Obituaries

KALONA - Clifford J. Yoder, 93, of Kalona, died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009, in Mercy Hospital, Iowa City, following a short illness.      Funeral services are at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9, in the Kalona Mennonite Church in Kalona with the Rev. Scott Swartzendruber, the Rev. Mick Murray, and David L. Yoder officiating. Burial will be in East Union Cemetery in rural Kalona. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday and 9 to

Ralph E. Oak, 84, of Columbus Junction, died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, in Mercy Hospital in Iowa City.      According to his wishes, there will be no visitation or services. A private family interment will be held at the Indian Creek Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Columbus Junction United Presbyterian Church. Honts Funeral Home in Winfield is in charge of the arrangements.      Mr. Oak was born Jan. 31,

Hoyt Lester Whitebread, 91, formerly of Fairfield, died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009.      A funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at First Lutheran Church in Keokuk, with interment in Oakland Cemetery in Keokuk.      Open visitation will be from 3-5 p.m. Friday at DeJong's Funeral Home in Keokuk, with family visitation from 5-8 p.m.      Memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church in Keokuk.      Mr. Whitebread was

Meriel Louise Benge, 79, of Washington, died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009, in her residence after failing in health for the past two months.      Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 9, in the Jones-Eden Funeral Home in Washington with the Rev. Colton Clay officiating. Interment will be in Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home, where the family

Paul H. Shaklee, 85, formerly of the Stockport area, died Saturday, Jan. 3, at Woodland Manor in Conroe, Texas.Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9, at Murphy Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant, with family present from 6 to 8 p.m. A graveside service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at Spencer Cemetery in rural Stockport, with the Rev. Linda Renken officiating.Online condolences may be sent at

Marilyn Jean Burns Harryman, 65, of rural Douds, died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008, at the Davis County Hospital hospice room.      A joint memorial service for her and her husband will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Christ United Methodist Church in Douds, with the Rev. Ann Donat officiating. Interment will be in Leando Cemetery.      Visitation will be from 9-10:45 a.m. Saturday at the church.      Memorials to Christ

James E. Porter, 92, of Washington, Iowa, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009, at Washington County Hospital in Washington.      A graveside service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Riverside Cemetery in Anamosa.      No visitation is planned.      Memorials may be made to Camp Courageous of Iowa or to a charity of the donor's choice.      McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home of Bettendorf is assisting with arrangements.

LONE TREE - Ronald Lathrop, 66, of Lone Tree, died Monday, Jan. 5, 2009, in the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.      Per Mr. Lathrop's wishes there will be no visitation or funeral services. A memorial fund has been established. The Sorden-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services in Lone Tree is in charge of the arrangements.      Mr. Lathrop was born Aug. 21, 1942, in Iowa City. He

Esther Elizabeth Finke, 91, of Danville, died Monday, Jan. 5, at the Danville Care Center.Visitation will begin at noon Wednesday, Jan. 7, at Elliott Chapel in New London, with family present from 6 to 8 p.m. A funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, at the chapel, with the Rev. Leonard Schantz officiating. Burial will be in Burlington Memorial Park in Burlington.She was born May 22, 1917, in Des Moines

Rhonda Jean Carver, 48, of Mt. Pleasant, died Monday, Jan. 5, in the emergency room at Henry County Health Center.There will be no visitation. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, at Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel, with the Rev. Jerry Van Hooser officiating. Inurnment will be at the Richwoods Cemetery at a later date.A memorial has been established and may be directed to the family. On line