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Roger Harold Tallman

Aug 4, 2026 | Obituaries

1936-2026

Roger Harold Tallman was called home to his Lord on July 31, 2026, in Guthrie Center. The son of Harold Claude and Lois Marie (Harwood) Tallman, Roger was born on the family farm north of Guthrie Center, on Jan. 17, 1936.

Roger spent his childhood on a farm and attended country schools before graduating from Guthrie Center High School in 1955. When he was 16 years old, he began driving a school bus. He often reflected that it seemed odd that he could legally drive children on a school bus at 16 years of age, but in order to haul hogs in a truck, he would have to be 18.

Roger worked for Guthrie Center Schools and Hagen Chevrolet before marrying Colleen Kay Williamson on Aug. 14, 1960. The couple were blessed with three children — Delores Lee Tallman, Karen Elaine Vannatta Kelly, and William (Bill) Roger Tallman. In 1961, Roger and Colleen moved to Panora, where they owned and operated the Standard Oil Station. After selling the station, Roger was employed by Kenyon Construction and John Deere before returning to Guthrie Center in 1970 to be employed by the Guthrie Center School District as mechanic and director of transportation. Roger retired in 1999 after working for the school for 32 years.

Roger and Colleen did everything together, and, in 1987, they started a concession business that they ran for 35 years; Roger’s funnel cakes were legendary! He enjoyed trying new things and added every menu item that would fit into that red trailer. Sometimes it worked, and sometimes not.

With his twinkling eyes, Roger was a natural at helping when Santa wasn’t available during the holiday season. For years, he would put on his red velvet suit and show up at local events to listen to Christmas requests from children of all ages.

A member of the Panora Church of the Brethren, Roger served as board chair for many years. He was a member of IPTA (Iowa Public Transportation Association) and board chair for six years. He served on the Guthrie County Extension Council and on the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Reserve, and was a member of the Guthrie County Fair Board for more than 25 years. Roger was proud of being awarded an honorary FFA Award by the Guthrie Center High School FFA Chapter.

Fishing and hunting were hobbies Roger especially enjoyed sharing with his son, Bill. Roger loved his cattle and farm work, but, most of all, he loved his family. He enjoyed spending time with his grandsons and delighted in following their activities; only for his grandsons would Roger drive clear across the state to watch a show choir performance.

Anyone who ever has been on the receiving end of a prank phone call from Roger — or who ingested a chocolate-covered cotton ball on the platter of Christmas treats that Colleen took to the bus garage — knows about Roger’s ornery sense of humor. Nothing pleased him more than a prank that went as he planned or a funny story that made his audience laugh.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Lois Tallman; his daughter, Delores Tallman; his son, William (Bill) Tallman; his son-in-law, George Vannatta, his sisters, Nancy Tallman and Ella Carhill; and his brother, Wayne Tallman. He is survived by his wife, Colleen; daughter, Karen (Darrin) Kelly; grandsons, Matthew (Mandy) Vannatta and Samuel Vannatta; step-grandchildren, Steve (Diane) Vannatta, Karen Vaske; great-granddaughter, Margot Vannatta; siblings, Vera Kenyon, Ilene Tallman, Flora (Alan) Wise, Lyman Tallman, Mary Lou Ludwig, Tonie (Peg) Tallman and Ruth Crawford; sisters-in-law, Patsy Tallman and Norma Thurman; brothers-in-law, Jim (Diane Williamson), Ken (Deb) Williamson; and many nieces, nephews and step-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at the Panora Church of the Brethren followed by burial at the Union Cemetery in Guthrie Center. Visitation will be Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, from 5-7 p.m. at Twigg Funeral Home in Panora.

Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.

Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report — Week of Aug. 3

Aug 4, 2026 | Crop Report

Released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.

“July will be remembered for its warm temperatures and high dew points, but it ended with widespread rainfall and a welcome break from the heat and humidity,” Secretary Naig said. “As we begin August and continue the ramp-up to the Iowa State Fair, the outlook calls for warmer conditions with better chances of rainfall. Crops on the western side of the state could use the moisture as the growing season continues.”

