Obituaries
Rex Whannell
Jul 19, 2025
Rex Andrew Whannell was born on April 2, 1947, at the hospital in Manning, Iowa, to Andrew “Bruce” and Mildred (Buck) Whannell. He spent the first 12 years of his life on a farm south of Shelby, Iowa, and attended Shelby School.
In 1959, the family moved to the “White Star Farm,” located east of Harlan on Highway 44. Rex attended...
Maxine M. Book
Jul 7, 2025
You can watch the Mass live at the following link: https://youtube.com/live/DrTOleUhBSY?feature=share
Maxine Marie Book was born on November 11, 1942, in Earling, Iowa, at her grandmother’s home, to Lawrence and Esther (Hodapp) Gaul. She was baptized and later confirmed at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling, where she also attended school, graduating with the Class of 1960.
Following high school, Maxine pursued...
Melvin Nelsen
Jun 28, 2025
Melvin Glen Nelsen, son of Harvey and Pearl (Cunningham) Nelsen, was born on October 12, 1934, at their family home near Shelby, Iowa. He was baptized and later confirmed into the Lutheran faith. Melvin attended a country school near Shelby and graduated with the Class of 1953 from Shelby High School, where he played football during his school years.
In 1954,...
Christine Jones
Jun 24, 2025
Christine Elaine Jones was born on a snowy Christmas Day, December 25, 1938, to Ralph Eugene and Pauline Mildred (Hardy) Smith on a farm near Woodbine, Iowa. She was baptized and later confirmed her faith at Timothy Lutheran Church in Council Bluffs. Christine spent her childhood on several farms as her father worked for different farmers. She attended a variety...
Frank Velasco
Jun 8, 2025
Frank Daniel Velasco was born on December 16, 1945, the son of Pete and Mary (Dominguez) Velasco in Julesburg, Colorado. He was baptized and later confirmed in the Catholic faith. He attended Ogallala High School in Nebraska and graduated with the class of 1964. After completing his education, he held various jobs before beginning a long-standing career with Union Pacific,...
Sharon Loeffelholz
Jun 5, 2025
Sharon Rae Loeffelholz was born on March 28, 1957, in Le Mars, Iowa, the third of four children of Francis and Mary (Wenzel) Loeffelholz. During her childhood, the family moved frequently due to her father’s career relocations, eventually settling near Minden, Iowa. Sharon attended Lewis Central Community High School in Council Bluffs and graduated with the Class of 1975. An...
Myrna Poldberg
May 15, 2025
Myrna Gwen Poldberg was born on April 16, 1930, the daughter of Ellis and Bonnie Blanche (Kemp) Gearhart at the family home in rural Shelby County, Iowa. She was baptized and later confirmed her faith at the First United Methodist Church in Harlan, Iowa. Myrna began her education at Center #7, also known as Windy Knoll, a country school near...
Philip Heller
May 11, 2025
Philip Albert Heller was born on March 11, 1937, the son of Henry and Frances (Gubbels) Heller in Portsmouth, Iowa. Phil was baptized and confirmed in his faith at St. Mary Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Portsmouth, where he remained a lifelong member. He attended St. Mary Catholic Schools in Portsmouth and began working full-time for his father...
Galen Boeck
May 2, 2025
Galen William Boeck was born on December 30, 1964, the son of Hugo Dwain and Freda Maxine (Peterman) Boeck in Harlan, Iowa. He received his education at Harlan Community High School, graduating with the Class of 1983. He went on to attend Lincoln Technical Institute in Des Moines, where he earned his certification in mechanics.
In 1993, Galen married Cindi Burger,...
Darrell "Goose" Gross
Apr 25, 2025
Darrell Charles “Goose” Gross was born on June 9, 1951, in Shelby County, Iowa, to Leo and Ruth M. (Feser) Gross. He graduated from Harlan High School in 1970 and spent his entire career working in agriculture.
Darrell had a passion for vegetable gardening and loved sharing his harvest with friends and neighbors. He also enjoyed visiting casinos with friends and...
