1953-2024

Deb Hughes, 71, daughter of Darwin and Shirley (Carson) Hall, was born Sept. 22, 1953, in Guthrie Center. She passed away Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, on a beautiful fall day surrounded by her family, friends and the sound of laughter. Deb passed away due to complications of a 25-year journey with colon cancer.

For most of her career, Deb worked in the legal field as a legal secretary and law office manager. She finished her career in the office furniture sales and design. Deb viewed her most important and rewarding job as being a mother to Chelsea and Carson.

Deb’s interests were varied and included travel, sports, music, garage sales, winters in Phoenix, holidays — especially Thanksgiving and Christmas — and anything that included being with family and friends.

Deb was very active in her children’s activities, including two years as the parent manager of the Johnston girls swim team.

She was also involved in the Johnston Chamber and Relay for Life. Deb and her family are especially proud of the counseling and advice she gave to other cancer patients and their families. Her motto, which she lived by, was Never, Never, Never Give Up.

Deb is survived by her husband of 47 years, Darrell Hughes; daughter, Chelsea Hughes; son, Carson Hughes (Michelle Keppy); father, Darwin Hall; brother, Darby Hall; sister, Donna (Tom) Baker; mother-in-law, Shirley Hughes; sister-in-law, Arlone (Mark) Humphreys; and special niece, Jesi Barrett; as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Shirley Hall; brother, Thomas Hall; as well as grandparents, Archie and Genevieve Carson and Fred and Gladys Pearl Hall.

Memorial services will be 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at the Twigg Funeral Home, Panora. Visitation will be two hours prior to the services. 

The family would like to extend thanks to the staff of Lutheran Hospital ICU, Karen Acres, and to the many doctors and staff at The Mayo Clinic who cared for Deb. A very special thanks to Dr. Tom Buroker, who has been at Deb’s side every step of the way over her 25-year journey.

Memorial donations can be made to the Guthrie County Relay for Life or The Mayo Clinic.

Never, Never, Never give up the fight for the cure to cancer.

1934-2024

Robert Francis Starr, 90, son of John and Thelma (Haynes) Starr, was born Aug. 25, 1934, in Menlo. He passed away Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the Community Care Center in Stuart.

Robert grew up south of Menlo with his two sisters and attended country schools there. He graduated from Menlo High School in 1952. On April 2, 1956, he married Jane James in Stuart.  They moved to Panora in 1960, raising their two sons, Randy and Danny. He worked for NAPA Auto Parts for 27 years. After his retirement, he worked for Sunny Fresh and fixed clocks.

Robert enjoyed coon hunting, riding horses/trail-riding, swap meets and tinkering in his garage on old cars and tractors. He was a member of the Iowa Firefighters Association.

He is survived by his son, Randy Starr of Redfield; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; and sister, Phyllis Totten of Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jane; son, Danny Starr; daughter-in-law, Ruth Easter; and sister, Patricia Colbert.

Cremation has taken place. and burial will be held at a later date in Rose Hill Cemetery in Menlo.

Twigg Funeral Home, Panora, is entrusted with his services.

1932-2024

Dilma Teresa Allen, 92, daughter of Conrad and Emilia Galmeyer, was born March 4, 1932, in Willemstad, on the Caribbean island of Curacao Netherland Antilles. She passed away Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at the Lakeside Village, Panora. 

She attended and graduated from the island Dutch public school in Curacao. She met her future husband, Courtney Powell Allen, while he was serving on the island with the United States Navy during the Korean War. They were married on March 16, 1953, in Willemstad. They first made their home in Des Moines, followed by Johnston, Urbandale and, finally, in 1982, they built a home on Lake Panorama. In 1988, they made the lake house their fulltime home.

Dilma worked for Delavan Manufacturing in Des Moines and retired from there. In 1982, she started working for her husband as he built a manufacturing plant in Panora for Sunny Time Foods. In 1989, he sold the company to Cargill, and she retired for the last time.

Dilma enjoyed being a mother and a classic housewife, and she was well known for her Lemon Meringue Pie. She also enjoyed baking cookies, playing bridge, and traveling with her husband, where he utilized her linguistic skills while traveling abroad. She spoke five different languages fluently. 

She is survived by her sons, Courtney Allen, Jr. of Panora and Clifford (Joelle) Allen of Barnstable, Massachusetts; daughter, Cynthia Merritt of Cary, North Carolina; five granddaughters and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 67 years, Courtney, Sr, four sisters, and three brothers.

