BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

       Margaret Ellen Johnson, 86, Story City. Five children survive, including Mark (Tammi) Quillen of Madrid. Graveside service in Story City. 

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

       Laura E. McConkey Herrig, 92, Boone/Eastern Star. Born in Storm Lake. Married Fred Herrig in Omaha in 1949. Fred died in 1990. Laura always took pride in "looking her best" and in the 1980's and 90's, she worked at Marla's House of Larger Fashion. Eventually, she owned and operated Marla's House of Larger Fashion in Storm Lake before retiring in Boone. She became a well known door greeter at Walmart in Boone. Laura loved the outdoors, especially fishing, and she had a warm heart for animals. She and Fred were the parents of four daughters, including Judy, BHS-68, (Bill) Haberman of Spencer who survives. The deceased daughters are Barbara, BHS-69, Susan and Linda. Services in Boone.

       Charlotte Mae Anderson, 97, Boone/Eastern Star since 2019. Earned a GED in 1989. Married Ralph Anderson in 1947. Ralph passed in 2001. Charlotte was the head cook at the Imperial Inn Restaurant, then worked as a telephone operator at ISU. Retired in 1991. An active and faithful church member, she enjoyed cooking, baking, crocheting, floral arranging, reading, playing Bingo and Chinese Checkers. Survivors include a daughter, Alana (Lana) Russell of Boone, and two sons, including Darrell Anderson of Ogden. Services in Boone.

         Mary Margaret Neikirk, 80, Santa Fe, NM. Died January 14, 2026.  Born in Texas. BHS-64, where she excelled in academics and athletics. University of Texas in Austin and again excelled academically. Earned a B.S. in Physical Education. Taught at Brown University and then, earned a Master of Science degree at the University of North Carolina. Worked as a teacher/coach in Wisconsin and enrolled in the doctoral program at the University of Georgia and earned a Doctor of Education in P.E. in 1985. A lifelong learner, she studied gardening, horticulture, history, religion and learned Spanish and German. Moved to Santa Fe in 1983 and taught at Southwestern College and for various other programs. Mary loved animals and gardening while grappling with bipolar disorder most of her adult life. Four siblings survive and a COL is scheduled for May 2, 2026 in New Mexico.

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

       Very late addition......Richard Young, 87, BHS-57, passed away February 12.        

       Michael James Lingelbach, 74, Boone. Born in Boone. Marine vet who proudly served as a bodyguard connected with the Apollo 14 mission. Survivors include his daughter, Micah (Parvez) Fausal, and a brother, Darrell Lingelbach, BHS-64.     

        Mark Alan Johnson, 73. BHS-71. Born in Yakima, WA. Grew up in Boone. Spent his career working in the sheet metal industry, contributing to the construction of the Seattle Space Needle and Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. His passion was found in the strings of a guitar. He was a man of few worries and many melodies. Easy going, with a laid-back philosophy, his life was a melody of hard work, family and music. Mark expressed much of his love through his cooking. Survivors include three daughters, Holly, Audrey and Mary. A COL will be held at Cedar Pointe in Boone.       

       Mary Theresa Uthe Wirth, 92, Gilbert/Bethany Manor, Story City. Born in Boone. Ames HS-51. Previously attended schools in Jordan, at Boone Sacred Heart and Boxholm. Iowa State Teacher's College grad and taught school in Colo and Gilbert. Married Vincent Wirth in 1957 and the couple farmed northwest of Gilbert. When Vince passed, Mary moved to Ames and worked in the Public Library. She also volunteered at Mary Greeley and Food at First. She enjoyed putting puzzles together and going for a ride. She also organized many family gatherings. Survivors include two sons, two daughters and her sister-in-law Kate Uthe of Boone. Services in Ames, burial in rural Gilbert.

       Evelyn May Nyguard Hovick, 96, Story City/Eastern Star in 2023. Married Alvin Hovick in 1947. She worked at Bourns in Ames, 1958-89. Three sons and two daughters survive. Services in Story City. 

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

        Kenneth Louis Graves, 92, Manning. Three children survive,  including Dean Graves of Stratford. Services in Manning.      

       Colleen Pepper Sparks, 73, Ogden/Stratford Care Center. Born in Boone. OHS-71. Earned a nursing degree from Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge. Married Brian Sparks in 1986 at the Arboretum. Worked at Woodward State Hospital and Iowa State before becoming an RN. Then, worked at the Evangelical Home in Boone, Madrid Nursing Home and Bethany Manor in Story City. Colleen loved sports and played softball and basketball in high school and continued playing in slow pitch softball leagues. Enjoyed sewing and cooking, was smart, quick-witted and had a great sense of humor and many, many friends. Boone area survivors are her sisters, Mary Pepper and Becky (Dan) Watson, and a nephew, Josh (Andrea) Clauson. A COL will be held in Ogden with burial in Beaver. 

