Obituaries

William “Billy” Bunjes, 44, of Le Mars, died Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, at Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m., Friday, Jan. 28, at All Saints Catholic Parish - St. Joseph Church in Le Mars. The Rev. Bruce Lawler will celebrate Mass. Private family burial will be in Resthaven Memory Gardens in Le Mars...

Barbara Jane (Hart) Fornoff, 95, a resident of Glenview, Illinois, died Friday, Jan. 14, 2022, after a long illness. She was born and raised in Le Mars. Barbara was the wife of Richard Fornoff for 61 years prior to his death. She is predeceased by her brother, John, sister, Betty Schipper Wells and parents. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Gwen Hart and nephew Scott Schipper, and his family...

Michael Kirsch, 66, of Le Mars, died Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, at Accura Health in Le Mars. Private services will be held at a later date. The Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars is assisting Michael’s family with arrangements. Expressions of sympathy may be directed through www.mauerjohnsonfh.com...

Duane E. Winterfeld, 81, of Le Mars, died Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, at his home in Le Mars. Duane Eldon Winterfeld was born Aug. 5, 1940, in Sioux Center, the son of Theodore and Edna (Rehder) Winterfeld. He was raised in Sioux Center and graduated from Sioux Center High School in 1957. Following graduation, Duane assisted his parents on the family farm...

Dennis L. Baack, 71, of Luverne, Minnesota and formerly of Sheldon, died Friday, Jan. 14, 2022, at Sanford Hospice Cottage in Luverne, Minnesota.  Dennis Lee Baack, the son of Donald Carl and LaVonne (Jurgenson) Baack was born Oct. 20, 1950, in Le Mars. Dennis attended school in Le Mars and graduated Le Mars Community School High School 1968. ...

Beverley Berens, 85, of Benson, Minnesota, died Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, at Scandi Haven Village in Benson. Beverley Ruth June Berens was born April 10, 1936, in Merrill, the daughter of Stanley and Ruth (Kemnitz) June. Beverley was baptized in Merrill, at the Methodist Church. She attended school in Merrill, and was crowned homecoming queen in 1954, the year she graduated...

Arlen D. Krause, 70, of Le Mars, died Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, at the Good Samaritan Village in Le Mars. Arlen Darrell Krause was born Feb. 24, 1951, in Sioux City, to Darrell and Phyllis (Holt) Krause. The family lived in Hinton, where Arlen graduated from Hinton High School in 1969. Following high school, Arlen enlisted in the Air Force. He was attached to the 185th Refueling Wing in Sioux City...

Merle Easton Merritt, 88, was surrounded by his family when he died peacefully at his home in Parker, Colorado, on Oct. 2, 2021. The son of Percy R. Merritt and Blanch Harrison Merritt was born on Feb. 9, 1933. Merle is remembered as a talented college professor, an enthusiastic traveler, and above all, a devoted family man...

Michael Kirsch, 66, of Le Mars, died Tuesday, Jan. 18, at Accura Health in Le Mars. The Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars is assisting Michael’s family with arrangements. Expressions of sympathy may be directed through www.mauerjohnsonfh.com...

Duane E. Winterfeld, 81, of Le Mars, died Wednesday, Jan. 19, at his home in Le Mars. The Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars is assisting Duane’s family with arrangements. Expressions of sympathy may be directed through www.mauerjohnsonfh.com...

Charlie O. Schrunk, 87, of Le Mars, formerly of Mapleton and Danbury, died Tuesday, Jan. 18, at Accura Health in Le Mars. Charlie Otto Schrunk was born on June 3, 1934, on the family farm near Danbury, one of nine children born to Otto and Frances (Sohm) Schrunk. He attended Danbury Catholic and later graduated from Danbury High School...

Robert W. Becker, 100, of Le Mars, died Sunday, Jan. 16, at Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars. Robert William Becker was born Aug. 15, 1921, in Le Mars, the youngest of three sons born to Herman and Augusta (Maerz) Becker. He attended school at Le Mars High School where he played football, graduating in 1939. Following graduation, Bob began working with his father at Becker Trafford Painting & Decorating...

Robert W. Becker, 100, of Le Mars, died Sunday, Jan. 16, at Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars. The Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars is assisting Bob’s family with arrangements. Expressions of sympathy may be directed through www.mauerjohnsonfh.com...

