1951-2026

Dennis Forest Kunkle, aged 74, was the son of Forest and Beverly (Sloss) Kunkle. He was born on Aug. 16, 1951, in Iowa and passed away Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center in Des Moines.

Denny graduated from Guthrie Center High School in 1969, then earned his degree at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri. On Aug. 22, 1970, he married his high school sweetheart, Pam Priestley, at the First Christian Church in Guthrie Center. The couple lived in Maryville while Dennis attended school, and, after graduating, they returned to Guthrie Center. Dennis and his father ran Central Motors, a car dealership in Guthrie Center. When the dealership closed, Dennis worked at NAPA in Guthrie Center before joining Guthrie County State Bank as a computer technician, where he remained until his retirement in 2016.

During his younger days, Dennis enjoyed golfing and won a few tournaments at the Panorama Golf Course during its early years before it had a clubhouse. He also served as Mayor of Guthrie Center for an impressive 36 years, from 1983 to 2019. Dennis cherished Guthrie Center and always maintained his youthful enthusiasm for driving around its streets to see what was happening.

Dennis was a lifelong member of the First Christian Church in Guthrie Center and spent many years volunteering with the Guthrie Center Fire Department.

He is survived by his wife, Pam Kunkle of Guthrie Center; his sons, Matthew (Kari) Kunkle of Corinth, Texas, and Mark Kunkle of Guthrie Center; four grandchildren, Zachary, Jake, Elizabeth and Austin; his brother, Doug (Vicki) Kunkle of Wichita Falls, Texas; and his sister, Debra (Joel) Hade of Indianola. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Dennis was cremated, and memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, at the First Christian Church in Guthrie Center. Visitation is scheduled from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, at Twigg Funeral Home in Guthrie Center. His cremains will be privately buried at Union Cemetery in Guthrie Center.

Memorial donations may be made to the Guthrie Center Christmas Lights fund, in care of Guthrie County State Bank — a beloved project Denny started with his city team more than three decades ago.

1940-2026

Jean Bireline, age 85 of Adair, died on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, at Exira Care Center in Exira. She was born Jean Annette Noland on March 16, 1940, at the Adair Hospital to Charles and Dora (Hall) Noland. She grew up on a farm south of Adair and attended schools in the Adair area and in 1957, was crowned the first ever FFA Sweetheart at the Adair High School. She would marry her high school sweetheart, James (Jim) Bireline on Nov. 23, 1957. Jean and Jim lived on the Bireline family farm in the “little house,” where they farmed in partnership with Jim’s parents for many years. In 1970 they moved to the “big house” where Jim and Jean raised their family and took over the farming operation. In addition to growing row crops, they fed and finished cattle for decades. Although Jean loved the cattle business, she complained that the feedlot was too close to the house and spent hours “swatting flies” to keep her home pristine as always. She and Jim remained on the family farm until a few years ago when they sold their home in the country to next-generation Birelines — Alex and Emma. The Bireline family farm will be a Heritage family farm in 2027, carrying on its proud family farming tradition.

Jean was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church until it closed, hosting Sunday noon family meals at her home after church for many years. She is currently a member of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Adair. Her passion was her family and the farm. She worked alongside Jim in the fields — disking, field-cultivating, chopping hay, driving tractors and grain carts, and combining. Son, Steve, claimed she was “one of the best grain cart operators around.” Later in life, she loved preparing meals and snacks to take to the field during spring planting and fall harvest. The Bireline farmers were amongst the few who “put on weight” during their busy season because Jean fed them so well.

Jean and Jim were avid Adair-Casey Bombers fans. They attended countless sporting events and other activities — enthusiastically cheering on their children and grandchildren. Jean was the family historian. She compiled every article and picture for every grandchild and lovingly created a scrapbook chronicling their school years, which she gifted to each of them at high school graduation.

Jean was preceded in death by her husband, James Bireline; parents, Charles and Dora Noland; parents-in-law, Art and Emma Bireline; brother, Rex Noland; sisters-in-law, Connie Noland and Marilyn Chesnut; brothers-in-law, Neil Lundy and Ray Chesnut; niece, Melodie Rubel; great-nephew, Aaron Rubel; and great-niece, Stacey Carney.

