Obituaries

Honoring the Lives of Those We've Lost in Dysart and Traer, Iowa

Dotti Jean Keefer

Dotti Jean Keefer

Jun 1, 2025

Dotta (Dotti) Jean Keefer, 79, of Traer, passed away on Sunday, June 1, surrounded by her loving family following a lengthy illness.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 5, at Overton Funeral Home in Traer. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 6, at the Traer United Methodist Church. A luncheon will...

Don Dennis Schellhase

Don Dennis Schellhase

May 15, 2025

Don Dennis Schellhase was born on March 6, 1945, Vinton, Iowa, the son of Oran and Lucille (Kirkwood) Schellhase. He attended Garrison High School where he met the love of his life, Mary Kathryn Donnelly. They were married for 55 years, and Don took care of Mary the last 20 years of their marriage as she suffered from MS. Don...

Duane Christian

Duane Christian

May 15, 2025

Mahlon “Duane” Christian, 84, from Vinton, formerly of Dysart, died on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at his home.

He was born February 4, 1941, in La Porte City, the son of Francis and Burnetta Christian.

Growing up on the family farm outside of La Porte City he was very busy helping on the farm and active in high school sports.

On August 28th,...

Blanche Helen Halupnick

Blanche Helen Halupnick

May 9, 2025

Blanche Helen Halupnick, age 101, of Traer, Iowa, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Friday, May 9, 2025, at Adel Acres Care Facility in Adel, Iowa, under the care of Hospice of the Midwest.

She was born on June 5, 1923, on her family farm in Toledo, Iowa, to Jerry and Helen (Kalinay) Rohach. Following high school, Blanche earned her...

Jane Ann Gaston

Jane Ann Gaston

Apr 29, 2025

Jane Ann (Bradley) Gaston of Traer, IA, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. She was 85 years old.

Jane was born on June 28, 1939, to Albert and Florence (Yohn) Bradley. Along with her twin sister Jean, she was the 6th of 12 children.

Jane married Walter Gaston in 1956 at the Little Brown Church. Residing in...

Katherine "Kathy" Sue Schmit

Katherine "Kathy" Sue Schmit

Apr 16, 2025

Katherine “Kathy” (Bradley) Schmit, of Traer, IA, passed away peacefully under the care of Cedar Valley Hospice on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. She was 77 years old.

Kathy was born on January 26, 1948, to Albert and Florence (Yohn) Bradley. She was the 10th of 12 children. Kathy graduated from Traer High School in 1966 and then attended Pitze’s Beauty School...

Victor Leland Bjork

Victor Leland Bjork

Apr 3, 2025

Victor Leland Bjork was born June 19, 1941, in Sterling, Illinois, the son of Raymond and Edna (Fisher) Bjork. After spending time at the Redbird Mission school in Beverly, Kentucky, Victor served in the United States Army. After marrying Judy, Victor settled in Toledo, Iowa, and became a high school science teacher. Teaching young people was one of his greatest...

Patricia Carol Wood

Patricia Carol Wood

Mar 28, 2025

Patricia Carol Wood was born January 20, 1948, in Grundy Center, Iowa, the daughter of Roy and Carol (Willer) Whitcomb. She graduated from Reinbeck High School in 1966. On December 22, 1967, she married Clark Wood at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Reinbeck, Iowa. They settled and made a home in Traer for many years. They were happily married for...

Irma Jean Podhajsky

Irma Jean Podhajsky

Mar 26, 2025

Irma Jean Podhajsky was born September 6th, 1930, in Marshalltown, Iowa, the daughter of Frank and Irene (Princehouse) Abbe. She graduated from high school in Toledo in 1948, where she was name Homecoming Queen. She married William R. Podhajsky on November 23, 1949; he preceded her in death on February 4, 1977. Together, they farmed their whole lives on the...

Kim Rodney Johnson

Kim Rodney Johnson

Mar 23, 2025

Kim Rodney Johnson was born on March 19, 1958, in Waverly, Iowa, the son of Albert Wayne and Judy Mae (Jensen) Johnson. Kim loved life and lived it to the fullest. He faithfully spent 47 years in service as a mechanic at the Bill Colwell Ford garage.

