1953-2025

A beloved and generous heart stopped beating surrounded by her loving family on Oct. 1, 2025, when Barbara Ann Kastner, 72 passed away at Unity Point-Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines.

Barb was born on May 26, 1953, in Perry, the daughter of Merrill and Elva (Sable) Huitt. She attended school in Perry and graduated from Perry High School with the class of 1971. On Sept. 15, 1973, Barb married her beloved husband, John Kastner. Her first job was  at Northwestern Bell in Des Moines. Shortly after, she began her lifelong career of 44 years at Production Credit Services, which would later become Farm Credit Services in Perry. During her tenure at Farm Credit, she was able to earn her bachelor’s degree in business through William Penn University — an accomplishment of which she was very proud. After earning her degree, she was able to become a licensed crop insurance agent for Farm Credit.

Barb was very dedicated to her work but even more so to her friends and family. She greatly enjoyed traveling, especially when her travels took her to the beach. She always said that she needed to dip her toes in the ocean at least once a year. She traveled often with her family, friends and her sister, Betty.  After retiring from Farm Credit in November of 2019, she did not slow down. Her vast knowledge of crop insurance and risk management made her a valuable resource for the Iowa Corn Growers Association and the National Corn Growers Association. She served on the Guthrie County Corn Grower Board, Guthrie County Farm Bureau Board and Ag Leaders institute, ILEAD Class 10, Iowa Corn Growers Association Director, Iowa Corn Growers Association Issues Committee member, National Corn Growers Action Team member, and U.S. Grains Council Ethanol Action team member. She was exceedingly proud to be a part of these organizations, and they afforded her many opportunities to make many new friends and connections and to travel all over the U.S. and the world. She was also a long-time member of the YJB chapter of TTT.

As busy as she kept herself with all of her organizations, Barb’s number one priorities were her friends and, especially, her family. She was a devoted farm wife, mother and grandmother. She kept books, paid bills and made a million meals, even driving grain truck and grain cart in the fall. She was a proud fan of all of her five grandchildren. She especially loved to spoil them and attended as many of their events as she could. Most of all, she was exceedingly generous, and she loved people. One of her biggest brags being that she “never met a stranger.” 

She will be sorely missed by her family, friends and the many, many lives she touched. She leaves behind her husband, John Kastner; daughter, Katie (Craig) Schnoor of Maquoketa; son, Cale (Anna) Kastner of Yale; brother, Larry (Sandy) Huitt of Casa Grande, Arizona; brother, Gary (Surella) Huitt of Perry; sister-in-law, Sharyn (Bill Bolton) Kastner of Arizona; brother-in-law, Tim Kastner of Guthrie Center; and five grandchildren, Sarah, Cody and Leah Kastner, and Quinn and Avery Schnoor.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Merrill and Elva (Sable) Huitt; brother, Kennith “Gene” (Norine) Huitt; and sister, Betty (Robert) Mountain.   

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at the Twigg Funeral Home, Panora. Burial will be in Richland Township Cemetery near Yale. Visitation will be Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home.

1951-2025

David Walter Turner, 74, of Panora, son of Forrest and Barbara (Alexander) Turner, was born March 18, 1951, in Des Moines. He passed away on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at Panora Specialty Care in Panora.

David graduated from Panora-Linden High School in 1969 and went on to earn his associate of business degree in 1985. He worked at Moehl Millwork for the next 46 years, retiring in 2015. On May 23, 1992, he married the love of his life, Dorothy Embrey, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. They built their home on Lake Panorama, before making the big move to Panora in 2016.

David enjoyed any project around the house, taking the boat out, and a good homemade dessert. He was a member of the Iowa Masonic Lodge for 45 years, before becoming a member of Panora First Christian Church.

He is survived by step-son, Jay Antrim of Panora; granddaughter, Haylea (Dominic) Clayton and great-grandchildren, Vivian and Callan of Panora; brother, Steven (Connie) Turner of Redfield; and sister, JaneAnn (Dave) Benner of Panora.  He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Dorothy; brothers, Earl Turner and Raymond Turner; and sister, Sara Turner.