       Thomas Eugene Friess, 70, Jefferson. Born in Kansas. Lived in Lake City early before the family moved to Jefferson. East Greene HS-74. Married Cindy McCoy in 1975 in Boone. Tom graduated from DMACC with the President's Award and a degree in Health Care Administration. During his work time, he aided farmers in the Rippey area, the Angus Elevator, Rippey Coop, Osmundson's and the Perry Water Works. He was a private pilot, enjoyed fishing, was an amateur radio operator and enjoyed trips to air shows and NHRA drag racing events. Tom studied the King James Bible and shared that study. Survivors include his wife, Cindy, sisters and brothers-in-law and many other relatives. Private family burial. 

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

       Paul Thomas "Pete" McIntyre, 74, Boone. Born in Boone. BHS-70. Pete was an  outstanding three-sport Toreador athlete, football, wrestling and track. He received all-state recognition as a football running back in both 1969 and 1970 and also participated in State Wrestling competition. The '69 football team tied Ames in the season opener and then won the remainder of their eight-game schedule. McIntyre attended the University of Nebraska on a wrestling scholarship but was injured and transferred to the University of Northern Iowa where he secured a teaching/coaching degree. He married Connie Martin in 1972 but they divorced and in 2002, he and Cristy Boyd were married at Don Williams Recreation area. After 38 years, Pete retired as an Administrative Law Judge for the State of Iowa. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, watching westerns, annual fishing trips to Canada and the movie, "Secondhand Lions." Survivors include his wife, Cristy, children Jeremy and Marty McIntyre; Michelle Daleske; Joy Davis; Dan and Tyler Boyd; Theresa Angle and a sister, Juli Murray. Services in Boone.     

       Timothy Raymond McBirnie, 58, Stratford. Born in Boone. While living in Arizona, Tim received his GED and then made the honors list via automotive courses at Central Arizona College.  Married Cheryl Robbins in Arizona in 2004. They divorced. From age eight to 16, Tim was an Iowa AAU Boxing Champion. After living in Arizona, Tim's family returned to Iowa., living in Boone. Tim enjoyed living close to his brothers, Joe and Eddie. Joe and wife Susie's baby, Macy, proved to be a spark for Tim to become a fighter again, a fighter for his health and well being, just as premature Macy was. Tim enjoyed Christian music. Survivors include his mother, Julie (Christensen) McBirnie, of Boone, and three brothers, including Eddie of Stratford and Joe (Susie) McBirnie of Boone. Services in Boone.

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

       Allan L. Harris, 76. South Hamilton HS-76. Married Deborah Kruck of Boone. Allan's life was dedicated to his wife, family, his craft and his music. The couple owned and operated resort properties in Northern Minnesota and built Harris Painting and Wall Covering in Boone. Survivors include his wife, Deb, of Ames, a son and a brother. Service in Boone with a private graveside service later.

       Arlene Deloris Pretz, 97, Boone. Born in Pocahontas County. A member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Boone, she is survived by a son, Larry Pretz, and a daughter, Karen King. Burial at Bass Point Cemetery in Boone.

       Ron Eide, 92, Forest City/Waukee. Four children survive, including Rosanne (Daryl) of Boone. Burial at a later date.

       Jesse Micheal Murphy, 37, Grand Junction. Survivors include his parents, two daughters, including McKinley Murphy, of Ogden, two brothers and a sister. A COL will be held at Spring Lake Park. 

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

       Dona Jean Dusseldorp Van Hemert, 93, Boone/Westhaven. Lived in Pella, then Oskaloosa and finally, Boone, to live out her retirement years. Pella Public Schools. Dona shared four children, including Denny (Terri) Van Hemert, of Ogden/Boone, with Raymond Van Hemert. After her children were grown, she cleaned dorm rooms at Central College. She loved horses, had an appreciation of music and her piano and loved watching her favorite musical stars on the weekly TV shows. Dona's greatest legacy is the family she loved, especially all the children. Survivors include her four children, a brother and many grand children. Services in Boone.

        Robert John Knight, 89, Jefferson/Westhaven. Born in Boone. BHS-54. Robert worked for Skel Gas and for many years, operated the street sweeper for the city of Boone. He was a member of the American Legion, Ducks Unlimited and played in several area bands. He is survived by his life partner, Nelia Burkhart, two sons, two daughters, including Patti Boone of Boone and a step son. Graveside service planned in Boone County, followed by a COL in Boone.     

       Sharon Jayne Dunkelberger Nelson, 56. Born in Boone. Ogden HS-57. DMACC. Married Frank Nelson in 2022. Sharon cherished her faith, family, cooking and especially, her 11 grandchildren. Survivors include her husband, three children and two siblings.