Crop report

There were 5.7  days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Aug. 2, 2026. This is 1.9 days more than last year, when there were 3.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture condition rated 10 percent very short, 25 percent short, 60 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 10 percent very short, 27 percent short, 58 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Corn silking reached 93 percent, which is 2 percentage points ahead of last year. Forty-eight percent of Iowa’s corn crop has reached the dough stage, which is 2 percentage points behind last year. Four percent of corn reached the dent stage, which is 4 percentage points behind last year. Corn condition rated 80 percent good to excellent. Soybeans blooming reached 88 percent, which is unchanged from last year. Sixty-one percent of soybeans were setting pods, which is 2 percentage points behind last year. Soybean condition rated 78 percent good to excellent. Eighty-seven percent of oats have been harvested, which is 25 percentage points ahead of last year. Oats condition rated 82 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 67 percent good to excellent.

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at https://www.nass.usda.gov/.

Weather summary

Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

After a sweltering start to the week, cooler and wetter conditions returned at the end of the reporting period. Much of eastern Iowa observed above-normal rainfall. Temperatures returned to unseasonably warm for most of the reporting period with the high departures approaching six degrees; the statewide average temperature was 76.6 degrees, 3.6 degrees above normal.

Stations across Iowa reported anomalously high heat index values on Sunday (26th) afternoon as air temperatures pushed into the mid to upper 90s with dew points in the upper 70s to mid 80s; numerous Iowa airports, which record hourly to sub-hourly observations, registered dew point records. Burlington Municipal Airport (Des Moines County) recorded an 85-degree dew point temperature with a high temperature of 92 degrees, producing a heat index value of 121 degrees; the airport in Ames (Story County) hit 124 degrees as air and dew point temperatures hit 92 degrees and 86 degrees, respectively. Overnight lows into Monday (27th) remained well above average, holding in the upper 70s and low 80s at many stations; the statewide average low was 75 degrees, 12 degrees above normal under mostly clear skies and dense fog over northern Iowa. Winds gradually began to turn northwesterly as a cold front dropped southeast. Afternoon temperatures still pushed into the low to mid 90s, though dew points dropped into the 60s behind the front. Tuesday (28th) dawned with light northerly winds and temperatures from the upper 60s northeast to mid 70s southwest under partly cloudy skies. While relative humidity values were lower, mid 80s to low 90s were observed east to west across the state with wildfire smoke producing upper level haze. Easterly winds built in through the late night hours and held into Wednesday (29th) with upper 60s and low 70s reported in the morning. Daytime conditions were mostly sunny with temperatures in the 80s with some isolated thundershowers in the southwest towards the evening; New Market (Taylor County) and Sidney (Fremont County) observed 0.53 inch with lighter surrounding totals.

Conditions on Thursday (30th) were seasonal with southeasterly winds and temperatures in upper 70s north to low 80s south. Clouds increased over the daylight hours as a low pressure system pushed through the Upper Midwest. Thunderstorms moved into western Iowa by midnight with a cluster of lighter showers farther east. Moderate showers expanded across much of Iowa’s eastern half by Friday (31st) morning with heavier rainfall reported from northeast to eastern portions of the state. More than 75 stations collected at least 1.00 inch with the highest totals from Cedar Rapids (Linn County) where 2.51 inches was reported to 4.15 inches in Anamosa (Jones County). Additional mesoscale lines of thundershowers formed behind the disturbance as the low’s attendant cold front swept out of state as gusty northwesterly wind built in. Stars were visible across western Iowa into Saturday (1st) morning with morning temperatures in the low to mid 60s. Cloud cover and moderate to heavy rain were still present in eastern Iowa, helping temperatures stay several degrees warmer. Showers persisted through the day along the Iowa-Illinois border, before dissipating as the low pressure system moved into the Great Lakes. Additional rainfall totals were significant at several eastern stations, ranging from 3.65 inches in Dubuque to 6.22 inches in Manchester (Delaware County); sixty-five stations registered at least 2.00 inches with a statewide average total of 0.90 inch. With clearing skies and temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s, the remains of the day were pleasant and light northerly winds. Sunday (2nd) morning began with patchy fog in northwest and east-central Iowa with mid 50s in western Iowa and low to mid 60s back in eastern Iowa.