Cremation has taken place and visitation will be Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, at the Twigg Funeral Home, Panora. Private burial of his cremains will take place at a later date at West Linn Cemetery, Linden.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.

1937-2025

Patricia Kay Trent, 87, daughter of Carson and Wilma (Howell) Downing, was born Oct. 21, 1937, at home near Monteith. She passed away Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at her home near Monteith.

Patricia graduated from Panora High School in 1955. In 1955, she married William Kinsey, and to this union four children were born: Julie, Trudy, Kathy and Kurt. They made their home on a farm south of Panora. Patricia spent her time raising her children and being a farm wife. In 1975, Patricia and Bill divorced. On Dec. 31, 1979, she married Merle Trent, enlarging her family with Debra and Sandy Trent. Just five months after they were married, Pat and Merle were caring for Sandy’s 6-week old and 2-year old girls while she recovered from a stroke.  

Patricia was a cook for congregate meals for a short time following the divorce. Then later, she found her passion as a volunteer for EveryStep Hospice for the past 22 years.  

Grandma “Cookie,” as she was known to her grandchildren, was always prepared for a visit with cookies. Pat was well known as an excellent baker making hundreds of beautiful wedding cakes and much-loved, cute kid’s birthday cakes. Spending time with grandchildren was the greatest joy of her life, putting a huge smile on her face.

She enjoyed time spent with friends playing cards. Many, many people received birthday and anniversary cards from her annually; she rarely missed one.  She also enjoyed spending time with her lifelong friends “The Butt Sisters.” When together, it was always a “hoot.”

Being outside and tending her garden was important to Pat. She would always say, “Unfortunately, mostly pulling weeds.”  

She was a member of the Sunshine Club and the Morrisburg Church.

She is survived by her daughters, Julie (Doug) Davis of Panora; Trudy (Ed) Woolman of Stuart; Kathy (Dave) Olson of Delta, Colorado; and Sandy Trent of Waukee; 15 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren; brother, Robert Downing of Linden; and sister Jeri Jean (Doyle) Motsick of Panora. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Merle; son, Kurt Kinsey; step-daughter, Debra Trent; and sister-in-law, Mary Lou Downing.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, at the Twigg Funeral Home, Panora. Burial will be in the West Cemetery, Panora. Visitation will be Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. until service time at the funeral home.

1944-2025

Judith Ann (Clifton) Murphy, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, gi gi, sister and friend, peacefully passed away at the age of 81 on Sept. 5, 2025, after a brief but courageous battle with aggressive liver cancer. Surrounded by her loving family at her home in Menlo, Judy’s legacy of love, kindness and service to others will forever be cherished.

Born June 11, 1944, in Jefferson to Todd “Red” and Darlene (Batcheller) Clifton, Judy was raised in Stuart and graduated from Stuart High School in 1962. On Nov. 10, 1963, she married Gene Murphy, and together they built a family. Judy and Gene were blessed with three children: Jodie, Marty and Tricia. The family spent 14 years on a farm located between Stuart and Menlo on County Line Road before moving to a ranch north of Menlo in 1979, better known as “Fort Menlo” to family members.

Judy’s passion for beauty and service to others led her to the Americanna Academy of Beauty of Des Moines, where she graduated in 1963 and went on to work at Ceila Reynold’s beauty shop in Menlo. She eventually opened her own beauty shop, Judy’s Country Curl, in her home. During her time as a beautician, she created lasting friendships with many loyal customers who quickly became her close friends. In addition to her work in beauty, Judy also spent years working in the office at the Stuart Sale Barn, where she greeted everyone with a smile and handled tickets and transactions.  Many commented on her beautiful penmanship. She made so many fun memories and friendships with coworkers, business owners, local farmers and their wives. She enjoyed contributing her time to the Menlo Parks and Recreation, organizing Easter Egg Hunts and Christmas activities for local children, leaving an enduring legacy of joy in her community. Judy’s spirited nature earned her one of the most recent notable achievements, winning the World Title for Husband Calling during the Menlo Sesquicentennial celebration in 2019, with her own version of yelling “GeeeeeeeNE!!!” During that same celebration, Gene and Judy enjoyed dancing, as that was a favorite pastime.

