1942-2024                 

Janice Charlene Lehman, 82, gained her angel wings on Oct. 26, 2024. She was born at home, a farmstead near Coon Rapids, on Aug. 23, 1942, an only child to George and Mildred (Cameron) Christensen. Janice graduated from Guthrie Center High School in 1961. This was where she met the love of her life, Kenneth Lehman. Kenny drove the school bus as a junior and senior in high school for all the other school kids. This is where the two met and began their courtship. Kenny and Janice married shortly after her high school graduation on June 4, 1961, at the St. John Lutheran Church in Audubon. The couple had two children, Sherry and Paul, who then blessed them with four grandchildren: Shannon, Curtis, Katie and Kristopher. Janice is the great grandmother to nine great grandchildren. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were her greatest pride and joy in life.

Following graduation from high school and marriage to Kenny, Janice took on the role of the farmer’s wife and filled the role well. There was nothing she couldn’t do. While taking care of their home and children, she could also be found driving the tractor, tending to the farm animals, and caring for a large garden. Janice was a loyal member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Guthrie Center. She could also be found helping out at Bowman Chapel at funerals, socializing at their quilt group (even though she didn’t quilt), and washing dishes at their harvest dinner.

Janice loved spending time with her family. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren brought her the utmost joy. She loved when they visited her at the nursing home, and loved showing them off to everyone there. She loved playing cards and board games, especially with her grandkids. Janice loved every single holiday and decorating for each of them, accordingly, always remembering to send out holiday and birthday cards to everyone in the family. Together, Kenny and Janice went on many trips in their camper, often spending their winters in Texas. They also loved taking nightly cruises around the neighborhood checking for deer and attending activities and events to support their grandkids. Janice was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need and was an extremely hard worker. She had many friends in their neighborhood and at the New Homestead in Guthrie Center. Her infectious laugh is one that will be fondly remembered. She will be greatly missed by many, and everyone who knew Janice has a story about her.

Janice is survived by her son, Paul (Brenda) Lehman; four grandchildren: Katie (Tom) Naert, Kris (Caelin) Lehman, Curtis (Katie) Gettler and Shannon (Jeff) Lee; and nine great-grandchildren: Bret, Emryn, Rowyn, Lee, Hank, Shyanne, Savannah, Carsen and Ember. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Kenneth; and daughter, Sherry.

A visitation and meal will be held Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Activity Center in Guthrie Center. Following the visitation will be a graveside burial service at 1 p.m. at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, rural Guthrie Center. 

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

1945-2024

James Jess Steburg (Jim), 79, son of Jess and Dorothy (Martin) Steburg, was born July 30, 1945, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

After WWII and Jess’s honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, the Steburg family returned to their hometown of Fort Dodge. Jim attended school in Fort Dodge, graduating from Fort Dodge High School in 1963, and subsequently Iowa Central Community College. 

Jim grew up with a love of the outdoors. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, trapping, canoeing and even sneaking into quarry ponds near Fort Dodge to swim with his friends and his identical twin brother, Larry. Jim came to faith in Christ as a young man, and he was baptized at Dolliver Park.  

Following college, Jim began his career in agronomy in Grand Junction in 1965. He met the love his life, Wanda Shearer, at Tiger Bowl in Madrid. Jim and Wanda were united in marriage on July 1, 1967, and two sons were born, Chris and Mark. Jim and his young family moved to Yale in 1973 where Jim continued his agronomy career at Yale Farmers Coop, which later merged to become Mid Iowa Cooperative and then again to become Farmers Cooperative (FC). While managing the agronomy department, Jim served many farmers throughout Iowa. Beginning in the early 1980s, Jim also established a tree farm and nursery business with his brother and their sons. Jim served the community as a Yale City Council member, Yale Volunteer Fire Department Chief, and as president of the Y.J.B. School Board. Following his retirement from FC in 2007, Jim continued to grow his nursery business in Panora.

He was an active member of Lighthouse Assembly of God in Panora until he went to be with the Lord on Oct. 23, 2024, at Mary Greeley Medical Center, Ames.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; his twin brother, Larry; and his daughter-in-law, Mia.   He is survived by his wife, Wanda of Yale; sons, Chris of Yale and Mark (Krista) of Grimes; grandsons, Andy, Ethan and Silas; granddaughter, Juniper; and many other family and friends.

Visitation will be Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, from 9-11 a.m. at the Lighthouse Assembly of God Church, Panora. Graveside services will then be held at 1 p.m. at the Richland Township Cemetery, near Yale.

Memorials can be made to Lighthouse Assembly of God in Panora.

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

1937-2024

Charlotte Belle Thorp, 87, daughter of Glen and Edna (Putnam) Thorp, was born March 3, 1937, near Panora. She passed away Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, at the Community Care Center in Stuart.

Charlotte was raised around Panora and graduated from Panora High School. She went on to Drake University and earned her master’s degree in education. She was a teacher for 41 years, 37 of those years teaching third grade at S.E. Polk. She retired in 1999 and moved back to Panora into her childhood home. She lived there until July 2016, when she became a resident of the Community Care Center.