Weekly rain totals ranged from 0.05 inch at Spirit Lake (Dickinson County) to 6.93 inches in Manchester (Delaware County). The statewide weekly average rainfall was 1.31 inch; the normal is 0.90 inch. Little Sioux (Harrison County) reported the week’s high temperature of 102 degrees on the 27th, 16 degrees above normal; this is also Iowa’s warmest high temperature of the year thus far. Emmetsburg (Palo Alto County) reported the week’s low temperature of 52 degrees on the 28th, 11 degrees below normal.

Panorama Days cribbage tournament results

Aug 3, 2026 | News

Special to the Times Vedette

Forty contestants took part in the 2026 Panorama Days Cribbage Tournament with each entry fee of $5 being donated to support the Panorama Days festivities. Bill Eby and Stine Seed Company sponsored the event, providing $100 in prize money, popcorn and caps. Kathy Feilmeyer took top honors, winning all four matches. Kevin Fister took second place, followed by Tony Roehl in third and Marvin Smith in fourth. Kevin Fister, Michaela Freiermuth, Craig Twigg, Kim Ash, Linda Culbertson and Terry Nelson were awarded $5 for their 24-hands. Special thanks to Rhonda Titus for her help with the event and the Panorama Days Committee for providing cookies.

Carr and Ganske win inaugural Panorama Days Pickleball Tournament

Aug 3, 2026 | News

Special to the Times Vedette

The first-ever Panorama Days Pickleball Tournament was held Sunday. The results were as follows:

  • 1st Place: Peg Carr and Jay Ganske (Big Bro/Lil Sis)
  • 2nd Place: Team JP (Jake and Paula)
  • 3rd Place: Team Alex Hamilton (Alex and Lenny)

Tournament organizers said the feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and players agreed that a one-day tournament was the perfect format. Many said they expect even more teams to join next year.

Panorama Days shows that community spirit always finds a way

Aug 3, 2026 | Publisher's Column

Panorama Days wrapped up this past weekend, and what a ride it was.

The festivities got off to a soggy start Friday evening as rain and wind crashed the party. Fortunately, Erica Matthies and the Panorama Days planning committee were ready. They made Pivot No. 1, moving the evening activities indoors to the Owl’s Nest, including the announcement of Citizen of the Year.

That honor went to Andy Randol, and it is difficult to imagine a more deserving recipient. Few people have done as much for Panora and Lake Panorama as Andy, both professionally and personally. Around here, meaningful community projects usually involve Andy somewhere along the way. There is a good reason for that. He has a remarkable ability to listen, offer thoughtful advice and quietly help get things done. He has helped me more than once, and I know many others could say the same. Congratulations, Andy. You have certainly earned it.

Saturday’s parade once again proved why it is the signature event of Panorama Days. Fire trucks rolled by. Race cars rumbled through town. Confetti floated through the air. Children darted from curb to curb in pursuit of enough candy to keep local dentists employed through Christmas. It is impossible to leave that parade without smiling — or checking your shoes for Tootsie Rolls.

Mother Nature was not quite finished, though. The Lake Panorama Ski Show was scheduled for Saturday afternoon, but high winds made performing too dangerous. That led to Pivot No. 2. The show moved to Sunday, when blue skies and calmer water finally gave those talented skiers the stage they deserved. It was warm along the south shore, but longtime spectators know sunshine is simply part of the ticket price.

One of the biggest surprises of the weekend was the car show. I cannot remember seeing so many beautifully restored classics and customs gathered in one place. Roger Dorr deserves tremendous credit for making it happen. He promoted the event relentlessly, personally reached out to car clubs and convinced owners to make the trip. A little sunshine certainly helped, but Roger’s effort put those gleaming chrome bumpers on Main Street.

The fishing derby was another highlight, thanks to Scott Stanley and the Fin and Feather organization. It remains one of the best ways to connect the lake with the community while introducing young anglers to a pastime they can enjoy for a lifetime.

Of course, Panorama Days is much bigger than any one event or one volunteer. It succeeds because dozens of people quietly spend countless hours planning, organizing and, when necessary, improvising. Festivals are easy to enjoy but difficult to produce. This year’s proved that the best community events are not defined by perfect weather. They are defined by dedicated people who refuse to let a few storm clouds rain on everyone else’s parade.

Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707