An avid gardener, Judy took great pride in her flower beds and loved to share her plants with family and friends. Her love for canning was unmatched, and her shelves were always stocked with jars of pickles, jams, salsa, peaches, pears, applesauce, horseradish and more. These delicious gifts were shared far and wide to family, friends and neighbors. Judy poured her love and care into each jar, a testament to her nurturing spirit.

Above all, Judy’s greatest joy in life was her family, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was an unwavering source of love, encouragement and pride for them all. She was especially grateful for her daily phone calls from her grandson, Hayden, checking in after school.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents, Todd and Darlene Clifton; mother-in-law, Margret (Jessop) Murphy; father-in-law, Rex Murphy; brother-in-law, Jack Deskin; sister-in-law, Joy (Murphy) Bassett; brother-in-law, Don Bassett; sister-in-law, Marilyn (O’Mara) Murphy; and brother-in-law, Bob Edgington.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Gene Murphy; her children, Jodie (Roger) Riche of Junction City, Kansas, Marty Murphy of Dawson, and Tricia (Dustin) Foster of Stuart; her grandchildren, Micheal (Renae) Riche, Kristina Riche (Didi Dautovic), Louden Foster, Ashlynn Foster and Hayden Foster; her great-grandchildren, Hunter, Lilee, Daveion, Mikel, Riley and Kyson; her sisters, Sheryl Deskin of Des Moines, Marilyn (Jack) Matthews of Stuart, and Georgia (Denny) Coon of Haines City, Florida; her sisters-in-law, Dixie Murphy of St. Charles and Faye (Murphy) Edgington of Casey; her brothers-in-law, Keith Murphy of St. Charles and Leo Murphy of Prescott Valley, Arizona, as well as cousins, nieces and nephews.

For those lucky enough to know Judy, they know she was one of a kind with a generous heart and a good laugh. Judy’s love for hair curlers, kindness, generosity, free-spoken candid comments, and dedication to her family and community will be deeply missed by all who knew her. A celebration of life service will be held at the Menlo Community Building on Sept. 27 at 11 a.m. with a luncheon to follow.

1988-2025

With deep sorrow, we announce that our beloved Alena passed away far too soon, on June 25, 2025, at the age of 36.

She was born on July 21, 1988, in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. She began preschool in Handlová, where she grew up surrounded by music, dance, mountains and forests. At the age of 15, she moved with her family to the historic town of Trenčín, which became very dear to her heart and where she always loved to return. For more than 10 years, she devoted herself to piano and dance, both of which accompanied her throughout her childhood and teenage years. Her academic path led her from high school in Handlová, through the Secondary Medical School in Trenčín, and finally to the Catholic University in Ružomberok, where she earned a degree in journalism.

Alenka was full of courage and adventure. Although as a child she could not imagine life outside Slovakia, destiny led her across the ocean. She first traveled to Hawaii as a student with three of her dearest friends through a Work and Travel program. There, fate brought her together with her future husband, and, soon after, their precious daughter Leila was born.

After seven years on the Hawaiian Islands, the family briefly lived in Oregon before settling in the charming town of Panora, Iowa. Even after her 12-year marriage ended, Alena remained in Panora with her beloved daughter, Leila, creating a home in the little house of her dreams.

Throughout her life, Alena worked in many corners of Europe and the United States — from Starbucks in London, to McDonald’s and Turtle Bay in Hawaii, to The Lake Panorama Pizzeria in Panora, and finally to Target in Des Moines, where she worked in recent years. Wherever she went, she shared kindness, dedication, humility and joy.

