Obituaries

COLUMBUS JUNCTION-Eileen Marie McDonald, 67, of Fredonia, died Friday, March 23, 2007, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, following a courageous battle with cancer.      Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, at the Stacy-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services in Columbus Junction, with the Rev. Betsey Neipert officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today

Almeta L. Simkin, 96, of Salem, died Monday, March 26, at the Henry County Health Center in Mt. Pleasant.Funeral services are pending at the Beatty-Murphy Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant.

Ruth Starr Hunt, age 91, of Fairfield, passed away Friday, March 23, 2007 at Jefferson County Hospital in Fairfield.      Visitation with the family present will be held 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM, Monday, March 26, 2007 at Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield.      Following her wishes, the body will be cremated. A memorial service will be held 10:30 AM, Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield. Pastor Gary

RICHLAND-Paul R. Baiotto, 87, of Keota, formerly of Rubio, died Thursday, March 22, 2007, at Maplewood Manor Nursing Home in Keota.      Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 26, at Trinity Friends Church in Richland, with the Rev. Don Collings officiating. Burial will be in Richland Friends Cemetery, with military honors by Richland American Legion Post No. 504. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m.

Elouise Schultz, 91, of Olathe, Kan., and formerly of Farmington, died Thursday, March 22, in Spring Valley, Calif.In accordance with her wishes her body has been cremated. A memorial service will be held over Memorial Day weekend at Acklam Cemetery in Farmington. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital, Disabled American Veterans, or the Jean Wilkinson Foundation in McAllen, Texas. Schmitz-Lynk

Ruth H. Hunt, 91, of Fairfield, died Friday, March 23, at Jefferson County Hospital in Fairfield.Visitation with the family present will be held from 6:30-8 p.m. Monday, March 26, at Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield. Following her wishes, the body will be cremated. A memorial service will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 27, at the funeral home, with Pastor Gary Van Nyhuis officiating. Burial of cremains will be in

Wayne D. Watkins, 92, of Ft. Madison, died Saturday, March 24, at his home.The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 27, at the Schmitz-Lynk Funeral Home in Donnellson, with the Rev. Daniel Hemken officiating. The family will receive friends from 10-11 a.m. Burial will be in Sharon Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Lee Co. Hospice or PAW Animal Shelter, in lieu of flowers. Schmitz-Lynk Funeral Home

WAYLAND - Mary Lou Swailes, 66, of Wayland died Thursday, March 22, 2007 in Mercy Hospital, Iowa City.      Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, March 26 in the Beatty-Murphy Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant with the Rev. Gary Vannyhuis officiating. Burial will be in North Hill Cemetery, north of Wayland. Friends may call after 1 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home where the family will be present from 2 to 4

MERRIMACK, N.H. - Lucille "Chris" M. Bendickson, 86, of Merrimack died Wednesday, March 21, 2007 in Hillsborough Country Nursing Home as a result of Alzheimer's.      A private burial will take place at a later date in Arizona. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association. Phaneuf Funeral Home and Crematorium is in charge of the arrangements.      Mrs. Bendickson was born Jan. 13, 1921 in Saginaw, Mich.,

RIVERSIDE - Athlyn Shirley Beranek, 85, of Riverside died Wednesday, March 21, 2007 in the Washington County Hospital following a sudden illness.      Celebration of Life services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 26 in the Jones-Eden Funeral Home in Washington with the Rev. Jim Beranek officiating. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday in the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 2 to 4