William "Bill" Bissen
Apr 23, 2025
William “Bill” Bissen, age 66, passed away at his home in rural Defiance on April 23, 2025. In addition to his parents, Leonard “Bud” and Bernice (Kenkel) Bissen, he was preceded in death by brother-in-law, Gail Foxhoven.
He is survived by sisters, Betty Foxhoven of Earling, IA and Barb Doran of Plano, TX; nieces and nephews: Tammy (Greg) Bladt of Harlan,...
Daniel Velasco
Apr 8, 2025
Daniel Frank Velasco was born on October 30, 1990, the son of Frank Daniel Velasco and Kim (Johnson) Marples in North Platte, Nebraska. He was raised in Elk Horn, Iowa and attended the Baptist Church. He graduated from Elk Horn Kimballton High School with the class of 2009. He continued his education at Iowa State University, earning a bachelor's degree...
John L. Andersen
Mar 30, 2025
John Lynn Andersen was born on June 1, 1960, in Harlan, Iowa, to Lynn and Mary Lou (Reeves) Andersen. He grew up in Jacksonville and graduated from Harlan Community High School with the Class of 1979. John joined the United States Army in 1980 and was medically discharged later that year.
After high school, John spent some time landscaping, but primarily...
Thomas "Tom" Rihner
Mar 16, 2025
Thomas “Tom” LeRoy Rihner was born on February 4, 1935, in Shelby, Iowa to Wilbur L. “Roy” and Bertha “Bertie” (Messerschmidt) Rihner. He attended Shelby Consolidated School and graduated with the Class of 1953. During high school, Tom drove a school bus on Route 4 and helped his father with his trucking business. In 1953, he worked for the Rock...
Erik P Rasmussen
Mar 10, 2025
Erik Paul Rasmussen was born on November 20, 1964, at the hospital in Harlan, Iowa to Franklin “Fraz” and Doris Rasmussen.
He lived in Council Bluffs with his friends, where he enjoyed outings, shopping trips, and simply spending time together. He especially loved grocery shopping.
Erik had a deep love for music, particularly country music, and cherished car rides around town—especially trips...
Marlin Petersen
Mar 8, 2025
Marlin Leslie Petersen was born on April 18, 1957, the son of Melvin L. and Evelyn M. (Michaelsen) Petersen at Clarkson Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. He was raised on the farm near Redline. He attended Irwin Kirkman Community Schools and graduated with the class of 1975. Marlin was a lifelong member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church near Jacksonville.
From a young age,...
Tim Gross
Feb 17, 2025
Timothy Joseph Gross was born on December 16, 1949, the son of Leonard and Marie Katherine (Kaufman) Gross in Des Moines, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Earling. Tim received his education from St. Joseph Catholic School until the 11th grade and graduated from Harlan High School with the class of 1968.
On August 29,...
John Haas
Feb 17, 2025
John Kenneth Haas was born September 1, 1928, on the family farm located SW of Jacksonville, Iowa to Adolph and Johanna (Nielsen) Haas as the 6th of 7 children (Ruby, Edna, James, Russell, Amy, John and Donald) who have all passed. John was baptized and confirmed in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Jacksonville and attended Jackson #9 country school through...
Joyce Fah
Jan 14, 2025
Joyce Elaine Fah was born on September 28, 1937, to Earl and Inez (Clinton) White in Creston, Iowa. Joyce received her education from Creston High School, graduating in 1955. Joyce moved to Omaha and worked as a telephone operator.
On December 21, 1956, Joyce married Joseph Fah in Omaha, Nebraska. The couple made their home in Harlan, IA. They were blessed with...
Luke Clark
Dec 30, 2024
Luke was born November 11, 1954 in Oskaloosa, Iowa the son of Gerald and Shirley (Lamere) Clark. Luke received his education from Harlan Community High School and graduated with the class of 1973. After graduation Luke attended Dunwoody Technical College in Minneapolis, MN.
Luke loved canoeing on the Nish, all things outdoors, riding his Harley and a good cold Budweiser.
Luke is...
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