1969-2024

Sonja Leann “Louie” Hambleton, 54, daughter of Harley and Melba (Ray) Moore, was born May 2, 1969, in Des Moines. She passed away Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.

Sonja was raised in Carlisle with her five siblings. She graduated from Carlisle High School in 1987. She worked in banking and then went into annuities. She worked for DNA in Des Moines for about 10 years before going to work for Brokers International in early 2000s, where she continued to work as a marketing consultant up until her death. On July 20, 2002, she married Todd Hambleton at the First Christian Church in Guthrie Center. To this union, two children were born, Trent and Zoey. They made their home north of Guthrie Center.

Sonja enjoyed golfing, playing slow pitch softball with her sisters and playing cards. She was very competitive in all she did. She enjoyed watching her children in their sporting events and Zoey in her dance competitions and recitals. She was a “Dance Mom.” She loved her Busch Lights, watching her movies and hanging out at home. She also looked forward to Black Friday Shopping and loved her cats.

Sonja is survived by her husband, Todd, son, Trent, and daughter, Zoey, all of Guthrie Center; sister, Kim (John) Cataldo of Carlisle; brother, Harley Scott (Stephanie) Moore of Overland Park, Kansas; mother-in-law, Barb Hambleton of Guthrie Center; sisters-in-law, Tracy (Corey) Welberg of Panora and Kelli (Dave) Lemke of Guthrie Center; along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; father-in-law, John Hambleton; and her three sisters, Rhonda Hook, Pam Vitiritto and ArLynn Baber.

Cremation has taken place, and visitation will be held on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, from noon until 2 p.m. followed by a short service and then a luncheon at the Lake Panorama Conference Center, Panora.

Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.

Services entrusted to Twigg Funeral Home, Panora.

1939-2024

Lou Ann Huggins, 84, daughter of Roy and Muree (Miller) Ahrens, was born Dec. 24, 1939, in Sac City. She passed away Monday, Jan. 15, 2024 at the New Homestead in Guthrie Center.

Lou Ann graduated from Osceola High School in 1958. On May 31, 1958, she married Donald Huggins in Osceola. They made their home for a short time in Osceola. They then lived in several communities around Panora until 1977, when they moved to Missouri. Lou Ann worked as a CNA for many years before retiring in 1989. In 1990, they moved to Panora, and on April 1, 1991, they opened up Don’s Bait & Tackle Shop and operated this for the next 11 years.

Lou Ann enjoyed being with her family, especially her grandchildren, working with the public at the bait shop, doing puzzle books, going on Branson trips in the summer and watching the Kansas City Chiefs football and St. Louis Cardinals baseball games.

Lou Ann is survived by her daughter, Kim Huggins of Panora; sons, Steve Huggins of Forsyth, Missouri, and Jeff (Linda) Huggins of Guthrie Center; 13 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Cindy Huggins; sister, Kay (Dennis) Chaney of Osceola; and sisters-in-law, Marilyn Ahrens, Wanda Chase, Joanne Huggins, and Sandra Huggins; along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald; sons, Kelly and Kevin; granddaughters, Emily Mae and Taylor; great-granddaughter, London Ann; and brothers, Don and his wife Doris, and Pete.

Funeral services were at 11 a.m., Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, at the Twigg Funeral Home, Panora. Burial in the West Linn Cemetery, near Linden. Visitation was one hour prior to the services at the funeral home.

Memorials may be left to the family.

1934-2024

William John “Bill” Weddingfeld, 89, son of William and Frances (Brandt) Weddingfeld, was born Jan. 18, 1934, in Pender, Nebraska. He passed away Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, at the New Homestead in Guthrie Center, three days short of his 90th birthday.

Bill graduated from Pender High School in 1952. He then received his B.A. degree in education from Wayne State College in 1958 and then his M.S. degree in secondary administration from Northern Colorado University in 1963.  Bill also took advanced classes in education at the University of Nebraska, Omaha.  

Bill was an United States Army veteran, serving from 1954 until 1956. He was a member of the Frank Grubb American Legion Post No. 372, Panora. On Aug. 18, 1957, he married Paula Jean Fowler in Omaha, Nebraska. Paula passed away after complications following surgery on Jan. 13, 1967. On Oct. 28, 1967, Bill married Shirley Sue Sundermann.   