Cremation has taken place, and memorial visitation will be held Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, from 5-7 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 7 p.m. at the Twigg Funeral Home, Panora. Burial of her cremains will be at a later date in the Iowa Veterans Cemetery, near Van Meter.

1953-2024

Carol Ann (Grasty) Edwards, a beacon of love and selflessness, passed away peacefully on Nov. 6, 2024, in her hometown of Stuart, where she was also born on April 27, 1953, to the late Willis and Velma Waddell Grasty. Carol Ann’s life was one of devotion and joy, which she generously spread to all who knew her.

A true Stuart native, Carol Ann’s roots ran deep in the community. She graduated from Stuart High School, and it was there that she cultivated a life rich with love and laughter. On June 25, 1968, she married her soulmate, Orland Duane Edwards, and together they embarked on a life journey that would be filled with shared dreams and cherished memories. Although they lived briefly in Redfield, Carol Ann and Duane eventually returned to Stuart to make their home and raise their family, a decision that would forever anchor them to their beloved community.

Carol Ann was a dedicated mother to her son, Darrell Lee Edwards, and his longtime girlfriend, Angela, and her daughters, Sheila Plowman and husband, Troy, and Shannon Edwards. She took immense pride in her role as a grandmother to Cody, Cameron, Brandon, Bryant, Breanna, Tristan and Sierra Edwards, each of whom brought her immeasurable joy. She was a loving sister to Everett Grasty and his wife, Carla; Vernie Grasty and his wife, Keryl; Donna O’Brien and her husband, Doug; and Paula Frank and her friend, Pam VanScoy. Her family was her world, and she nurtured each relationship with care and affection.

Carol Ann’s career was as nurturing as her personal life. For 25 years, she ran her own daycare, where she touched the lives of countless children and their families with her loving nature. Prior to this, she worked diligently at Ross Daniels in Des Moines for 13 years and at the Redfield Tile Plant for six years. Her work ethic and genuine care for others left a lasting impression on everyone she worked with.

Her interests were as varied as they were passionate. Born in her grandmother Waddell’s home, delivered by her grandmother herself, Carol Ann had a unique connection to her family’s history. She loved to engage in activities that brought people together, whether it was playing billiards, working on puzzles, dancing at pool tournaments, or simply spending precious time with her family and many friends. Her enthusiasm for life’s simple pleasures was contagious and brought warmth to any gathering. She thoroughly enjoyed Coffee Sundays with her sisters, Paula and Donna.

Carol Ann will be remembered for her loving nature, her thoughtful ways, and her selfless approach to life. She was a woman who always put others before herself, and her legacy of kindness will live on in the hearts of those she has left behind.

She is lovingly remembered by her family and friends and will be deeply missed. Carol Ann was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Duane; her sister, Katie Bolin; her parents; and her grandparents, Eunice and Charles Waddell, Floyd and Esther Bechtel, and Everett Grasty Sr.

Carol Ann’s life was a testament to the power of love and the importance of family. Her spirit, a guiding light to all who had the pleasure of knowing her, will continue to shine brightly in the memories she leaves behind. As we say goodbye to this remarkable woman, we celebrate the lasting impact she has made on our lives and the community she so dearly loved.

Visitation will be held from 5-6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the Johnson Family Funeral Home and Crematory – Stuart Chapel. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.  Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the family.

1930-2024

The family of Dorothy Neel will visit with friends from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home in Jefferson. Family interment services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Junction Township Cemetery, Grand Junction. Rev. Thomas McMullin,  Panora Church of the Brethren, will preside.

Memorials are suggested to Heritage Park in Panora and may be mailed to 5010 Briar Cliff Court, Panora, IA 50216; or Prairie Woodland Conservation Foundation, 206 West South St., Panora, IA 50216. 

Dorothy Jean Neel, passed away on Nov. 10, 2024, at the age of 94, in Panora. Born on May 21, 1930, in Boone to Roy and Mabel (Cox) Jewett, Dorothy’s life was a tapestry of love, dedication and service.

Dorothy graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science degree, where she also embraced lifelong friendships as an active member of the Delta Zeta sorority. Her commitment to education and young minds led her to serve as a substitute teacher at the Grand Junction/East Greene schools. Dorothy also had a lifelong joy of watching sports (any sports!), especially her beloved ISU Cyclones and also when her grandchildren were playing sports.