She is survived by her sister, Sandra Lundy; children, Steve Bireline and wife, Tammy, Linda Mackrill and husband, Kurk, and Lori Westergaard, all of Adair; grandchildren, Wes and Jenny Mackrill of Waukee, Jason Huss and Amanda Bireline of Casey, Tracy Mackrill, Marcus and Stef (Bireline) Fagan, Chris and Tessa Bireline, Andrew and Rebecca Mackrill, all of Adair; Brett and Taylor Westergaard of Casey, Alex and Emma Bireline of Adair, Brett and Brenna (Westergaard) Trecker of Roselle, and Connor Westergaard of Ankeny. She is also survived by great-grandchildren, Cydney Shriver and husband, Eric, of Harlan; Saige Huss and fiancée, Dustin Engel, of Avoca; Hauper and Sayer Bireline-Huss of Casey; Monroe, Nixon and Lettie Fagan, Reu and Beau Bireline, Banks and Benson Bireline, all of Adair, Blaire Trecker of Roselle and Hank Westergaard of Casey; great-great-grandchildren, Ezra and Enzo Shriver and Reini Engel; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Jean was about to welcome two more great-grandchildren into the Bireline fold.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, at Good Shepard Lutheran Church in Adair with burial following at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery north Adar. Visitation will be held on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, from 5 p.m. till 7 p.m. at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Adair with the family present.

Memorials can be made in her name and will be designated at a later date and can be left or mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.

1928-2026

Mona Jean (McLuen) Sellman was born on Dec. 11, 1928, to John and Bessie (Dupuy) McLuen in Dale City, Guthrie County Iowa. She passed away on Feb. 17, 2026, at the New Homestead in Guthrie Center.

Mona grew up in the Dale City area until they moved to Guthrie Center once her dad became the first manager of the Guthrie REC. She attended Guthrie Center schools and graduated in 1946. Family enjoyed hearing stories of her years in school and playing girls 6-on-6 basketball. Her senior year, they played at the State Tournament at the Drake Field House and ended up fourth in the tournament. The story was also told that she had a suitor who came to all of her games that had fallen in love with her.  

She married that suitor, Ronald Sellman, on April 4, 1947, in the Kansas City area. To this union, three children were born. Mona and Ronnie lived in a few other places in the state but ended up most of their lives in Guthrie County, Iowa. Mona and Ronnie enjoyed planting big gardens so they could freeze food for the winter months. 

Mona worked many jobs as a farm hand, babysitter and in 1972 she started working as a home health aide. She started with New Opportunities, then Department of Human Services and finally Guthrie County Public Health. When she “retired” in 2004 from Guthrie County, she continued to work for Fiedler Home health in Scranton for three more years. She loved working with her “old folks” and helping them stay in their home as long as possible. There were many times some of her “old folks” were younger than she was, but she loved them and was so caring.  

She spent several years traveling with the Guthrie County State Bank Heritage Club with her traveling buddy, Neva Langgaard. They traveled the United States and shared so many laughs and good times. She enjoyed watching sporting events on TV and in person. She attended many Iowa Hawkeye Football games in Iowa City with friends and family, especially in the years when tickets were inexpensive. She attended her last one in her late 1980s with her three children at the coldest game in Hawkeye current history. Every year, both Mona and her family took the trek to the Iowa State Fair along with family and friends to enjoy all the fair had to offer along with her famous tailgate lunches. 

Mona was a member of the First Christian Church of Guthrie Center and was the financial secretary for the board and helped with many Harvest suppers. She was also a 50-year Eastern Star member of chapters in Guthrie Center and Linden. 

She celebrates her life with her children, Nick (Marilyn) Sellman of Stuart, Pam Rumelhart of Guthrie Center, and Jo (Ken) Rasmussen of Guthrie Center; grandchildren, Niel (Veronica) Sellman, Kristine Rogers, Tim (Jen) Rogers, Catherine Rogers, Joseph Rasmussen, Amanda Rasmussen and partner Brandon Schade, Chelsie Rumelhart, and Ben Sellman and partner Rachel Long; great grandchildren, Ashton (Gary) Blohm, Kaylee Sellman, Kierra Rogers, Kaden Rogers, Kinnick Rogers, Jaylynn Sellman, Coralynn Sellman, Theo Schade and Sam Schade; great-great grandchild, Eli Blake Blohm; and a host of nieces and nephews. 

