Obituaries

David Smith

Oct 10, 2023

David Harley Smith Age 76 of Council Bluffs, Iowa passed away October 10, 2023 in Omaha, Nebraska. He was born on May 5, 1947 in Omaha, Nebraska to Albert and Velma (Robinson) Smith. He worked for the Bluffs Run Casino for many years.

David was preceded in death by his parents and brother's, Douglas and Ronald (Sam).

He will be...

Susan Holz

Oct 9, 2023

Susan Holz passed away on Monday, October 9, 2023 at a hospice care facility in Gretna, NE. She succumbed to benign brain tumors that kept recurring since 2012. She endured 4 brain surgeries and a bout of radiation, but they kept coming back and she decided to end her battle and stop fighting them in early 2022. She lasted 21...

Kenneth DeGroat

Oct 8, 2023

Kenneth DeGroat, age 51, passed away October 8, 2023. He was born May 13, 1972 to Warren and Diana (Kymer) DeGroat in Sussex, NJ.

He is preceded in death by his father, Warren DeGroat.

Kenneth is survived by his wife, Tanya DeGroat, children, Kenneth (MiShell) DeGroat, Warren (Anika) DeGroat, Ross DeGroat, and Tayleigh DeGroat; 4 grandchildren, Jenna, Coleman, Kennedy...

Cecile Schroder

Oct 7, 2023

Cecile Marie Schroder passed away on October 7, 2023 at the age of 95. She was born on March 27, 1928 to the late Leston and Bessie (Fonda) Stacy in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Cecile attended school in Council Bluffs, graduating from Abraham Lincoln High School with the Class of 1946. She and Dale Schroder married on June 28, 1946....

Connie Loftus

Oct 7, 2023

 

Connie L. Loftus, 72, passed away peacefully at home on October 7.  She was surrounded in love by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and dear friends. 

Connie was born January 22, 1951 to Emery and Tootie Weinfurtner. She was raised with her brothers Emery and Al in East Omaha.  She met Ray in 1967 at an Omaha skating rink...

Darcy Featherstone

Oct 6, 2023

 

Darcy Joan Featherstone (Kritenbrink), age 63, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, passed away October 6, 2023.

She was born June 20, 1960 to Arthur and Evelyn (Miller) Kritenbrink. Throughout her life Darcy was an artist, teacher, graphic, and stay at home mother. She was an avid painter of watercolor paints and pencils. During the years she taught some of her...

Donald Reed

Oct 6, 2023

Donald A. "Andy" Reed, age 59, passed away on October 6, 2023.

 

He was born March 21, 1964 to Donald "Bud" and Rita (Johnson) Reed in Council Bluffs, IA.

 

He was preceded in death by his mother, Rita Reed; daughter, Ashely Reed; uncle, Jack Johnson; beloved dog, Max.

 

Andy is survived by his children, Sally (Tyler) Welch...

Douglas Geske

Oct 3, 2023

Douglas J. Geske, age 81, passed away at his home on October 3, 2023.

He was born November 12, 1941, to the late Eugene and Helen (Halas) Geske in Milwaukee, WI. Doug proudly served his country in the United States Air Force and retired from Kellogg's.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant daughter,...

Gary Driver

Oct 3, 2023

Gary L. Driver, age 86, passed away at CHI Mercy Hospital on October 3, 2023.

He was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on April 22, 1937, to the late Thomas and Mary Driver. Gary proudly served his country in the United States Army and retired from Griffin Pipe after 30 years of service. He was a member of Gethsemane Presbyterian...

James Evans

Oct 2, 2023

Evans, James Floyd

June 1, 1945 - October 2, 2023

James was born in Missouri Valley, IA. He moved to Omaha, NE where he met and married Barbara Clark. James served in the Army and the Air Force from 1962 to 1967. They moved to San Francisco for a time while James was in the service. One of...

Greg James

Oct 2, 2023

Greg James, age 54, of Council Bluffs, Iowa passed away October 2, 2023. He was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa on August 14, 1969 to Frank and Donna (Costello) James.

Greg is survived by his mother, Donna; brother, Scott James (Kayla); nieces, Hannah James and Hailey Edmondson (Ryan); nephew, Logan James and many other family and friends.

A...

LeNora Ruiz

Oct 1, 2023

LeNora Ruiz, age 85, passed away October 1, 2023. She was born June 15, 1938 to John and Iona (DeLong) Starr in Omaha, Nebraska.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Hipolito "Paul" Ruiz; siblings, Jim Starr, Mary Ellen Starr, and Fran Teeters.

LeNora is survived by her nieces, Michelle (Rick) Pace, Nichole...

Sally Thomsen

Oct 1, 2023

Sally Thomsen, age 66, passed away October 1, 2023. She was born August 30, 1957 to Robert and Esther (Meritt) Renner in Omaha, NE. She graduated from Lewis Central High School in 1975. Most of her life she worked as a home health aide or a teacher aide. Sally married Richard Thomsen in 1976, the couple had two children. She...

Ronald Wilcoxen

Sep 30, 2023

Ronald LeRoy “Ron” Wilcoxen, age 75, died in Aurora, Colorado, on September 30, 2023. He was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on August 5, 1948, to the late Troy L. “Bud” and Margaret M. (Bonham) Wilcoxen.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Randy; grandsons, Robert and Neko; sisters, Mary, Patty, and Sharon;...

Christinia Palser

Sep 30, 2023

Christinia M. Palser, age 77, passed away at CHI Health Mercy Hospital on September 30, 2023.

She was born October 5, 1945, to the late Clarence and Muriel (Greenwood) Aughe Sr., in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Christinia graduated from Nishna Valley High School with the class of 1963. She then completed the C.E. School of Commerce. Christinia retired from the tax...

Nicholas Stiefel

Sep 29, 2023

Nicholas "Nick" Clarence Stiefel was born on September 15, 1942 in Mitchell, South Dakota. He attended Notre Dame Academy for his K-12 education. When he wasn't sneaking out a school window to avoid punishment from the nuns, he could be found fishing, swimming across Lake Mitchell or playing basketball at the Corn Palace. He also sang and played the guitar.

...

Andrew Gunderson

Sep 29, 2023

Andrew A. "Drew" Gunderson, age 51, passed away peacefully at his home on September 29, 2023, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born August 21, 1972 in Council Bluffs, IA.

Andy graduated from Tri-Center High School with the class of 1990. On September 7, 1996, Andy married the love of his life, Linda Jean Brich, and together...

Debra Bascue

Sep 28, 2023

Debra Bascue, age 71, passed away September 28, 2023. She was born December 25, 1951 to Earl and Joetta (Rexroat) Hadden in Omaha, NE.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard Bascue; granddaughter, Ashley Nicole Bascue.

Debra is survived by her sons, Earl (Angel) Bascue, Duwayne (Angela) Bascue, James Bascue; sisters, Cheryl (Kenneth)...

Ellen Graybill

Sep 27, 2023

Ellen R. Graybill, age 83, passed away on September 27, 2023.

She was born December 2, 1939, to the late James and Irene (Schwartz) Wilson in Council Bluffs, IA.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by sons, Michael McDonald, Mark McDonald, and Ronald McDonald; brother, William Wilson; sister, Pauline "Toot" Davis.

Ellen is survived by children,...

Betty Mains

Sep 26, 2023

Betty L. Mains, age 95, passed away peacefully at Prairie Gate September 26, 2023.

She was born July 12, 1928, to the late Ben and Sadie (Ogden) Crews in Beaver, IA. Betty retired from Baum Iron in Omaha.



In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Mains; sisters, Eleanor Hanen...