Obituaries

Marvel Leota Smith, 87, of Wapello, formerly of Winfield, died on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2003, at Great River Medical Center in West Burlington, following a short illness.      The graveside service will be scheduled at a later date in Scott Cemetery in Winfield. Cremation Society of Eastern Iowa is in charge of arrangements. A memorial has been established for the Wapello Fire Department.

Joseph James Mehmert, 78, of St. Paul died suddenly on Saturday afternoon, March 1, 2003, at Trinity West Medical Center in Rock Island, Ill.      The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 5 at St. James Catholic Church in St. Paul, with the Rev. Dennis Hoffman officiating. Burial will be in St. James' Cemetery in St. Paul. Visitation will begin after 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4 at the church, where

Nancy C. Rule, 51, of Montrose, died on Friday, Feb. 28, 2003, at Fort Madison Community Hospital in Fort Madison.      The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4 at Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk, with the Rev. Monte Knudsen officiating. Burial will be in Montrose Cemetery. Visitation will begin after 1 p.m. today at the memorial home with family present from 7 to 9 p.m. Memorials have been

William Robert Riley, 89, of Ocala, Fla., died Feb. 26, 2003, following a lengthy illness.      A memorial has been established with Hospice of Marion County Incorporated, PO Box 4860, Ocala, FL 34478-4860.

Irene Elizabeth West, 96, formerly of Brighton, died at 2:20 a.m. Friday, Feb. 28, 2003, at the Davenport Good Samaritan Center in Davenport.      The funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, at the Brighton United Church, with the Revs. Kitch Shatzer and Dean Elmore officiating. Burial will be in the New Sweden Methodist Cemetery in New Sweden. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. Tuesday, with the

Agnes Catherine Buck, 91, of Crystal Lake, Ill., died on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003, at Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago.      The graveside service will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 1 at Green Mound Cemetery west of Trenton. Family and friends will gather at the Beatty Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant at noon on Saturday. A memorial has been established to the Salvation Army.

Florene Elmore, 81, went to heaven Saturday, February 22, 2003 while staying at Arlington Memorial Hospital in Arlington, Texas.      A memorial service will be held at Salem Friends Church in Salem on Monday, March 3, 2003, at 9 a.m.

RIVERSIDE - Irene Mary Knebel, 98, of Riverside, died Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003, at Pleasantview Home in Kalona.      Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 1, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Riverside, with the Rev. Rich Adams officiating. Burial will be in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m., with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Sorden-Lewis Funeral Home in Riverside.

Rita Marie Davis, 70, of Washington, died Thursday, Feb. 27, 2003, at her home, following a brief illness.      Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 1, at Jones-Eden Funeral Home in Washington, with the Rev. Mark Young officiating. Burial will be in Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington. Visitation will begin at noon Friday at the funeral home, with the family present from 7 to 8:30 Friday evening.

Lydia Marner, 96, of Kalona, died Thursday, Feb. 27, 2003, at the Pleasantview Home in Kalona following a brief illness.      Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 1, at the West Union Mennonite Church with the Rev. David Boshart and Deaconess Helen Yoder officiating. Burial will be in the West Union Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 2 to 8 p.m., Friday at Powell Funeral Home in Wellman where