In retirement, she was a master gardener and was a member of the local garden club.

Charlotte is survived by nieces, nephews and numerous great-nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Edwin; and two nephews.

Graveside services were held 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, at the West Cemetery, Panora.

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

1965-2024

Joseph John Wanninger III, known as Joe to his friends and family, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer at his home in Panora on Oct. 11, 2024, at the age of 59. He was surrounded by his family and friends.

Joe is survived by his loving wife, Jill; children, Brooke (John) of Churdan, and Luke (Jenna) of Panora; grandchildren, Brenna and Kade Smith, Lucy and Ruby Wanninger; sisters, Sheri Lebeck (Dave) of Atlantic, Sandi (Harry) Callahan of Rapid City, South Dakota, and Debbie (Leroy) Lane of Omaha, Nebraska; mother and father in-law, Dale and Karen Knights; brother in-laws Jeff (Amy) Knights, Brent (Jana) Knights, Brian (Lori) Knights; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph John Jr. and Louella Wanninger, and nephew, Jesse Knights.

Joe was born on March 13, 1965, in Audubon. He was raised in and around Audubon, graduating from Audubon High School in 1984. After graduation, he attended Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg. He was united in marriage to Jill Knights on April 12, 1985. After marrying, the couple established their home in Omaha, Nebraska. They then relocated with their children to Jefferson in 1988, where he established his businesses, Joe’s Body and Paint and Joe’s Autos, in 1992. After moving from their acreage in Jefferson, they relocated to town, where they became fast friends (family) with the Hagen family. Nearing retirement, in 2018 the couple moved full time to Lake Panorama, which was a lifelong dream of Joe’s.

Joe enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, providing his grandchildren with all the toys he could think of, buying and selling anything he thought was a deal, and traveling to anywhere warm, especially Hawaii. He loved interacting with all children, and he had an innate ability to make a friend and make you feel welcome in his presence.

Joe was witty and loved to give anyone he met a good-hearted hard time. He could be often heard saying “Work Smarter, Not Harder!” The world would be a better place if we all had a little Joe in us, with his unwavering commitment to his family, his enormous heart, and his generosity to those he felt needed it most. Rest in peace, Joe; you will never be forgotten.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jefferson. Burial will take place at Jefferson Cemetery, Jefferson. Visitation with the family present to greet friends will be from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, at Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home in Jefferson. Memorials are suggested to the William R. Bliss Cancer Center in Ames.

Online condolences may be left at www.sliningerschroeder.com.

1940-2024

Bertha Sue Seeman, 84, of Waukee, peacefully passed away on Oct. 4, 2024, surrounded by loved ones. 

Sue was born on Sept. 29, 1940, the youngest daughter to Acel and Lola Maggard at home in rural Ringgold County. After graduating from North High in 1959, she went on to study nursing at Broadlawns School of Nursing.

After graduation, Sue began her  first job as a nurse at Broadlawns Hospital, beginning her 30-year career in nursing at many Des Moines hospitals and finally at Dallas County Hospital. Sue was passionate about nursing and loved helping people through the joys and challenges of life, especially delivering babies.

In 1965, she met Hansie Seeman, and they wed June 11, 1966, going on to have four children. Sue and Hansie enjoyed attending the many school and sporting events their children were involved in and presenting at Marriage Encounter weekends.

After retiring from nursing in 1991, Sue  spent many years helping Hansie run their furniture and flooring business in Panora until they both retired in 2007. They spent many years as hospice volunteers and visiting the shut-ins through church.

Sue enjoyed traveling with Hansie around the United States, Mexico, Jamaica and a month in Italy and Germany. They had many adventures together with friends and family over the years.  

Sue was preceded in death by her parents, Acel and Lola Maggard; her in-laws, Hans and Rita Seeman; sisters, Julia Lane, Ann Maggard and Louise Barnard; sister-in-law, Jean Maggard; and nephew, Barry Lane.

She is survived by her loving husband, Hansie, of 58 years; their four children, Mary (Dan) Breyfogle of Grundy Center, (Deb) Seeman of Waukee, Jeff ( Lisa) Seeman of Yorkville, Illinois, and Eric (Kris) Seeman of Boone; their 13 grandchildren, Maxwell (Dana), Zachary (Traci), Madelyn, Samantha, Katrina, Sydney (Bobby), Mackenzie, Delaney, Preston, Andrew, Isaac, Paxton and Hattie; and their five great-grandchildren, Jonathan, Cecilia, Johnathan, Eleanor and Jayda. Sue is also survived by her brother, Jim Maggard of Kansas, and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, from 5-7 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 7 p.m. at the Twigg Funeral Home, Panora. Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Adel, officiated by Fr. Michael Hutchison, with burial held at 1:30 p.m. at Beaver Catholic Cemetery, near Dallas Center.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Every Step Hospice, Tori’s Angels, or Catholic Charities.