Obituaries

KALONA - Vernon Fisher, 87, died Friday, Feb. 10, 2006, at Pleasantview Home in Kalona, following a brief illness.      Funeral services were held this morning at East Union Mennonite Church in rural Kalona with the Rev. Jay Miiller officiating. Burial was in East Union Cemetery. A memorial has been established for the Pleasantview Home.      Mr. Fisher was born Sept. 21, 1918, near Parnell to Samuel and Mary

Richard Earl Mercer, 79, of Salisbury, Md., died Friday, Jan. 27, 2006, at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury.      A memorial service was held at Holloway Funeral Home in Salisbury. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 132 E. Main St., Salisbury 21801. Online condolences may be sent via www.delmarvaobits.com.      Mr. Mercer was born in Packwood, the son of

Charles Wayne Buzzard, 65, of Stockport died at 12:04 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, 2006, in the Van Buren County Hospital emergency room in Keosauqua.      A service is set for 10:30 a.m. Thursday at First Church of the Nazarene in Fairfield, with the Rev. Howard Innis officiating. Burial with military rites by the Elvin E. Cecil American Legion Post will be in Purdom Cemetery in Keosauqua.      Open visitation will begin

OSKALOOSA - Wilma L. Braden, 75, of Oskaloosa died Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006, at Mahaska Hospital from complications during surgery.      Funeral services were held this morning at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Harold Schutte of the First Assembly of God officiating. Burial was in Forest Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the First Assembly of God in Oskaloosa or to Mahaska Hospice.      Wilma

WINFIELD - Gerald Young Rodgers, 82, of Winfield died Friday, Feb. 10, 2006, at Park Place Long Term Care Unit in Mt. Pleasant.      Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 14, at Honts Funeral home in Winfield. Burial will be in Crawfordsville Cemetery. Visitation is being held today from noon to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. A general memorial has been established.      Mr. Rodgers was born March 12,

KEOTA - Thomas Lee Heisdorffer, 56, of Mesa, Ariz., formerly of Keota, died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2006, at his home in Mesa.      A Mass of the Resurrection will begin at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 17, at Holy Trinity Parish - Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in rural Harper with the Rev. Marty Goetz officiating. Burial will be in Ss. Peter and Paul Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 16, at

Leta "Lorene" Taylor, 70, of LaPlata, Mo., died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2006, at Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville.      A service was held today at Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville, with the Rev. David Hartsfield officiating. Interment will follow at Maple Hills Cemetery in Kirksville.      Memorials to Faith United Methodist Church of Kirksville may be mailed to the funeral home at P.O. Box 306,

Clara E. Sheetz, 88, of Washington, died Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006, at McCreedy Home after failing health.      Private family graveside services were held this morning in Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington with the Rev. Everett Burham officiating. A memorial has been established for McCreedy Home in Washington.      Mrs. Sheetz was born Jan. 21, 1918, in Washington to John and Tina (Zieglowsky) Simmering. She married

Rebecca J. "Becky" Benz, 51, of Mount Pleasant died of cancer Thursday, Feb. 9, 2006, at her residence.      A service was held this morning at Calvary Baptist Church, with the Rev. Jeffrey L. "Duke" Crawford officiating. Burial will be in Forest Home Cemetery in Mount Pleasant.      Memorials may be made to the VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post 2561 or the Mount Pleasant Little League Association.      Mrs. Benz

Bonnie Lowry, 90, of Washington, died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2006, at her residence, following a decline in health.      Celebration of Life services will begin at 4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 12, at First Baptist Church in Washington, with the Rev. Darryl Carr officiating. Burial will be in Elm Grove Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be held Sunday at the church from 3 p.m. until the time of services. Memorials have