of Craig, died Friday, June 26, 2020, at the Good Samaritan Society of Le Mars. Larry Gene Oltmanns was born Nov. 19, 1932, in Le Mars, the son of Henry and Anna (Ommen) Oltmanns. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Craig. He attended country school in Plymouth County. Following his schooling, he helped his father on the farm. Years later, Larry received his G.E.D. from Sioux Empire College in Hawarden...

Marjorie Kovarna, 88, of Kingsley, died after a brief illness with cancer on Monday, June 22, 2020, at Kingsley Specialty Care Center. Marjorie ‘Margie’ Jean Jackson was born on Aug. 21, 1931, to Charles ‘Milton’ and Edith (Scoles) Jackson in Mapleton. Margie grew up in Mapleton and attended Mapleton Schools...

Harlan “Joe” Grubb, 103, of Kingsley, died Tuesday, June 16, 2020, at Happy Siesta Care Center in Remsen. Joe was born Dec. 12, 1916, in Kingsley. Joe, the middle of five children, was the son of John and Violet (Toothman) Grubb. He was self-employed as a farmer, near Kingsley...

James R. Schoenrock, 80, of Le Mars, died Monday, June 15, 2020, at the Good Samaritan Society in Le Mars. James Ronald Schoenrock was born on Aug. 7, 1939, on the family farm near Hinton to Earl and Lois (Gutknecht) Schoenrock. He was the first baby born in Plymouth County to use the new incubator, weighing in at 3 pounds...

Kimberley A. Johnson, 60, of Le Mars, died Tuesday, June 16, 2020, at the Good Samaritan Society-Le Mars, Le Mars, following a hard fought battle with cancer. Kimberley Ann Struble was born on Sept. 1, 1959, in Sioux City, the daughter of Martin Dean and LaVaughn Karon (Sands) Struble. She attended school at Anthon-Oto schools and later at Le Mars Community High School. She continued her education at Western Iowa Technical Community College in Sioux City where she majored in business...

Troy Brown, 53, of Le Mars, died Tuesday, June 16, 2020, at his home in Le Mars surrounded by his family. Troy Richard Brown was born Jan. 9, 1967, in Harlan, the son of Gary and Donna (Majerus) Brown. He attended school in Harlan, Algona, and Carroll. He graduated from Carroll High School in 1985. Following high school, he went to work for Hy-Vee in Carroll in the Bakery Department...

Brian Keith Dailey, 44, of Le Mars, died suddenly on Sunday, June 14, 2020. Brian Keith Dailey was born July 7, 1975, in Anaheim, California, the son of GC and Catherine (Barnum) Dailey. Brian grew up in the Le Mars and Merrill area and was a member of the Le Mars Class of 1994...

James R. Schoenrock, 80, of Le Mars, died Monday, June 15, 2020, at the Good Samaritan Society -Le Mars, Le Mars. Visitation with social distancing will begin at 2 p.m., Tuesday, June 23, at the Mauer Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. The family will be present from 5-7 p.m., with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Due to Covid-19 precautions, a private family burial service will take place at Memorial Park Cemetery in Sioux City...

Matthew Charles Schmillen, 45, of Marcus, died unexpectedly Tuesday, June 9, 2020, at Cherokee Regional Medical Center in Cherokee. Matthew Charles Schmillen, the son of Chuck and Diane (Perrin) Schmillen was born on May 20, 1975, in Cherokee. His childhood years were spent in Marcus where he attended school and graduated in 1993...

Dairy industry pioneer and former Wells President and Chief Operating Officer, Fred D. Wells, 93, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 12, 2020, surrounded by his family. Fred was the son of Harry C. Wells, and nephew of Fred H. Wells, original founders of Wells’ Dairy in 1913...

Mary Jane Heien, 90, of Le Mars, died Thursday, June 11, 2020, at Good Samaritan Society-Le Mars, Le Mars. Mary Jane Wescom was born on Jan. 11, 1930, in Pingree, North Dakota, to Harry and Mabel (Mino) Wescom. She attended country school near her home and later attended high school in Pingree, North Dakota...

Connie Jo Farmer, 78, of Hinton, went home to be the Lord April 26, 2020, at her residence. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 20, at Sioux City Baptist Church, 3222 Pawnee Place, in Sioux City. Private private graveside services were held earlier due to the COVID-19 pandemic...

Jeanette Ricke, 90, of Remsen, died Wednesday, June 10, 2020, at the Happy Siesta Health Care Center in Remsen. Jeanette (Ritz) Ricke was born Aug. 3, 1929, to Johann and Margaret (Loutsch) Ritz. Jeanette’s mother died from Rheumatic Fever 19 days after Jeanette’s birth. ...

Clair Gunther, 87, of Lampe, Missouri, and a Le Mars native, died suddenly on Saturday, June 6, 2020, in Springfield, Missouri. Clair Henry Gunther was born on Dec. 27, 1932, to Claire and Mary (Marx) Gunther in Le Mars, the oldest of seven children...