She will be forever remembered for her love of life, her generous heart and, above all, her devotion to her cherished daughter, Leila. She loved the sea — in Italy, where she had traveled since she was a little girl, in Rhodes during her teenage years, and in Hawaii, which became her second home. Alenka knew how to embrace life, no matter how difficult, and faced every challenge with remarkable bravery.

For the past five years, she fought the most aggressive form of cancer and an unseen evil — a battle she endured with extraordinary strength, courage and gratitude for each day.

She is survived by her beloved daughter, her Slovak family — including her parents, sister and godchildren — and her American family — including her ex-husband and his mother — as well as her extended family and many friends in Slovakia and the United States.

Alenka was a loving mother, daughter, sister, godmother, friend, patient partner supporting other cancer patients, and a wonderful person with a sensitive soul and a bright sense of humor. Her passing leaves an emptiness that nothing can ever fill.

The Funeral Service will take place on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. with Holy Mass at the Methodist Church, 119 E. Main St., Panora. A Celebration of Life will follow at Crafty’s Café Panora, 102 W. Main St, Panora, beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Alena bravely carried the heavy burden of her illness, which ended here on Earth so tragically for all of us. Yet, her spirit remained unbroken. She will live on forever in our memories and hearts.

One day, in another life, we will share a coffee together in Hawaii, orange chicken in Panora, Caesar salad in Rhodes, Parmesan with balsamic in Lido di Jesolo, fresh bread rolls (rožok) in Bratislava and drink Vinea in Trenčín.

Her light, her laughter and her love will never fade.

1947-2025

Dennis Ray Wailes, age 77, of rural Scranton, passed away on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at Israel Family Hospice House in Ames surrounded by his family.

Dennis was born on Sept. 7, 1947, on a farm north of Bayard, and he was the son of George and Margaret (Dargon) Wailes. His father passed away when he was a young boy, and his family moved into Bayard where he graduated from Bayard High School in 1965. Dennis was drafted into the United States Army in 1966 and served two years during the Vietnam Conflict. Upon his return from Vietnam, he lived in Des Moines where he met the love of his life, Leannah Simpson. They were married on Nov. 21, 1969, at the First United Methodist Church in Des Moines.

The couple lived in Des Moines for a short time before moving to DeSoto where he worked for Booneville Gravel as a heavy equipment operator. They later moved to Mechanicsville where he worked for Orkin Pest Control out of Cedar Rapids. In 1976, they moved to their current home south of Scranton and Dennis began employment with West Central Cooperative, retiring in 2003. He also had a home business, sharpening chainsaw blades. “Double Aught” continued to drive truck for the coop and always looked forward to helping his son-in-law and sister during harvest.

Dennis enjoyed traveling, collecting project vehicles, chatting with his family and friends on the telephone, watching Fox news, tracking his family members on Find My iPhone, and, most of all, spending time with his family — especially his grandchildren.

Dennis is survived by his wife Leannah of 55 years; his children and their families: son Jason Wailes (Marlene) of Council Bluffs, son Brett Wailes (Andrea) of Scranton, daughter Heather Schoenherr (Dan) of Glidden, daughter Jennifer Wailes (Kris Foster) of Pleasantville, and bonus son Steve Kennel (Christine) of Youngstown, Ohio; 13 grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; two sisters: Beverly Lorenzen (Mike) of Dallas Center and Kathryn Hunter (Richard) of Scranton; his in-laws: Dorothy Biondi (Dan) of Sheldahl, Linda Moore (Andy) of Moravia, Dale Simpson (Joan) of Poway, California, George Simpson (Miriam) of Ventura, and Janice West of Wesley; many nieces, nephews and other extended family members.

Dennis was preceded in death by his father George Wailes; his mother Margaret McDonald; his step-father Scott McDonald; his in-laws: Louis and Ruth Simpson; a brother Harold Dean Wailes; two sisters: Shirley Imler (Dean) and Clara Johnson (Marvin); and brothers-in-law: Donald Simpson and Richard Fox.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at the Church of Christ in Bayard followed by inurnment at the Willow Township Cemetery near Bayard with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Bayard American Legion.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Scranton and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com.