Bill served as a classroom teacher, coach, high school principal and superintendent for a total of 37 years devoted to education, retiring in 1995. He served on the Iowa High School Athletic Association, and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Representative Councils. He was a member of Iowa School Administrators and the American School Administrators.

Bill was a member of St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Panora and served as president of the congregation for several years.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Shirley Sue Weddingfeld, of Panora; daughters, Lisa Ann Longwell Prendergast (Terry) of Omaha, Nebraska; Susan Marie Jensen (Brent) of Bellevue, Nebraska; and son, Michael John Weddingfeld (Shelley) of Ankeny; five grandchildren, Jeremy Alan (Nicole) Longwell, Riley Marie and Maci Jae Jensen, and Caden John and Ashton Michael Weddingfeld; two great-granddaughters, Vivienne Marie Longwell and Ella Dee Longwell; along with many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Paula; sisters, Myra, Genene, Betty, Violet and Madeline; and brothers, Merlyn and Wilbur.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024, at St. Thomas Lutheran Church, Panora. Burial will be in the West Cemetery, Panora. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church.

Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.

 Services entrusted to Twigg Funeral Home, Panora.

1945-2024

 Larry Lloyd Laughery,  the youngest son of Lloyd and Ila (Hayes) Laughery, was born on March 6, 1945, in Carroll. He passed away Friday, Jan. 12, 2024, at the Guthrie County Hospital, Guthrie Center.

Larry attended Guthrie Center Community Schools through 12th grade, graduating in 1963.He married his high school sweetheart, Sherry Smiley, on June 21, 1964; to this union, three children were born: Deena, Danny and Danae.

After high school, Larry attended Wayne State College in Nebraska and graduated with a BS in business. After college, they moved back to Guthrie Center where he worked at the Guthrie Livestock Auction. In 1974, the B&L Feed and Grain Elevator was born, and Larry became the manager until they sold in 1994. Larry went back to work at Guthrie Livestock Auction, which was his true passion. He loved working with family all the way up until he retired.

He was a Guthrie County Supervisor for 12 years and also enjoyed being a Mason and Shriner.

Some of his favorite lifetime joys involved fishing, Christmas with family, traveling, Guthrie County Fair, Iowa State Fair, camping, fireworks, family barbeques, turkey hunting, raising cattle, and his Dallas Cowboys football team. He also loved following all his grandkids’ activities, hosting lifelong hunting friends from Arkansas, and drinking beer with friends and family in his sports bar.

Survivors include his wife, Sherry Laughery of Guthrie Center; daughter, Deena (Dan) Wells of Greenfield; son, Danny (Michelle) Laughery of Bagley; and daughter, Danae (Charlie) Baumert of Bayard; five grandchildren, Dylan (Kenzie) Laughery, Gavin (Ashley) Laughery, Leigan (Grant) Cleveland, Ilana and Andrew Baumert; three great-grandchildren, Mayer and Motley Laughery, and Lyla Rose Laughery; and brother, Jim (Mary Jo) Laughery of Guthrie Center. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Ila Laughery, and niece, Tawny Stetzel.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, at the First Presbyterian Church, Guthrie Center. Burial will be in Union Cemetery, Guthrie Center. Visitation will be Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024, from 4-7 p.m. at the Guthrie County Events Center, Guthrie County Fairgrounds, Guthrie Center. Twigg Funeral Home, Guthrie Center, is entrusted with his services.

Memorials may be left to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Shriners Children’s Hospital, or Wounded Warriors Project.

Larry’s final words would be, “It’s 5 o’clock somewhere!”

1946-2024

Janice K. Sheley, 77, daughter of Glenn and Genevieve (Van Landingham) Jacobsen, was born Oct. 26, 1946, in Perry. She passed away Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, at Spurgeon Manor in Dallas Center.

Janice graduated from Perry Community Schools in 1964. She made her home in Perry and worked at the Dallas County Hospital. On Nov. 13, 1993, she married Mel Sheley at the First Christian Church in Guthrie Center. They made their home in Guthrie Center. In 2003, Janice retired from Dallas County Hospital.

Janice enjoyed watching Tess’s softball games and following the games, she had a bag full of bubble gum to give to everyone. She also enjoyed keeping the stats for the games.