Preceding her in death were her parents, parents in law, her one and only Ronald, brothers and sisters-in-law Don and Darlene McLuen and Wayne and Mildred McLuen, and two great grandchildren, Devon and Eli Sellman. 

Mona would tell us to not cry for her as she lived a very long life. We should celebrate her life with smiles and memories. At the end of the day, she would offer to pack up some of that food for us, tell us to go and take care of our families and remember her love for us. 

Funeral services will be Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, at 2 p.m. at The First Christian Church in Guthrie Center with a visitation one hour prior to services. Interment will be at Morrisburg Cemetery in Stuart.

1943-2026 

DeVona Pearl Buchanan, lovingly known as “DeeDee,” age 82, was born on Nov. 8, 1943, in Rapid City, South Dakota. Her parents were Bill and Sandie Stevens. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend, DeeDee passed away peacefully on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, at Edencrest at Kettlestone in Waukee.

DeeDee grew up in South Dakota and Wyoming and graduated from Interstate 35 High School in Truro in 1961. She went on to attend Americana Academy, graduating from beauty school in 1963. On Dec. 20, 1963, she married Edward Buchanan. DeeDee spent the majority of her career owning and operating her own hair salon. She retired when she and Ed moved to Lake Panorama in Panora. They were longtime members of St. Cecilia Catholic Church.

Throughout her life, DeeDee embraced adventure and connection. She enjoyed camping, golfing, snow skiing, water skiing, gardening and traveling alongside Ed across the country. An avid traveler, she proudly visited all 50 states and numerous countries. Above all, DeeDee cherished time spent with her family and friends and fondly treasured the many winters she and Ed spent in Orange Beach, Alabama.

DeeDee is survived by her son, Bill (Malloree) Buchanan of Raphine, Virginia; her daughter, Tonia (Stan) Rouse of Dexter; her grandchildren, Tyler and Tanner Buchanan, and Kyl, John and Katelynn Rouse; her siblings, Sherry (Roger) Mason, Ginny Stevens, Joni (Larry) Nelson and Kelly (Sandy) Stevens; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Buchanan, and her parents, Bill and Sandie Stevens.

Cremation has taken place. Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, Panora.  Visitation will be Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, from 5-7 p.m. with a Rosary at 7 p.m. at the Twigg Funeral Home, Panora. Burial of her cremains will be in the Conway Cemetery, Conway.

1956-2026

Lee Alan Siedelmann, 69, son of Eldonn and Shirley (Hocamp) Siedelmann, was born Sept. 23, 1956, in Greenfield. He passed away Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, at the New Homestead in Guthrie Center.

Lee attended Adair-Casey Schools. Following high school, Lee worked many odd jobs. In 1980, he married Denise Newton in Atlantic. They made their home in Casey. In 1999, Lee started working at Cardinal IG Company in Greenfield. Denise passed away in 2002. He retired from Cardinal IG in January of 2023. For the last 4.5 years, he has made his home in Guthrie Center with his special lady friend, Yolanda Brittain.

Lee loved to gravel traveling, deer hunting, old ford muscle engines, motor sports and music. One of his favorite bands was Godsmack. Lee always made people smile, and he was a friend to all.

Lee is survived by his sons, Jason Hastings of Council Bluffs; Alan Siedelmann and his life partner Katie Huff of Greenfield; and Neal Siedelmann and fiancée Brooke Wilson of Greenfield. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Shelby, David, Ryan, Brayten, Haley, Brynnlee, Macyn, Jaxsyn, Austyn, and Aaron and Pruett Newton; and great-grandson, Jake; sister, Lori Siedelmann and significant other Dwight Lahey of Des Moines; and his special lady friend, Yolanda Brittain of Guthrie Center and all her family; Rose Mellott “mother-in-law tootn twin”; sister-in-law, Olivia “J Widow” and many other brother and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and so many other good friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Denise; step-son, Aaron Newton; and brother, J. Randy Siedelmann.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, at the Twigg Funeral Home, Panora. Cremation will follow the services. Visitation will be Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial of his cremains will be held at a later date.

Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.