Iowa County Obituaries, July 14, 2011

Ruth Schmieder, 89

Funeral services for Ruth M. Schmieder, 89, Middle Amana, a well known local artist, were held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 9, at the Middle Amana Church. She died Monday, July 4, 2011, in her beloved Middle Amana.

Church elder Emilie Hoppe officiated at the service.

Burial was in the Middle Amana Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Amana Church Society, the Amana Heritage Society or the Amana Arts Guild.

Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, was in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.klosterfuneralhome.com.

Ruth Marie Schmieder was born May 26, 1922, in Middle Amana, the daughter of Dr. Christian and Johanna Jeck Herrmann. She grew up in Middle Amana, graduating from Amana High School in 1939. She attended the University of Iowa for two years.

She married Adolph C. Schmieder April 24, 1944, in Roswell, N.M., where he served in the Army Air Corps. When he was discharged from the service after World War II, the couple returned to the Amanas where they lived and raised their family. After her husband retired, they spent their winters in their condo overlooking Tampa Bay, Fla., returning every spring to the family home in Middle Amana.

In the early 1960s, she and some friends decided to take an art class at the YWCA in Cedar Rapids. There, she discovered her passion and talent for painting. Working mainly in oils and acrylics, she painted the scenes she knew and loved best, the Amanas and the rural Iowa countryside. Later in her career, she switched to painting minitures. She especially enjoyed painting beautiful blooming flowers from local gardens.

Ruth loved Amana, the Church and little children who she taught faithfully for 22 years in her Sunday school classes. She and Adolph enjoyed playing bridge and she attained the status of Life Master. She was talented as a seamstress and quilter but most of all she enjoyed knitting. She and other Amana ladies knit and then sold ski hats and toe socks to a skiing store in Aspen, Colo., for many years.

Later, as a volunteer, she knit countless sets of caps and booties for the newborn babies at Mercy Medical Center. She and Adolph were avid Hawkeye fans, attending games as season ticket holders for over 50 years. She was a faithful follower of the Cubbies, Da Bulls (especially Michael Jordan and B.J. Armstrong) and Tiger Woods.

Most of all, Ruth loved her family.

She is survived by her daughter and her husband, Terry and Jim Roemig, Amana; one son, Eric Schmieder, Albuquerque; four grandchildren and their spouses, Jason and Lynette Gauna, Albuquerque; Karlos Schmieder, Oakland, Calif.; Sarah and Scott Roemig, Excelsior, Minn., and Rebecca and Neil Selzer, Vernona, Wis.; six much loved great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, in 2002; her parents; one brother, Roy Herrmann, and one daughter-in-law, Jeanne Gauna.

Betty Meyer, 76

Celebration of life service for Betty Meyer, 76, Williamsburg, formerly of Milton, was held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 8, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Williamsburg. She died Tuesday, July 5, 2011, at Colonial Manor, Amana.

The Rev. Richard Meyer officiated at the service. Organist was Nathan Wille. Soloist Kyle Wetjen sang “How Great Thou Art.” Congregational hymns were “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” and “I Know My Redeemer Lives.”

Burial was in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery. Casket bearers were Rick Wardenburg, Nick Williams, Wes Williams, Adam Meyer, Seth Meyer and Jordon Weatherington. Honorary casket bearers were Jessica Wardenburg, Amber Smith, Erin Meyer, Ashley Weatherington and Abby Weatherington.

A memorial fund has been established for the Davis County Fair and Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Williamsburg, was in charge of arrangements. Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.

Betty Darlene Meyer was born Aug. 7, 1934, in Marengo, the daughter of Arnold and Mildred (Taylor) Roberts. She graduated from Marengo High School.

She married Virgil J. Meyer Nov. 20, 1955, in Williamsburg. Together they farmed in the Williamsburg area until 1986, when they moved to Milton and continued to farm side by side until his death in 1991. She then worked part time at the Van Buren Public Health in Keosauqua until March of 2011.

She loved to farm, work with her flowers and traveling with her friends, but most of all, spending time with her family.

Meyer is survived by her children and their spouses, Vickie and Gary Williams and Kurt and Marilyn Meyer, all Williamsburg, and Tammy and Doran Weatherington, Milton; nine grandchildren and their spouses, Jessica and Rick Wardenburg, Nick and Wes Williams, Amber Smith, Adam and Erin Meyer, Seth Meyer and Jordan, Ashley and Abby Weatherington; six great-grandchildren, Kenady and Madison Wardenburg, Logan and Taygin Williams and Brody and Cole Smith; two sisters and their husbands, Sherry and Bill Smith, Cedar Rapids, and Karen and Lowell Martin, Marengo; one brother and his wife, Larry and Marsha Roberts, Marengo; two sisters-in-law, Vera and Delmar Knock and Joyce Lortz and the late Larry Lortz, all Williamsburg, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her father- and mother-in-law, Julius and Freida Meyer; one daughter, Debra, and one great-grandson, Hunter Wardenburg.

