1977-2024

Thomas Joseph (T.J.) Redfern, II was born in Guthrie Center on Feb. 15, 1977, to Thomas and Cindy (McCarty) Redfern. He was the youngest of three sons.

Growing up, T.J. enjoyed fishing, hunting and being just plain ornery. He graduated from Guthrie Center High School, where he participated in football, wrestling and swim team.

During his senior year, T.J. made his family proud and wrestled his way to the State tournament.

After graduation, T.J. worked in construction until he started trucking across the country, where he met several life-long friends. He did this until 2011 when he entered the insurance business.

By 2020, T.J. returned to his first passion — trucking. He took a leap of faith and bought his semi, becoming his own boss and a businessman.  

In 2009, T.J. met his wife Andrea during a roping tournament at the Dallas County Fair in Adel. The sparks flew, and they were married a few years later on Aug. 24, 2013. T.J.’s heart swelled when they welcomed their son, Kroy, into the world two years later. Two years after that, it swelled again when their younger son, Brylon, joined the family. 

T.J. had the same love for his nieces and nephews. As each one joined the family, he welcomed them with open arms — hanging out with them in the “cave,” teaching them to fish, taking them coyote hunting and horseback riding, competing in roping contests with them, cheering them on at sporting events, and teasing them endlessly with silly nicknames.

Many loved ones await T.J.’s arrival in heaven, including his father, Thomas Joseph Redfern, his grandparents, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

T.J. is survived by his wife, Andrea (Clark); sons, Kroy and Brylon; mother, Cindy; brother, Chad and his children, Delaney (Jeb), Dakota and Alexis; brother, Travis (Courtney) and his children, Mackenzie and Justin; father and mother-in-law, Paul and Sheryl Clark; brother-in-law, Travis (Christy) and his children Vada, Priya and Bodie; and brother-in-law, Dustin (Sarah), all of Guthrie Center. Many aunts, uncles, cousins and great friends also survive him.

T.J. joined his father, Tom, in heaven on Aug. 24, 2024, where they are likely fishing or playing cards. No matter what they are doing, they are laughing and happy. T.J. will be greatly missed by his family and friends who will remember his devotion to his loved ones, his fondness of music, and his great and unfailing sense of humor.

1947-2024

Donna Jean Johnson, 77, daughter of Albert and Inez Nelson, was born May 19, 1947, in Lohrville. She passed away Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, at UnityPoint Health-Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Des Moines.

She married Francis “Frank” Johnson on Nov. 7, 1964, at the Morrisburg Church. They lived near Dexter and then moved to Redfield. In 1970, they purchased the farm south of Panora. She worked road construction as a flag person and made sandwiches for the road crew before purchasing the farm. She farmed with Frank and then went to work at Stetson Building Products with accounts payable in the 1980s and worked there for 25-plus years. When they moved to Panora, she helped out at the Panora Ben Franklin Store and then worked at Panora State Bank until she had to retire due to health reasons.

She was very active in the Guthrie County Pork Producers alongside Frank and was a Master Pork Producer in the State of Iowa in 1991.They traveled to other states to promote pork in big city grocery stores. They hosted more than a dozen foreign exchange students and traveled to Brazil to visit them as well. She also volunteered at the 3C’s in Panora.

She loved Frank so much that she went to be with him just one day before his passing nine years ago.

Donna is survived by her son, John (Margo) Johnson; daughter, Sheila (Andy) Allen; grandsons, Dalton (Dakota) Allen and Levi (Maddie) Johnson; granddaughters, Jaden Johnson, Bridgette (Luke) Skalla, and Beth (Jeremy) Gregory; five great-grandchildren; and sister, Marilyn Bettis of Missouri. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Frank; sisters, Sharon Daisy and Edna Anderson; and brother, Bill Nelson.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, at the Panora United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Morrisburg Cemetery, rural Stuart. Visitation will be Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, from 5-7 p.m. at the Twigg Funeral Home, Panora.

Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.

1926-2024

Theodore “Ted” K. Hansen, 97, son of Vernon and Leta Hansen, was born Sept. 13, 1926, in Inglewood, California. He passed away peacefully Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, at the Guthrie County Hospital, Guthrie Center, surrounded by his loving family.

