1947-2026

Joan Lea Millhollin, 79, daughter of Billie and Helen (Knowlton) Heiland, was born April 2, 1947, in Jefferson. She passed away on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, at her home in Yale.

Joan grew up in Panora along Main Street.  She graduated from Panora-Linden High School in 1965.  She attended Northwest Missouri State from 1965 to 1967. On June 30, 1968, she married John Millhollin in Panora. They made their home in Panora for a short time before moving to Jamaica, where they lived for 15 years. In 1984, they moved to their current home in Yale. Joan worked as a legal secretary for attorney John Donahey for around 10 years. In July of 1989, she went to work for the local phone company, Panora Telco, retiring in 2011.

Joan enjoyed reading, being with her family, and attending her grandchildren’s sporting events.

She is survived by her husband, John Millhollin of Yale; daughters, Amy (Brian) Summy of Colfax, Carrie Millhollin of West Des Moines, and Annie (Matt) Drewis of Madrid; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, James Heiland and John Lynn Heiland.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, at the Twigg Funeral Home, Panora. Burial will be in the Brethren Cemetery, Panora. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the funeral home.

Memorials may be left to Hospice of the Midwest.

1943-2026

Carolyn Kay (Wall) Griffith, 83, daughter of Ted and Aura (Shoesmith) Wall, was born Feb. 16, 1943, at her grandparents’ home in Redfield. She passed away Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, at her home in Guthrie Center.

Carolyn and Aura were living with Aura’s parents while Ted was serving in the Army during WWII. When Ted came home from the war, the family moved to a farm south of the Monteith Cemetery. Carolyn attended Monteith school until the family moved to Guthrie Center when she was in second grade. Carolyn was an only child for seven years, and on her seventh birthday a baby brother, Tommy, was born — the best birthday present ever (at least that’s what Tim always told her). Eventually, Carolyn and Tom were blessed with two more sisters, Marijean and then Pam.

Carolyn loved life on the farm and enjoyed going to do chores with her dad. She also loved their home in town across from the fairgrounds. It was the best place to grow up because it was partly like being in the country (there was seven acres with their property) yet close to uptown, the city park and swimming pool, county fair and the Dairy Sweet. What more could a kid ask for?

Carolyn cultivated a love for flowers early on from her paternal grandparents and her mother. All of her life, Carolyn enjoyed houseplants, especially African violets (starts from her grandma) and come spring she and Amy always went on a shopping spree for flowers to set out. Carolyn also loved to raise a garden every summer.

After high school, Carolyn attended and graduated from Thompson School of Beauty Culture in Des Moines. Carolyn opened her own beauty shop, Griffith’s Beauty Nook, in downtown Guthrie Center and then at her home for about 20 years.

On Oct. 18, 1964, Carolyn married Jim Griffith from Prentiss, Mississippi. They were married at the First United Methodist Church in Guthrie Center. Every time people found out Jim was from Mississippi, they would ask Carolyn, “How did you two meet?” Carolyn took a week’s vacation to New Orleans to visit a Guthrie Center friend and her husband. The friend introduced Carolyn to their neighbor, Jim, on the day she arrived, and they spent every day of her vacation together, then wrote letters back and forth for a few months. Then the friend and her husband moved back to Guthrie Center, and Jim came with them. He brought a diamond engagement ring with him, and he and Carolyn got engaged in September and got married a month later, and, as they say, the rest is history — 60 plus years of history. To this union, two beautiful children were born, Amy Marie in 1971 and James Ted in 1974.

Carolyn loved attending the kids’ school activities and never missed a music or band concert, football game or track meet. Tragically, Jimmy was killed in a firefighting explosion at the age of 26, a loss that never leaves a mother’s heart. Carolyn and Jim remained very close to Jimmy’s fiancé, Kelley, and her family, and, for that, Carolyn has always been very grateful.

Carolyn’s greatest joys in life were her children; grandchildren, Erica and Grant; and, in later years, her great grandchildren and her bonus kids, grands and great grands.