Janice was a member of the card club, the Monteith Community Club, she helped with Harvest suppers, funeral meals, the Wednesday After School Program at the church, and Meals on Wheels. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and quilting especially for the grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She was a member of the First Christian Church in Perry and Guthrie Center, where she served as the financial secretary for many years.

Janice is survived by her husband of 30 years, Mel Sheley of Guthrie Center; daughters, Tess (Mike) Jaspering of Grimes and Lisa (Randy) Ahrenholtz of Defiance; step-sons, Chad (Deanne) Sheley of Casey and Casey (Katy) Sheley of Huntington, Maryland; grandchildren, Brooke, Alex, Chase, Kylea, Katelynn, Zach, Katie, Ty, Maddy and Isabelle; and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, and two sisters.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, at the First Christian Church, Guthrie Center. Burial will be in the Monteith Cemetery, rural Guthrie Center. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the services at the church.

Memorials may be left to the First Christian Church, Guthrie Center or Hospice of the Midwest.

Services entrusted to Twigg Funeral Home, Guthrie Center.

Randall Laverne Nickel, affectionately known as Randy to his friends and family, passed away peacefully in his hometown of Guthrie Center after a courageous battle with cancer. Born to Oliver and Laura Nickel, Randy was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend who left an indelible mark on the hearts of those he touched. Randy’s journey began in Guthrie Center where he was born and raised, and where he attended Guthrie Center High School with the class of 1971. His sense of duty and patriotism led him to join the Marine Corps in 1970, where he started his career during the evacuation of the Vietnam War. Over the years, Randy’s exceptional leadership and dedication saw him rise through the ranks, taking on roles such as Ammunition Tech, Drill Instructor, Company Gunnery Sergeant and, eventually, retiring as a Company First Sergeant in 1990 in Quantico, Virginia.

After a distinguished military career, Randy continued to serve his country as a security manager, special police officer and firearms instructor for the Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. His commitment to public safety was unwavering, and he approached his work with the same passion and integrity that he did in the Marines.

In 2005, Randy’s love for his roots brought him back to Guthrie Center, where he became a self-employed carpenter. His craftsmanship and attention to detail were evident in his work restoring historic buildings, contributing significantly to the communities revitalization. His efforts did not go unnoticed, as he was honored with the Main Street Guthrie Center Volunteer of the Year award in April 2018, presented by the Governor in recognition of his dedication to his hometown. Randy was not only a committed serviceman and community advocate but also a successful businessman. Alongside his loving wife Kathleen, he opened a business in 2011, which further demonstrated his entrepreneurial spirit and his desire to give back to the place he called home.

Randy’s life was rich with interests and hobbies. He had a passion for restoring old trucks, a testament to his mechanical ingenuity and creative vision. He was also a true master of all trades, a skill he applied to every facet of his life. His two goldendoodles, Rifle and Remmington, were a source of joy and companionship, and his adventurous spirit was matched by his courageous and passionate approach to life.

Randy’s legacy is carried on by his loving wife, Kathleen Nickel; his children, Andria Nickel of Hobe Sound, Florida, Gwen Nickel of Guthrie Center, and Randy (Billie) Lueder, Bridget (Walter) Oba, Beverly (Shanna) Lueder of Oahu, Hawaii, and April (Joseph) Hansman of Waukee. His grandchildren, Layla Greene Devonne Bell, Reef Alban, Tehya Lueder, Randi Lueder, Reese Lueder, Autumn Boyd, Ellamae Boyd and Tate Hansman will miss his guidance and warmth. He is also survived by his brother, Clayton (Lineen) Nickel, and sisters, Della Rutherford and Debbie Waits, as well as many extended relatives and close friends who will cherish his memory. Preceded in death by his parents, Oliver and Laura Nickel, and brothers-in-law, Bill Rutherford and Mark D. Waits, Randy’s spirit will continue to inspire those who had the privilege of knowing him. His adventurous nature, courageous heart and passionate soul will remain a guiding light for all who loved him.

As we bid farewell to a remarkable man, we remember Randy’s life not with sorrow but with gratitude for the time we shared and the lessons he taught us. His legacy will live on through the lives he touched, the community he helped build, and the memories etched in the hearts of his family and friends. Rest in peace, Randy, your journey was one of honor, love and unwavering commitment, and you will be deeply missed.

Services were Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Twigg Funeral Home in Guthrie Center with visitation one hour prior to services. Inurnment immediately followed memorial services at Seeley Township Cemetery.