In the early 1980s, Dorothy’s professional path took a turn as she stepped into the role of head bookkeeper at the Neel/Lake Lumber Yard, a family-owned business where she was not only part-owner but also the heart of operations. She continued working there for nearly four decades, until her retirement at age 85.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Dorothy was the loving center of her family. Dorothy and Bob Neel were married in June of 1952. They raised four children: Sherry (Norm) Smith, Kathy (Earl) Werner, Nancy (Dick) Lehman, and Tom (Sharon) Neel, who they watched grow and prosper, each finding their unique path in life. Her joy multiplied with the arrival of her grandchildren: Jan, Kirk (Jeanne) and Calvin (Melanie) Smith; Willie (Julie), David and Lee (Karlee) Werner, Mallory (Dwayne) Draper and Ben (Britta) Lehman; Breanne and Emily Neel; and further still with her eight great-grandchildren. She instilled in them the values of kindness, thoughtfulness and pride, traits she embodied every day.

Dorothy’s zest for life extended to her love of bridge, which she played with a cherished group of friends throughout her life. Her travels with her late husband, family, friends, sorority sisters and lumber yard business associates enriched her life with adventure and shared memories. Dorothy’s love for family gatherings shone brightest at Bay Lake, Minnesota, and later on Lake Panorama, where laughter and stories were abundant. She was also a true nature lover and enjoyed all the birds and wildlife that visited and entertained her outside her windows.

A woman of faith, Dorothy was an active participant in the United Methodist Church in Grand Junction and later in the Panora Brethren Church after moving to Lake Panorama.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her spouse, Robert Neel; her brother, Dale Jewett; and her sister, Lois Freerksen. Her legacy of love and leadership survives through her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who will carry forward the light of her spirit.

As we celebrate Dorothy’s well-lived life, we remember her virtues of grace and generosity.
Dorothy’s presence will be profoundly missed, but her spirit and her sass will continue to guide and inspire the lives she touched for generations to come.

Services provided by Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home and Cremation Care, Jefferson, 515-386-2171.

1946-2024

With sadness, we announce the passing of longtime Panora resident Nina Elaine Cole of North Las Vegas, Nevada. Nina, 76, daughter of HR Robert (Bob) and Mary Anne (Overing) Park, was born Oct. 26, 1946, in Bellville, Kansas. She passed away peacefully on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, at Mountain View Hospital in Las Vegas, surrounded by family and her long-time friend.

Nina grew up in Council Bluffs, where she enjoyed playing musical instruments, hanging out with her friends, and visiting the farm, where she enjoyed visiting her cousins and “Gram.” She was the youngest of two children. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Council Bluffs in 1964. After being introduced to the love of her life, Gary, by his sister, Donna, they knew the time was right. After three days of courtship in 1968, they eloped to Las Vegas and married at Little Church of the West.

In a time when many women did not work outside the home, Nina held several impressive positions, including Secretary to the Secretary of the Navy in the Pentagon at Washington, D.C., stints at the Governor’s Office in Iowa, and Staffing Supervisor at Woodward State Hospital. However, her favorite role was that of mother; two children were born to the union. When they started their family, the couple left D.C. and returned to the Midwest to be closer to family. Watching her boys excel in their high school sports in Panora was one of her greatest pleasures. She was known throughout the small town, where she and Gary raised the boys, as their biggest cheerleader.

Her laugh was infectious and could be heard often when she gathered with friends. She found much joy in her weekly backgammon dates, trips, and participation in Eastern Star functions with her dear friends, Virginia and Marilyn. She was a devoted follower of the Chicago Cubs and Nebraska football.

Nina’s sense of style was always noteworthy. She was a trailblazer with a splash of purple in her graying hair and was always happy to get her nails manicured in the colors of special events, like her grandson’s high school graduation or Mojave High School orange.

Nina is survived by her son, Gregory Cole (Stephanie Francis) and his son, Matthew, both of North Las Vegas, Nevada; and her brother’s daughter, Marcie (PJ) Douglas of Temecula, California; as well as many cousins on both sides of the family. She is preceded in death by her parents, HR (Bob) and Mary Park; her husband, Gary Cole; her son, Treffie; and her brother, William (Joyce) Park.

The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the wonderful caregivers, friends, members of the Eastern Star and Masonic Lodge and ask that donations, rather than flowers, be made to her beloved Eastern Star chapters either in Las Vegas, Nevada (North Star #33 OES, 2929 Van Der Meer Drive, 89030) or Linden, Iowa (Linden #482 OES, 110 E Market St., Panora, IA, 50216).