For the first 15 years of their marriage, Jim and Carolyn would spend six weeks in Mississippi with Jim’s family. Carolyn loved those visits because it allowed her and the kids to get well acquainted with their far-away cousins and Jim’s mother and sister. Carolyn loved Jim’s mother’s southern cooking and learned a lot about southern living. 

Carolyn loved family gatherings and, for many years, never missed celebrating birthdays and holidays with her parents, siblings and their families.

Carolyn and Jim played in a monthly card group and also spent lots of weekend time with friends. They loved to camp and spent many happy weekends at Springbrook with their kids, friends and, later, their grandkids. She was also a member of the Guthrie Center Fire Department Women’s Auxiliary, and she and Jim enjoyed supporting the Arts Council, Art on State, and the Iowa Firefighter’s Memorial.

Carolyn enjoyed traveling and had trips to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, New Orleans and Mardi Gras, Alaska, Hawaii and some memorable family reunions in Michigan, Colorado and California.

Carolyn loved her church family and has been a member there since 1960. She sang in the choir since high school, taught Sunday School, was an MYF sponsor and belonged to United Methodist Women’s group. She gave children’s stories, served as worship assistant, and helped in the church kitchen many times. She always considered being a part of the church family a true blessing and cherished the many relationships built there.

Carolyn and Jim worked part time for Guthrie Center Assembly putting together bolts for Illinois Tool Works for several years, and, during that time, Carolyn served on the Guthrie Center Assembly Board. After retiring from the beauty shop entirely, Carolyn worked in the Guthrie County Hospital laundry for seven years. After that job ended, she kind of fell into, or rather walked into, a job as a teacher’s aide in the Title I reading room at Guthrie Center Elementary. It was her favorite job of all time because she always wanted to be a teacher and loved kids. This job fulfilled that dream, and she worked there for 12 years until full retirement at age 72. Shortly after she started the job at the school in 2004, she was diagnosed with breast cancer but managed to continue working while going through chemo and radiation. She always said she had a very understanding principal and very supportive coworkers. God blessed her with another 20-plus years. After retiring, Carolyn’s greatest joy was spending time with her grandkids and great-grandkids whose generous parents saw to it that it happened. Carolyn once read a saying that she said she always liked: “Grandchildren are our reward for having children.”

Passing before Carolyn were her parents, Ted and Aura Wall; Jim’s parents, Jewel Griffith and Harold Griffith; her son, Jimmy; her sister, Marijean Coffman; and her nephew, Bryant Floyd. Left to celebrate her life are her husband, Jim Griffith of Guthrie Center; daughter, Amy (Chuck) Cleveland of Guthrie Center; daughter-in-love, Kelley (Chism) Orr of Winterset; grandchildren Erica (David) Finster of Guthrie Center, Grant (Leigan) Cleveland of rural Panora, Josie (Dalton) Neuerkirk of Lorimor, and Jenna Orr of Winterset; great-grandchildren, Lawson, Olivia and Layne Finster and Creed Cleveland; brother Tom (Lynette) Wall of Davenport; sister Pam (Doug) Grow of Rippey; and many nieces, nephews and bonus grandkids and great-grandkids Zac (Cassie) Cleveland, Briley and Kaiden, Blaine Finster and many others whose life she blessed.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m., Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at the First United Methodist Church, Guthrie Center. Visitation will be Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, from 5-7 p.m. at the Twigg Funeral Home, Guthrie Center.

Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.

1950-2026

Wes, age 75, passed away peacefully at his home after a courageous 5-year battle with cancer on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, with his family by his side. He was a loving, caring and generous man who strived for perfection in all that he did. He was strong-willed and fought hard for everything he accomplished.

In his younger years, Wes loved classic cars (buying and working on them), drag racing and intimidating the local law officials. He worked for several local farmers in the St. Charles and Truro area. Wes also worked at the Skelly Truck Stop in Bevington.