Gary Timm, 68

Funeral services for Gary A Timm, 68, rural Guernsey, were held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 7, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, near Victor. He died Saturday, July 2, 2011, at his home.

The Rev. Nicholas Huelsman officiated at the service. Organist was Marna Mohr and vocalist was Sue Kluber.

Burial was in St. John’s Cemetery. Casket bearers were Kenny Johnson, Harlan Kluber, Marvin Lynn, Bob Roberts, Gary Schafbuch, John Thys, John Wood and Wayne Wood. Honorary casket bearers were his grandchildren, Cory, Stewart, Benjamin, Travis, Kody, Kartee, Rylie, Alexis, Bryanna and Rachelle.

A memorial fund has been established.

Smith Funeral Home, Victor, was in charge of arrangements.

Gary A. Timm was born Sept. 28, 1942, in Grinnell, the son of Arthur and Margaret Grier Timm. He was raised on the family farm near Guernsey and attended St. John School. He was a member of the class of 1960 from Victor High School.

He married Johnette Hahn April 19, 1964, in Marengo. The couple lived on the Timm family farm near Guernsey and he operated a grain and dairy farm. Later, he formed a partnership in the Dave Gryp Construction Company and operated The Bar in Victor.

He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church. He enjoyed rolle bolle, dummy boards, playing cards, fishing and gardening. He was a workaholic but he cherished time with his family and friends and spending the winter months in Brownsville, Texas.

Timm is survived by his wife, Johnette Timm, rural Guernsey; three sons and their wives, Gary Lee and Kris Timm, Guernsey; Dave and Kristy Timm, Victor, and Chad and Kristen Timm, Victor; 10 grandchildren; one brother, Dan Timm, Victor, and three sisters, Colene Kent, Tama; Dixie Wentland, Hartwick, and Margaret Ann York, Tama.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Shelly Timm, and one sister, Marlene Mathes.

Dale Karsten Jr., 57

Graveside memorial services for Dale A. Karsten Jr., 57, Marengo, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 14, at the Marengo Cemetery. He died at his home Wednesday, July 6, 2011.

The Rev. Katie Dawson will officiate at the service.

A memorial fund has been established.

Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.klosterfuneralhome.com.

Dale Allen Karsten Jr. was born Feb. 23, 1954, in Iowa City, the son of Dale Karsten Sr. and Mary Ellen Walter Karsten. He graduated from Iowa Valley High School, Marengo, in 1972.

During his working career, he had been employed as a sales representative for various food manufacturing companies. He enjoyed golfing in his leisure time.

Karsten is survived by his daughters and their husbands, Allison and Travis Schlabach, Marengo, and Cara and Seth Stoddard, Waverly, Neb.; six grandchildren, Ashlea and Austin Schlabach, Marengo, and Noah, Owen, Aiden and Asher Stoddard, Waverly, Neb.; his mother, Mary Karsten, Marengo, and his siblings and their spouses, David “Nate” Karsten, Marengo; Denny and Holly Karsten, Blairs-town, and Deanne and Doug Kinzenbaw, Marengo.

He was preceded in death by his father and his grandparents.

Jeffrey Williams, 22

Graveside services for Jeffrey D. Williams, 22, Conroy, were held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 9, at Rector Cemetery, Chelsea. He died Monday, July 4, 2011, at the University of Iowa Hospital, Iowa City, following a sudden illness.

The Rev. Charles Johnson officiated at the service.

Casket bearers were Nick Baker, Gary Baker, David Baker, Mike Williams, Jim Cronbaugh and Logan Bringmann. Honorary casket bearers were Rob Reeves, Floyd Miller, Larry Murphy, Larry Williams and Armando Dehouges.

Online condolences may be sent to www.hrabakfuneralhome.com.

Jeffrey David Williams was born Sept. 29, 1988, at St. Luke’s Hospital, Cedar Rapids, the son of Dave and Charlotte Baker Williams.

Even though his life was short, he had a deep appetite for life. He loved his family, pets, work, children, friends, all sports, including bowling and fishing, and scaring his mom with his boat driving skills.

Out in the community, he was never afraid to say hello to people and shake their hand. He had a love for music. Over the years, he had dozens of headsets and you could never keep him supplied with enough stereos and speakers. He loved the car radio, blasting away. The words “You can’t do that” were not in his vocabulary. He would always find a way to try.

He loved animals. He enjoyed walking dogs at the Washington County Animal Shelter. He was employed by the Washington County Development Center. He was active in Special Olympics, winning several medals.

Williams is survived by his parents, Dave and Charlotte Williams and one brother, Mike Williams, all Conroy; his grandmother, Pauline Baker, Chelsea, and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Forrest and Dolly Williams and Keith Baker.