Obituaries

Doris Mortensen, 89, of Le Mars, died Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at Orange City Area Health System in Orange City. Doris Margaret Crawford, the daughter of Lyle and Leona (Thiesen) Crawford, was born Feb. 25, 1933, on a farm in Woodbury County. She attended school in Moville, and graduated from Moville Public School in 1951. Following high school, she worked as a secretary at Lutheran Welfare Company in Sioux City for two years...

Eric Allan Kunkel, from Des Moines, formerly of Remsen, left this world Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. He was 36 years young. Eric was born Sept. 23, 1986, in Le Mars, the son of Mark and Doris (Rolfes) Kunkel. Eric graduated from Remsen-Union High School in 2005. He received his Bachelor of Applied Science from AIB College of Business in 2009 and his MBA from the University of Phoenix in 2011. Eric pursued his dream of Finance...

Marlys Irene Kommes, 79, of Le Mars, died Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, at Avera McKennan Hospital following a lengthy illness. Marlys Irene Kommes was born on Sept. 12, 1943, in Blencoe, the daughter of Newell and Clarice (Erickson) Keele. She played basketball for Blencoe where she graduated from high school. Following graduation, Marlys attended MBT Business College in Sioux City...

Dr. Rose M. Homan DDS, 75, of Omaha, Nebraska, and formerly of Remsen, died Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023, at The Heritage at Sterling Ridge in Omaha, Nebraska. Rose was born on Jan. 23, 1948, in Le Mars, the daughter of Gerald and Armella (Pottebaum) Homan...

Kenneth J. Baack, Jr., 53, of Le Mars, died unexpectedly Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, at his home. Kenneth Joseph Baack, Jr. was born on May 15, 1969, in Le Mars, the son of Kenneth Joseph Sr. and Mary (Van Essen) Baack. He attended Le Mars Community Schools, graduating in 1987. Along with a diploma came the title The Legend of ’87. During high school, Kenny worked at Fuel n More. ...

Harvey Everett Begnoche Sr., 91, of Le Mars, died Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, at his home. Harvey was born on April 10, 1931, in Elk Point, South Dakota, to Archie and Emma (Girard) Begnoche. He was raised in rural South Dakota and attended local country school...

Kenneth J. Baack Jr., 53, of Le Mars, died Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, at his home. A visitation will begin at 4 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 29, 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. Deacon Paul Gengler will officiate. Private family burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars...

Clint Lineberry, 79, of Akron, formerly of Westfield, died Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, at Hawarden Regional Healthcare in Hawarden.  Funeral services will be 11a.m., Monday, Jan. 30, at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Akron. The Rev. Steve Jewett and the Rev. Frank Young will officiate. Visitation with the family present will be 5-7 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 29, at the funeral home. Visitation will resume from 10 a.m., until service time on Monday at the funeral home...

Marlys Irene Kommes, 79, of Le Mars, died Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, at Avera McKennan Hospital following a lengthy illness. Private family services will be held at a later date. Expressions of sympathy may be directed through mauerjohnsonfh.com.

Stacy Sue (Schilling) Shepherd, 53, of Corning, died Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, at her home. She was smiling and at peace. Stacy Sue (Shilling) Shepherd blessed this world with her presence on July 2, 1969. She was a blessing brought by God to Donald and Alexis Shilling who adopted Stacy; loving her from the moment they met her. Stacy was raised by her parents in Le Mars...

David “Dave” Hoffman, 73, of Le Mars, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, at UnityPoint Health St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Sioux City. David Paul Hoffman, the eldest son of Theodore “Ted” and Marjorie (Morris) Hoffman, was born Jan. ...

Marlys J. Frerichs, 89, of Le Mars, died Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, at her home surrounded by family. Marlys J. Frerichs was born Nov. 21, 1933, on the family farm northeast of Orange City, the daughter of Nelson and Ada (Schuller) DeJong.   Growing up, she attended Trinity Reformed Church in Orange City. ...

Bernie Gundel, 91, of Fontanelle, and formerly of Le Mars, passed on to be with his Lord Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2022, after medical issues causing a brief stay at the Greenfield Rehabilitation and Health Care Center. He was just nine days short of his 92nd birthday...

Leora “Lee” Susemihl, 95, of Le Mars, died Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, at Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars. Leora May Hess, the daughter of Harry and Gladys (Sturdevant) Hess, was born on Dec. 15, 1927, in Wheaton, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed at the Taylor E.U.B. ...

Kenneth Joseph Kohler, 86, of Remsen, died Friday, Jan. 13, 2023, surrounded by his family at Bavarian Meadows Assisted Living in Remsen. Ken was born March 1, 1936, the son of Carl and Nora (Mohning) Kohler. He attended Remsen Public School until the 8th grade. At the age of 14 he began farming with his father. Ken moved to California when he was 18 and worked in a service repair shop for one year. Ken moved back to Remsen to farm with his father...

Dr. Leslie “Les” Hemmingson, 82, of Le Mars, died Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, at Good Samaritan Society in Le Mars. Leslie was born on April 3, 1940, on the farm of his grandparents (Carl and Clara Taute) near Kadoka, South Dakota, to parents Elbert Orlando and Hattie Frances Ella (Taute) Hemmingson. He moved with his parents from near Kadoka to just south of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where his father was a hired man tending sheep. In 1943, they rented a farm southwest of Canton, South Dakota...

Barbara Jane Nielsen, 97, of Plainfield, Illinois, died Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, at Hillside Rebab and Care Center in Yorkville, Illinois. Barbara was born July 22, 1925, in Luton, the daughter of Walton and Hallie (Montange) Sargisson. She was raised on a farm and graduated from Luton High School where she excelled both academically and in girls’ basketball. She continued her education at Morningside College in Sioux City...

Margaret C. Pecks, 101, of Le Mars, died Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, at New Perspective Senior Living in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Margaret Catherine Pecks was born on March 3, 1921, in Le Mars, to Ulrich and Anna (Lubben) Kock. She graduated from Le Mars Central High School. ...

Margaret C. Pecks, 101, of Le Mars, died Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, at New Perspective Senior Living in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Funeral services will take place at 10:30 a.m., Monday, Jan. 16, at the Presbyterian United Church of Christ in Le Mars. The Rev. ...

Margaret C. Pecks, 101, of Le Mars, died Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, at New Perspective Senior Living in Prior Lake, Minnesota. The Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars is assisting Margaret’s family with funeral arrangements. Expressions of sympathy may be directed through mauerjohnsonfh.com...

John Van Hill, 81, of Le Mars, entered into the loving arms of Jesus surrounded by his family on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, at University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. John Albert Van Hill was born on Oct. 6, 1941, in Orange City, to Albert and Henrietta ‘Hattie’ (Kozak/Mulder) Van Hill. He attended Orange City Christian School, MOC-FV School and graduated from Unity Christian High School...

Deloris M. Bohlken, 91, of Le Mars, died Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, at the Good Samaritan Village in Le Mars. Deloris Mable Bohlken was born on July 13, 1931, on a farm west of Merrill, the daughter of Harvey and Mable (Gabel) Herman. She was raised near Merrill and later graduated from Le Mars High School...

John Donlin, 77, of Le Mars, died Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center in Sioux City. John Francis Donlin, the son of Joseph and Gertrude (Hoffman) Donlin, was born Jan. 13, 1945, in Le Mars. John grew up on a farm south of Le Mars and attended St. Joseph Elementary School and Gehlen Catholic High School. John then went to work with his father on the farm...