Wes started trucking in 1970, which then became one of his many passions and ran in his blood. He drove over-the-road for almost 52 years and traveled to all states except for Alaska and Hawaii. Another passion of his was custom harvesting wheat, barley, oats, corn and beans in his John Deere equipment. He harvested from Oklahoma to North Dakota every summer and the local areas in the fall with his loving family.

Wes married his soulmate and best friend Kathryn in November 1978. They were married 47 years and shared a beautiful and fulfilling life together. Kathryn supported Wes in all passions, projects and adventures that he introduced into their life.

Those left to honor Wes’ memory are his wife, Kathryn, of Panora; his children, Charles (Angela) Joynes of Des Moines, Virginia Joynes of Winterset, Isaiah Joynes of Creston, Nevaeh Joynes of Greenfield, Rhonda (Dan) Lauer of Winterset, Tracy (Steve) Briley of Newton, and Jacquelyn Joynes and multiple siblings, in-laws, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Wes was a hard-working and dependable man. He made friends wherever he went and always had the best stories to tell. He will be deeply missed by all.

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.

1940-2026

Dennis Leon Cain, 85, son of Emmett and Bertha (Bean) Cain, was born Aug. 19, 1940, in Jefferson. He passed away Friday, July 24, 2026, at his home west of Bagley.

He grew up west of Bagley on one of the Cain family farms. He graduated from Bagley High School then attended both Iowa State University and Buena Vista University for a year each. As a youth, he was active in Cub Scouts and Dodge Dodgers 4-H of which he was later a leader for many years.

In June 1963, he married Carol Elston of Perry. They settled and lived their entire life within 2 miles of where he grew up. They welcomed three children in quick succession: Christopher Lynn, Curtis Alan and Kimberly Ann. Denny and Carol worked hard on the farm raising crops, pigs and cattle.

Denny was a member of the Bagley United Methodist Church, the Guthrie County Youth Committee, Bagley Lions Club, and Bagley Fire Department. He was an original founder of the Guthrie County Cattlemen and was active with them for years. He was the Beef Superintendent of the Guthrie County Fair for more than 40 years.

Denny enjoyed cattle, 4-H, ISU, sports of all kinds, watching old Westerns and traveling. Over the years, he and his wife, often with one or more of their children, traveled to Colorado (many times to visit family there), Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida (to visit his sister, Maria), Arkansas, Oregon and Washington (to visit Carol’s family). They also went on a number of cruises to the Caribbean and Alaska. Denny loved Iowa State especially Iowa State Football. He had season tickets to football when his children were in high school and later with his daughter, Kim. He was looking forward to this year’s games. He was able to attend a bowl game with his son, Chris, and the Big 12 Championship game in Dallas with his daughter, Kim, and grandson, Evan. He enjoyed tailgating with their friends and any others he could find to talk to. Denny had a quirky, ornery sense of humor. He never knew a stranger and loved nothing more than talking to people.

He is survived by his wife, Carol; children, Chris (Dawn), Curt (Karla) and Kim; his grandchildren, Stephanie (Trevor) Pederson, Zachary (Katlyn) Cain, Cody Cain, Brooke Cain, Cain Neuharth and Evan Neuharth; great-grandchildren, Wilder and Korrie Cain; sister, Marla (Jim) Ray; and sister-in-law, Linda (Bob) Doran. He was preceded in death by his parents.

A celebration of life is planned for Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, at the Event Center at the Guthrie County Fairgrounds, Guthrie Center from 1-4 p.m. The Guthrie County Cattlemen will be grilling for the celebration. Please wear your ISU attire or favorite sports team.

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

1954-2026

Marianne (Zoul) Favaro, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, passed away at home on July 19, 2026, with her devoted husband, Bill, at her side. She was 71 years old.