Ted graduated from Granger High School in 1945. He was then drafted into the United States Army during WWII. Following his honorable discharge, he married Norma Jean Kahler, and to this union, five children were born. They lived in Indianola while Ted went to Simpson College until his graduation. He then went on to Iowa State University and Drake University and earned his master’s degree in education. They moved to Granger, and in the mid 1950s, they moved to Guthrie Center, where Ted built their family home and raised their children. Ted taught sciences at Guthrie Center High School from 1954 to 1962. He was the elementary principal from 1962 to 1988, when he retired. Ted also owned and operated Guthrie Center Plumbing and two laundromats during his time as principal. Ted also did custom woodworking for homes, and he made the cross that is in the sanctuary at the Methodist Church in Guthrie Center. He touched many lives in the Guthrie Center Community and Guthrie Center school system.

Ted enjoyed golfing, fishing, jewelry making, woodworking and supporting his children and grandchildren in their activities. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Guthrie Center, where he sang in the church choir. He was also a member of the Omar B. Shearer Legion Post No. 124, Lions Club, High Finance, and served on the New Homestead Board.

Ted’s greatest joy was spending time with his family, especially happy hour at his home on Friday nights. He will be missed dearly by many.

Ted is survived by his son, Gary Hansen of Iowa City; daughters, Kathy Horner of Des Moines, Cindy (Don) Slaybaugh of Guthrie Center, Tami (Bill) McCool of Waukee, and Sherry (Randy) Rhoades of Guthrie Center; 10 grandchildren, Kourtney (Jerome) McComb, Justin (Tabby) Slaybaugh, Amanda (Ryan) Steffensen, Nick (Beth) McCool, Mallory (Jesse) Cunningham, Zach (Whitney) McCool, Maleah (Gunner) Strauser, Chelsea (Billy) Baudler, Cerissa (Ben) Smith, and Keaton (Brey) Rhoades; and 24 great-grandchildren with one on the way. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Norma, in 2020; son-in-law, Bill Horner; great-grandson, Will Cunningham; and sisters, Lucille and Loree.

Memorial services will be 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, at the First United Methodist Church, Guthrie Center with visitation one hour prior to the services at the church. Burial will be held immediately following the services at the Lincoln Cemetery, Granger.

Memorials may be left to the Guthrie Center Elementary School.

Twigg Funeral Home is entrusted with his services.

1955-2024

Susan M. Hansen, age 69 of Clarksville, Tennessee, passed away peacefully at her home on July 31, 2024. 

Susan was born May 21, 1955, in Panora. She was preceded in death by her parents, Gordon and Virginia Hansen, of Panora. 

She is survived by her sister, Karla VanWinkle, brother Carl “Skip” (Teresa) Hansen, her son, Cameron (Kelly) Rodgers, her daughter, Rebecca (Brandon) Foster Newcom, her stepson, Mike Corbin, and her very much-loved grandchildren, Samuel, Laine, Whitnye, Brooklynn, Braylen and Brycen.

Sue first began her career in The United States Army, serving as a M.P. After her last station at Fort Campbell, she joined the Clarksville Police Department. Throughout her career, Sue displayed unwavering commitment and dedication to serving others. She went on to give almost 30 years of dedicated employment to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. She retired in October of 2022 as Sergeant Sue M. Hansen.

In addition to loving her country and being a true patriot, Sue was an avid lover of gardening, reading, cooking, the great outdoors, and time with her family. She found joy in the simple pleasures of life. She was particularly fond of sharing her passions with those she held dear — evident in her attempts to teach her daughter the art of canning. 

Services were held Aug. 11 in Clarksville, Tennessee. Sue’s family received friends at McReynolds-Nave & Larson Funeral Home from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, followed by a memorial service that celebrated her life at 3 p.m. In honoring Sue’s legacy of dutiful service to her community, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard reverently concluded the services with the rendering of honors. 

Sue’s family will hold a celebration of life on Saturday, Oct. 12 at the Panora Community Center from noon to 3 p.m. 

Sue will be missed by her family, friends and her community she proudly served. For friends and colleagues who were not able to attend in person, condolences and words of comfort may be shared with her family at www.NaveFuneralHomes.com.

1937-2024

Rita Jo Halsey, daughter of Carl and Dorothy (Anderson) Paup, was born July 10, 1937, at St. Anthony Hospital in Carroll. She died peacefully at the New Homestead in Guthrie Center Aug. 8, 2024, with family beside her.