His family was of the utmost importance to him. When he was not at...

Larry K. Winkelpleck

Larry K. Winkelpleck

Mar 21, 2025

Larry K. Winkelpleck was born south of Dysart on the farm, on October 7, 1939, the son of Ralph and Emma (Raymond) Winkelpleck.

Larry began his education at Dysart, graduating with the class of 1958. He farmed with his dad and drove truck. He was a partner for some time in Dysart Trucking. He was a member of the Dysart Legion...

Henry Joe Jacobson

Henry Joe Jacobson

Mar 17, 2025

Henry Joe Jacobson 57, of Dysart, IA, died Monday, March 17, 2025, at home surrounded by his family following his courageous battle with cancer. Henry was born in Waterloo, IA on June 24, 1967, to Larry Jacobson and Sandra (Bartlett) Bonis. He lived in Iowa until the late 1970’s when their family relocated to San Diego, CA. There he developed...

Darrell William Sivertsen

Darrell William Sivertsen

Mar 16, 2025

Darrell William Sivertsen of Traer, IA, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones on Sunday, March 16, 2025, at Unity Point Hospital in Waterloo, IA. He was 85 years old.

 Darrell was born on January 26, 1940, in Traer, IA, to Vernon and Viola (Carstensen) Sivertsen. During high school, Darrell participated in wrestling and football. He graduated from Traer High...

Peggy Ann Crees

Peggy Ann Crees

Mar 15, 2025

Peggy A. Crees, 87, of Dysart died March 15, 2025, after a short illness.

She was born on November 28, 1937, in Des Moines, the daughter of Gerald and Mildred Raffensperger. She married Willis W. Crees on December 20, 1958, in Des Moines. The couple met at a dance at the YMCA in Des Moines, which is hard to believe because...

Connie Jo Binder

Connie Jo Binder

Mar 2, 2025

Connie Jo Binder passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 2, 2025, surrounded by family. She was the daughter of Eva Wepel and Bud Shillinglaw. Connie was born on Tuesday, April 14, 1953, in Webster City, IA.

She is survived by her daughter Michelle McPherson; her son, Michael Binder; her brother Bill Caquelin; her grandchildren Brandi Reader, Faleesha Wepel, Kody Binder, Chase...

Dennis Hatton

Dennis Hatton

Feb 10, 2025

     Dennis Dean Hatton, 60, died peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Monday, February 10, 2025 at Unity Point Medical Center, Waterloo, IA. His courageous battle with cancer was over. A celebration of life will be held on Monday, February 17 with a visitation at 10 am and a memorial service at 11am at Overton Funeral Home, 714...

Robert Duane Caslavka

Robert Duane Caslavka

Jan 30, 2025

Robert Duane Caslavka was born May 30, 1930, on the family farm near Clutier, Iowa, the son of William and Mildred (Konicek) Caslavka. He graduated from Dysart High School in 1947.

When Bob was a young man, he was known for wearing a leather jacket and driving a red convertible. That must have caught Marcella Brehm’s eye, and they married April...

Marcella L. Caslavka

Marcella L. Caslavka

Jan 16, 2025

Marcella Lorraine Caslavka was born March 26, 1935, in Vinton, Iowa, the daughter of Walter and Hazel (Gray) Brehm. She graduated from Urbana High School in 1954. Marcella was proud to be an Urbana cheerleader, and that she could still do a cartwheel in her 50s. She was married to Robert Caslavka on April 3, 1955, in Urbana. Marcella was...

Patricia Jean Stover

Patricia Jean Stover

Dec 25, 2024

Patrica Jean (Luck) Stover, 81 of Traer, IA, passed away on December 25, 2024, at Sunrise Hill Care Center in Traer, IA. There are no services scheduled at this time. 

Lonny Lee Karr

Lonny Lee Karr

Dec 17, 2024

With heavy hearts, we announce the peaceful passing of Lonny Lee Karr, 66, in his Traer home on December 17, 2024. Lonny was born on September 27, 1958, in Waterloo, Iowa, to Robert and Sharon Karr (Hansen), Lon lived a life filled with kindness, positivity, and love for the outdoors.

Lon grew up in Traer alongside his siblings Todd (Diane) Karr,...