Born on Oct. 7, 1954, in Cleveland, Ohio, Marianne was the daughter of Robert Joseph Zoul and Anna Maria Zoul and the middle of five children. When she was 7 years old, the family moved to Southern California, where Marianne would spend most of her life. Although born in Ohio, she proudly considered herself an original “Valley Girl.” California wasn’t simply where she lived — it was part of who she was. Petite, stylish and known for her striking blue eyes, Marianne loved sunshine, beautiful clothes and was always the life of the party. But those who knew her best will remember far more than her beauty. She was quick-witted, intelligent, endlessly curious and remarkably resilient. Marianne had an incredibly generous heart and a natural gift for making people feel welcome. Whether it was a holiday, a family gathering or an ordinary afternoon, she always made room for one more person at the table.  

She attended St. Genevieve High School in Panorama City, California, before marrying Thomas “Tom” Connolly Jr. in 1974. Together they built a home in Woodland Hills, California, where they raised their daughters, Shannon Leigh (Connolly) Downing and Brittany Leigh Connolly.

Marianne poured herself into motherhood. When Brittany faced serious health challenges as a child, Marianne devoted herself completely to her care while remaining a constant presence at St. Mel Catholic School, where the girls both attended. Her family was always her top priority, and she loved them fiercely.

As her daughters grew older, Marianne found a second calling in real estate. Her warmth, professionalism and gift for connecting with people led to a highly successful career spanning many years, earning her numerous awards and the respect of colleagues and clients.

Following Tom’s death, Marianne married William “Bill” Favaro in 1999. The two exchanged vows in Iowa, Bill’s home state. Together they shared a life filled with love, friendship, laughter and adventure. As they approached retirement, they fulfilled a lifelong dream of building their forever home on Lake Panorama, just outside of Des Moines, Iowa. There they enjoyed the slower pace of life, beautiful sunsets, new friends and creating memories together. Still, Marianne never stopped loving California, so they found the perfect compromise — spending their winters in Indian Wells, where they stayed warm and enjoyed a lifestyle that brought them so much happiness. Their beloved dog, Lola Peanut, was a constant companion and completed their little family. Wherever Bill and Marianne went, Lola was usually right beside them.

Whether in Iowa or California, Marianne loved being outdoors — sunbathing by the pool, taking boat rides on the lake, planting flowers, or simply walking around the neighborhood. She was an avid Notre Dame football fan and, more recently, discovered a love for Indiana Fever basketball. At the end of the day, she was just as happy relaxing with a good book and, of course, a glass of chardonnay. 

But nothing brought Marianne more joy than gathering the people she loved — both family and friends she considered family. Holidays were never just for blood relatives; she had a way of making sure everyone had somewhere to go and someone to celebrate with. She had a gift for throwing unforgettable parties, a tradition she proudly passed on to her daughters. Since 2004, one of her greatest joys, and something both she and Bill looked forward to each year, was welcoming their family to the “Lake House” for the Fourth of July. Those who had the privilege of being there know those times were filled with good company, spirited conversation and countless shenanigans around the tiki bar.

Even as her health wavered, Marianne never lost her playful spirit. Just a few weeks before her passing, she surprised her family by agreeing to spend a day at Lost Island Theme Park in Waterloo, Iowa, with her only grandchild, Carter. To everyone’s amazement, she rode roller coasters, tackled a four-story water slide, and laughed her way through the day. Back at home, she remained Carter’s toughest Uno rival, always ready for one more game, which she usually won.

After the heartbreaking loss of her daughter, Brittany, in 2011, Marianne faced many years of chronic pain with quiet strength. While those who love her will miss her every day, they take comfort in knowing she is finally at peace and reunited with Brittany.

Marianne is preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Anna Zoul; brothers, Thomas and Timothy Zoul; and her cherished daughter, Brittany Connolly.

She is survived by her devoted husband, William Favaro; her daughter, Shannon Downing, and son-in-law, Brandon Downing; her beloved grandson, Carter Downing; her sisters, Joan (Zoul) Swick and Susan Zoul; her stepson, William Joseph Favaro; along with many nieces, nephews, extended family members and dear friends.

A funeral mass celebrating Marianne’s life will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Des Moines, Iowa, at noon, with a reception immediately following. A celebration of her life will also be held in California at a later date, where she will be laid to rest near Brittany.

Twigg Funeral Home, Panora, was entrusted with her services.