She graduated from Scranton High School and then went on to attend beauty school at Iowa School of Beauty in Des Moines, Iowa. On Aug. 11, 1958, she married G. David Halsey at St. Mary’s Church in Guthrie Center. To this union, five children were born.

She enjoyed playing the organ, crocheting, feeding the birds and caring for her many beautiful flowers, especially her orchids. She had a very green thumb when it came to flowers and gardening. The Green Bay Packers was her and David’s team to watch until Aaron Rogers went to another team. She was an excellent cook, especially when it came to Christmas time. Her homemade candies and T-rings were enjoyed by so many as she gave them away for many years as Christmas gifts. Her pickled beets and lime green pickles were a hit at any family meal or gathering. The number of beautiful afghans she gave as gifts for graduations, weddings, new babies, special occasions, etc. were endless. Even with five children, her home was always in pristine shape. Some of her kids now claim that she had OCD before it was a “thing/disorder.”

She operated an in-home beauty shop for more than 50 years and even cut hair when she went to The New Homestead Independent Living in her early 80s.

Left to cherish the memories are her children, Tony (Sarah) Halsey, Paula Behrens, Alex (Patty) Halsey, Adam Halsey, Merici (Russell) Sheeder; sister, Jane (Gary Sherman) Higgs; grandchildren, Randi (Jon) Cretsinger, Austin Hertz, Grant (Lauren) Sheeder, Becky (Ryan) Elgin, Emily (Mark Charlet) Sheeder, Katie (Cole) Fenske, Maria (Paxton) Mareno, Patrick (Samantha) Halsey, Phillip (Allison) Halsey, and Nic (Nick) Halsey; as well as 15 great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins and great friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, David, in 2013; parents and parents-in-law; special friend, Andy Foster; sister-in-law, Donna Feeley; niece, Teresa Feeley; sisters Donna MacDonald and husband, George; Peggy Scheffler and husbands, Francis and Cliff; nephew, Kim Laursen; brother-in-law, Norman Higgs; and son-in-law, Jeff Behrens.

1943-2024

Craig Alan Ditsworth, 80, passed away surrounded by his family on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024 in Des Moines. A celebration of life will be held on Friday, Aug. 16 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at Des Moines Golf and Country Club (1600 Jordan Creek Parkway, West Des Moines).

Craig was born on Dec. 5, 1943, to Robert and Wanda Ditsworth in Algona and was raised in Bancroft; Ray, North Dakota; and Jefferson with his two siblings, Gary and Cheryl. He graduated from Jefferson High School in 1962. He attended college at Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, Missouri, and joined Delta Sigma Phi fraternity. He graduated with a degree in accounting in 1966 and worked as a CPA at Meriwether Wilson & Co. for more than 45 years, serving as their managing partner for more than 20 years.

Craig was preceded in death by his loving wife of more than 40 years, Vickie Whiton Ditsworth. He is survived by his children, Kari Hensen (Andy), Jeff Ditsworth (Heather); brother, Gary (Reta); sister, Cheryl Hart (Ronnie); his four grandchildren, Juliet, Kelsey, Drew and Maxwell; his nieces and nephews; many dear friends he considered family; and his special friend, Pam Curtis.

Craig was an exceptional business leader and mentor, whose sharp instincts and strategic vision helped shape Meriwether Wilson & Co. into a firm of distinction. As the senior partner for more than two decades, his leadership, deal-making acumen, and critical decision-making were instrumental in driving the firm’s steady growth and building an unparalleled reputation in the industry. Beyond his professional achievements, Craig’s love for flying was a defining aspect of his life. Soaring through the skies in his Beechcraft Bonanza or sharing his passion for aviation with others, flying was more than a hobby — it was a cornerstone of his persona. Craig’s deep appreciation for the outdoors — whether fishing, hunting or camping — was a legacy he passed on to his children and grandchildren, ensuring that his adventurous spirit will continue to thrive through them. Craig was a storyteller, the life of the party and a loyal friend who cherished his relationships. He enjoyed golfing, exploring new technology, traveling and cheering for his beloved Iowa State Cyclones. Above all, he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather who will be deeply missed by all who knew him. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in his honor to the American Cancer Society.