Obituaries

Carol Clarey, 83, of Le Mars, died Friday, June 11, 2021, at Accura HealthCare in Le Mars. Carol Jean Hillrichs was born on Jan. 3, 1938, in rural Akron, to Fred and Alma (Meinen) Hillrichs. She attended Akron Public Schools. Carol was united in marriage to Paul (Al) Clarey on March 30, 1955, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elk Point, South Dakota. They lived in Elk Point, Sioux City, and rural Merrill before moving to Le Mars in 1982. For over 60 years, Carol provided daycare in her home...

Caren Kay Kounkel, 80, of Palmview, Texas, died Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, at DHR Health in Edinburg, Texas. There will be a graveside service at 1 p.m., Sunday, June 13, at the Liberty Perry Cemetery, 27534 Granite Ave., Hinton. All friends and family are welcome to attend...

Dee Hilliker, 84, of Akron, died Sunday, June 6, 2021, at the Akron Care Center in Akron. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m., Sunday, June 13, at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Akron. Burial will be held at a later date at Riverside Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will begin at 1 p.m., Sunday, at the funeral home...

Timothy R. Kelley, 66, of Remsen, died Saturday, June 5, 2021, at Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Tim was born May 18, 1955, in Le Mars, the son of Patrick LeRoy and LaVonne Faye (Schuchard) Kelley. He grew up in Remsen and graduated from Remsen-Union High School in 1973...

Margaret “Peggy” Honz, 82, of Cherokee, formerly of Le Mars, died Monday, May 31, 2021, at the Cherokee Regional Medical Center. Margaret Honz was born on April 3, 1939, in Staten Island, New York, to William Woldan. She graduated from Tottenville High School in 1956 and in 1960 received a bachelor of science degree in education from the State University of New York at Oswego...

Dee Hilliker, 84, of Akron, died Sunday, June 6, 2021, at the Akron Care Center in Akron. Arrangements are pending with the Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Akron. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com.

Merle Wilken, 80, of Le Mars, died Saturday, June 5, 2021, at Good Samaritan Society after a nine year battle with multiple myeloma. Merle Arthur Wilken was born Dec. 22, 1940, in Le Mars, the son of Arthur and Lucile (Winterfeld) Wilken. He grew up in rural Akron, graduating from Le Mars Community High School in 1959. Merle married Ilo Jean Brownmiller May 25, 1962. Together they made their home in the Craig area. They moved to the family farm in 1977 and to Le Mars in 2012...

Kimberly Plueger, 53, of Le Mars, died at her home on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. Kimberly K. Plueger was born Aug. 31, 1967, in Le Mars, to Stanley and Helen (Torwelle) Plueger. She went to school at Le Mars Community Schools and graduated in 1985. At a young age Kim was diagnosed with diabetes. This greatly affected her health throughout the rest of her life...

Dairy industry pioneer and former Wells President and Chief Operating Officer, Fred D. Wells, died peacefully on 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...

Kimberly Plueger, 53, of Le Mars, died at her home on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. Graveside services will take place at 1 p.m., Tuesday, June 8, at Christ Lutheran Cemetery, Grant Township. The Rev. Shawn Brooks will officiate. The Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars is assisting the family...

Lorraine Cave of Marcus died Tuesday, June 2, 2021, at her home surrounded by her family. Funeral services will take place at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 5, at Peace Lutheran Church in Marcus. The Rev. Kevin Roop will officiate. Burial will follow at Marcus-Amherst Cemetery in Marcus. Visitation with the family present will be from 4-7 p.m., Friday, June 4, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., all at the church. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church prior to the funeral on Saturday...

Paul Jaminet, 66, of Remsen, died Tuesday, June 1, 2021, in Remsen. Paul was born on Nov. 28, 1954, to Ed and Helen (Arens) Jaminet in Le Mars. He was raised in Remsen and received his education from St. Mary’s Catholic School, graduating in May 1973. He then attended Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, graduating in 1977. Paul lived in Remsen and a short period of time worked at Sioux Valley Savings and Loan and then Dan Jaminet Trucking...

Mary ‘Kay’ Forslund (nee Wingert), age 80, died Friday, Nov. 27, 2020, in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. Kay grew up near Kingsley, raised a family in Austin, Minnesota, moved to Omaha, Nebraska (where she lived 20 years and retired from the Sarpy County Election office) and eventually returned to Minnesota to be near family...

