Obituaries

Ben R. Biggs, 72, of rural Birmingham, died at 12:10 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2006, at Nelson Nursing Home in Fairfield.      The funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, at Pedrick Funeral Home in Keosauqua, with the Rev. Jerry Caughron officiating. Burial will be in Mount Moriah Cemetery, north of Douds.      Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, at Pedrick Funeral Home, with family present

Steve "Frog" Farnsworth, 57, of Mt. Pleasant, died unexpectedly Friday, Jan. 27, 2006, at Henry County Health Center.      The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31 at Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel, with the Rev. Dr. Jerry Kelly officiating. His body will be cremated following the funeral.      Visitation will be held from noon to 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30, at Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel, with family

Dennis D. Combs, 76, of Burlington, died at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, 2006, in his son's home in Burlington.      The graveside funeral and burial for Mr. Combs will be at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 31, in Richwoods Cemetery in rural Trenton, with the Rev. Randall Gearhart officiating.      Visitation will be from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesday at Lunning Chapel. A memorial has been established.      Mr. Combs was born Feb.

Irene V. Plecker, age 93, of Washington died Friday, Jan. 27, 2006, at United Presbyterian Home, following a lengthy illness.      Celebration of Life services were held today at Jones-Eden Funeral Home in Washington. Burial was in Keota Cemetery in Keota. A memorial has been established for First Baptist Church in Washington.      Mrs. Plecker was born January 29, 1912, in Washington County to Cyrus M. and Bessie

Donald Wayne Mills, 67, of rural Mt. Pleasant died Saturday, Jan. 28, 2006, at his home.      The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel, with Pastor Richard Iles officiating. Burial will be in the Hillsboro Cemetery.      Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Olson Powell Memorial Chapel, with family present from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials have been established for the Mt.

Sally Marie Mercer, 78, of Overland Park, Kan., formerly of Farmington, died at 10:42 Thursday Jan. 26, 2006, at her son's home in Overland Park.      The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 30, at the Schmitz-Lynk Funeral Home in Farmington with Rev. Paul Rekward officiating. Burial will be in the Greenglade Cemetery in Farmington.      Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m., Sunday Jan. 29, at

Gerald P. Gerleman, D.C., 70 of Henderson, Nev., died Jan. 1, 2006.      Mr. Gerleman was born on Sept. 24, 1935 in Calmar and was a former resident of Mt. Pleasant. He graduated from Palmer Chiropractic in 1960 and practiced in Fairfield, Iowa for 18 years before moving to Nevada and practicing for 28 more. He served in the US Army and was a member of various organizations.

Eunice Shappell Knight, 72, of Burlington and formerly of Mt. Pleasant, died Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2006, at the Trinity Medical Center in Rock Island, Ill.      According to her wishes, her body will be cremated. A memorial service will be held in the spring. Inurnment will be held at the Forest Home Cemetery in Mt. Pleasant.      The Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel of Mt. Pleasant is in charge of those arrangements.

Thomas J. Ping, 76, of West Point, died at 12:50 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2006 at his home.      Visitation will be Friday at the Schmitz-Lynk Funeral Home in West Point. There will be a wake service at 3 p.m. the family will meet with friends from 5-8 Friday evening the rosary will be recited at 7 p.m.      A memorial mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in West Point with

Iona Geraldine Morse, 67, of New London, died Sunday, Jan. 22, 2006 at University of Iowa Hospitals.      The graveside service will be Saturday, Jan. 28, at 1 p.m. at the Long Creek Cemetery, in Danville, with the Rev. Ken Smith officiating. Visitation will be at Elliott Chapel, New London, on Saturday at 9 a.m., with family present from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m. A memorial has been established for her son's care.      M