Arlen D. Krause, 70, of Le Mars, died Thursday, Jan. 13, at the Good Samaritan Village in Le Mars. Family graveside services will be held at a later date at Resthaven Memory Gardens in Le Mars. The Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars is assisting Arlen’s family with funeral arrangements...

Cheryl L. Upton died Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, after a long illness. Cheri was born on Aug. 14, 1946, to Frank E. and Gladys A. (Roethler) Betsworth, in Le Mars. She grew up on a farm west of Merrill and attended several schools, graduating from Le Mars Gehlen, which she said was the best year of her whole school life...

Rita M. Wiederholt, 91, of Le Mars, died Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, at Happy Siesta Care Center in Remsen. Rita Wiederholt was born on a farm north of Oyens, on March 14, 1930, to Peter and Minnie (Meis) Delperdang. She was raised on that farm and attended grade school at St. Catherine’s School in Oyens. She then went to St. Joseph’s School, now Gehlen Catholic, in Le Mars, where she graduated in 1947...

Colleen Rae Scholten, 89, of Le Mars, went into the loving arms of her Savior on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. Colleen Rae Mulder was born on Oct. 2, 1932, to Dick W. Mulder and Harriett J. Schutt in Alton. She was raised in Alton and attended Floyd Valley Schools. While in school, Colleen was very involved in all things music, playing both organ and piano at their church and at school. She graduated from high school in 1950 and then began her college education at Westmar College in Le Mars...

LaDonna Oltmanns, 89, of Le Mars, formerly of Craig, died Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, at the Good Samaritan Society of Le Mars. LaDonna Ida Klave was born Aug. 10, 1932, in Craig, the daughter of Harm and Edna (Eggebrecht) Klave. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Craig. She attended grade school in Craig and later high school in Ireton. She graduated from Ireton High School. Following high school, she moved to Sioux City where she did office work...

Kenneth James Loutsch, 65 years old, of Kingsley, died Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, at UnityPoint Health-St. Luke’s in Sioux City. Ken was born Aug. 18, 1956, at Le Mars, the son of Gene and Mary C. (Arens) Loutsch. He grew up on the family farm south of Remsen. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic School, graduating in 1974. Ken attended Iowa State University for a short time and worked at several different jobs before beginning to farm with his family. ...

Ryan Robert Hemmingsen, of Akron, died Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, at Sanford Children’s Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Ryan was born on Jan. 29, 2019, in Sioux City, to Austin and Tasha (DeRocher) Hemmingsen. Ryan had a lot of limitations in life; despite his limitations he lived a life full of happiness. ...

Colleen Rae Scholten, 89, of Le Mars, died Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, at Park Place Estates Assisted Living in Le Mars. A Celebration of Life will be 11 a.m., Monday, Jan. 10, at Presbyterian United Church of Christ in Le Mars. A private family burial will be at Nassau Township Cemetery...

Allen Joseph Willett, age 69, of Alton, died Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, at Orange City Area Health System Hospital in Orange City. Allen was born March 10, 1952, at Le Mars, the son of Martin and Armella (Ruden) Willett. He was raised and educated in the Remsen and Alton area. He graduated from Spalding Catholic High School in 1970. He then enlisted in the U. S. Air Force and served for one year. After his honorable discharge he moved back to Alton...

Timothy Lee Vondrak, 70, of Merrill, died at his home on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, after struggling with his health for many years. Tim was born on Aug. 16, 1951, in Sioux City to Robert and Irene Vondrak. Tim grew up on a farm outside of Merrill and attended Liberty School, later transferring and graduating from Hinton High School. Tim and his high school sweetheart, Sandy (Schindel) were married in Hinton on Aug. ...

James Joseph Sheehan died on Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, where he had a second home. James, known to his friends as Jim, was born on Sept. 24, 1936, to Joseph Fahey Sheehan and Maurine (Gard) Sheehan. He graduated from Gehlen High School in Le Mars where, as center on the basketball team, he had a devastatingly accurate hook shot...

Carl D. Schultz, 70, of Boise, Idaho, died Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. He was born Dec. 6, 1951, in Little Falls, Minnesota, then the family moved to Struble, Iowa, and Carl graduated school in Le Mars. He worked as a professional truck driver in the Midwest area until moving to Boise, Idaho, in 1976 where he worked in construction...