Caren Kay Kounkel, 80, of Palmview, Texas, died Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, at DHR Health in Edinburg, Texas. There will be a graveside service at 1 p.m., Sunday, June 13, at the Liberty Perry Cemetery, 27534 Granite Ave., Hinton, Iowa. All friends and family are welcome to attend...

Shirley Sullivan, 98, of Palm Harbor, Florida, formerly of Le Mars, died Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, at Manor Care Nursing Home in Palm Harbor, Florida. Shirley Maxine (Groves) Sullivan was born Oct. 12, 1922, to Bert and Jennie (Smid) Groves in Le Mars. She graduated from St. Joseph’s School (now Gehlen) in 1940. She married Edmund Sullivan on May 8, 1943, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. She was primarily a homemaker but held various jobs over the years...

Laura Van Wyk Postma, 82, of Orange City, died Friday, May 28, 2021, at UnityPoint Health St. Luke’s in Sioux City surrounded by her family. Laura Anna, the daughter of John Ernest and Emma (Reyelts) Meyer, was born on Jan. 8, 1939, in Boyden. Her family lived on a farm between Boyden and Hull, where she spent her childhood and attended St. ...

Margaret Ann “Meg” Alesch, 85, of Marcus, died Saturday, May 22, 2021, at Heartland Care Center in Marcus. Margaret Ann Alesch was born June 1, 1935, in Le Mars, the daughter of Steven and Frances (Kemp) Kellen. She was ninth of 14 children. Meg graduated from St. Joseph School in Le Mars (now Gehlen) and later attended St. Joseph’s Mercy School of Nursing in Sioux City...

Randy S. Mock, 59, died Saturday, April 17, 2021. A memorial gathering will be at the Le Mars Eagle’s Club at 6 p.m., Saturday, May 29. Bring your pictures and stories of Randy.

Terry Utesch, 71, of Le Mars, died on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020, at Mercy One in Sioux City. Terrance Lee Utesch was born Feb. 14, 1949, in Le Mars, to Earl and Dorothy (Calhoun) Utesch. He graduated from Le Mars Community High School, class of 1967. Afterwards he attended Wayne State College where he graduated with a degree in Education...

Jennifer Lynn Loyd, 40, of Kingsley, died Friday, May 21, 2021, at her home in Kingsley. Arrangements are pending at this time. The Johnson - Earnest Funeral Home in Kingsley is assisting Jennifer’s family with arrangements. Expressions of sympathy may be directed through www.mauerjohnsonfh.com...

Margaret Ann Alesch, 85, of Marcus, died Saturday, May 22, 2021, at Heartland Care Center in Marcus. The Earnest - Johnson Funeral Home in Marcus is assisting Margaret’s family with funeral arrangements. Expressions of sympathy may be directed through www.mauerjohnsonfh.com...

LuAnn Langel, 65, of Le Mars, lost her hard-fought battle with ALS on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, at her home in Le Mars surrounded by her family. She is now resting comfortably in the loving arms of Jesus. Lu was born Nov. 12, 1955, to Vernon and Elsie (Sitzmann) Stabe. She grew up on the Stabe Family farm east of Hinton. She was baptized at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Neptune. She graduated from Hinton Community School in 1974...

Errol Wayne Kehrberg, 78, of Boardman, Ohio, died peacefully on Friday, May 7, 2021, at Beeghly Oaks Skilled Nursing Center in Boardman.  Errol was born on Dec. 14, 1942, to Verl and Lillian Woodward Kehrberg of Kingsley. He graduated from Kingsley High School in 1961 with honors. Errol was very talented in music and received an academic scholarship, as well as a music scholarship, to attend Drake University in Des Moines.  ...

Joann Marie Culler (neé Runcie) died Friday, March 5, 2021, after a three year battle with cancer. Joann fought for as long as she was able, but will now rest with her beloved husband Richard, who preceded her in death in 2018. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and more...

Ruby L. Schlesser, 83, of Le Mars, died Saturday, May 15, 2021, at the Good Samaritan Society in Le Mars surrounded by her family. Ruby Lillian Schlesser was born Sept. 13, 1937 in Arcadia, Wisconsin, the daughter of David and Alvina (Killian) Adank. She was raised in the Arcadia area where she graduated from high school. Following school, Ruby ventured to Le Mars with school friends and worked in Le Mars. It is here where she met her future husband, Robert Schlesser...