Obituaries

1912 - 2010
Lyle “Shy” Forbes, 97, of Conesville, Iowa, died Sunday, July 25, 2010, at Pioneer Park in Lone Tree, Iowa. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, July 29, 2010, at the Sorden-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services in Lone Tree. Burial will be in the Swank Cemetery. Visitation was held Wednesday, July 28, from 4-7 p.m. at the Sorden-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services in Lone Tree. Memorials may be directed to the Lone Tree Fire and Rescue. Online condolences may be sent to www.lewisfuneralhomes.com.
Lyle R. Forbes was born December 16, 1912, in Conesville, Iowa, the son of Vernie and Ida (Heath) Forbes. He was a farmer who enjoyed fishing and horses.
Mr. Forbes is survived by many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by five brothers, Daris Forbes, Warren Forbes, Lester Forbes, Wayne Forbes and Jimmy Forbes; and three sisters, Helen Brookhart, Florence Rath and Beulah Boyd.

1914 - 2010
Alice Crawford Smith, 96, formerly of West Liberty, rural Nichols, and Lone Tree, Iowa, died of heart disease Saturday, July 24, 2010, at the Crestview Care Center in West Branch, Iowa, where she had resided since May 1, 2008.
Private internment will take place at the Lone Tree Municipal Cemetery. Sorden-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services in Lone Tree was in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the Smith family at www.lewisfuneralhomes.com.
Alice Crawford was born in Johnson County May 7, 1914, the daughter of George R. Crawford and Julia Huskins Crawford. She grew up on her parents’ farm located approximately two miles northeast of Lone Tree and attended Lone Tree High School. She married Merrill W. Smith of Lone Tree in 1931 and they had four children. They were divorced in 1940.
Mrs. Smith is survived by four children, Donald Smith, Ames, Iowa; Evelyn Smith Gowdy, Lakewood, California; Robert Smith, West Liberty, Iowa; Gary Smith, Spencer, Iowa; 10 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her mother (October 7, 1963) and her father (March 15, 1975); and four brothers, George A. Crawford, Claire Crawford, Amon Crawford, Charles Crawford; and her husband, Merrill (September 12, 1980).

1920 - 2010
Alice M. Goodwin, 89, of Kalona, Iowa, died Thursday, July 22, 2010, at Pleasantview Home in Kalona.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 31, 2010, at 10:30 a.m. at the Kalona United Methodist Church in Kalona, Iowa, with Pastor Gerry Kahler officiating. Burial will follow in the Wellman Public Cemetery, Wellman, Iowa. Visitation is Friday, July 30, from 2-4 and 5-7 p.m. at the Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona. A memorial fund has been established for the Kalona United Methodist Church.
Alice Mary Malatek was born September 30, 1920 in Morse, Iowa, the daughter of Frank and Clara (Svoboda) Malatek. She was married to Arden Goodwin September 18, 1940, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Iowa City. The couple lived on a farm near Wellman until 1984. After Arden’s death, Mrs. Goodwin moved to Kalona and lived in her home until moving to Pleasantview Home in 2001.
Mrs. Goodwin was a member of the Kalona United Methodist Church where she enjoyed the fellowship of assisting with the kitchen work for many dinners and social events. She was a farm wife who worked in her garden, played bingo, worked puzzles and enjoyed Hawkeye sports. She also was employed at Owen Brush from 1958 until 1983.
She is survived by her children and their spouses, Sandra and Richard Stockman, Oxford, Iowa; Duane and Karen Goodwin, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Charlotte and Dennis Parrott, Iowa City, Iowa; Shirley and Allen Kos, Kalona, Iowa; Brenda and Dennis Griffith, Iowa City; 18 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Arden (1984); and five siblings, Roy Malatek, Gladys Mayrose, Bernice Grimm, Marvin Malatek, and Francis Malatek.

Esther Yoder, 80, of Kalona, Iowa, died Friday, July 16, 2010, at Parkview Manor in Wellman, Iowa, following a battle with kidney disease.
Celebration of life services were Sunday, July 18, 2010, in the East Union Mennonite Church in rural Kalona with Pastor Jay Miiller officiating. A private family burial was held prior to the service in the East Union Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established for Hospice of Washington County and the East Union Mennonite Church. Online condolences may be sent to the family at peterseimfuneralhome.com. Peterseim Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Esther Miller was born July 2, 1930, in rural Kalona, the daughter of Jonas and Magdalena (Ropp) Miller. She attended rural schools in the Kalona area. She was united in marriage to Edwin L. Yoder June 3, 1951, in rural Johnson County. Mrs. Yoder was a member of the East Union Mennonite Church and enjoyed reading, sewing, quilting, playing scrabble, gardening, architecture, and reupholstering furniture.
Survivors include her husband, Edwin Yoder, Kalona; six children and spouses, Rodney (Yvonne) Yoder, Camp Crook, South Dakota; Bob (Deb) Yoder, Kalona; Eric Yoder, Riverside, Iowa; Melanie (Mike) Schweitzer, Wellman, Iowa; Beth (Jim) Schlabaugh, Wellman; Celia (Emmanuel) French, Chicago, Illinois; five grandchildren, Megand and Stephanie Yoder, Austin and Jared Schlabaugh, Gigi French; six siblings, Richard (Martha) Miller, Kalona; Bernice Miller, Kalona; Vesta Neale, Kinross, Iowa; Mary Jane Baker, Horseshoe Bend, Arizona; Paul (Ida Fern) Miller, Kalona; Anne (Dan) Miller, Harrisonburg, Virginia; a sister-in-law, Ruby Miller, Kalona; and a brother-in-law, Levi Miller, Phoenix, Arizona.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a granddaughter, Allison Yoder; a brother, Alvin Miller; and two sisters, Fannie Miller and Lydia Miller.

Amy Pearl Westlake Brenneman, 102, of Lone Tree, Iowa, died Sunday, June 13, 2010, at the Mercy Hospital Hospice Unit in Iowa City, Iowa. Funeral services were Wednesday, June 16, in the Lone Tree Presbyterian Church. Burial was in the Lone Tree Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Mercy Hospice of Iowa City. Arrangements were by Sorden-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services in Lone Tree. Online condolences may be sent to the Brenneman family at www.lewisfuneralhomes.com.
Amy Pearl Westlake was born June 20, 1907, in Cotter, Iowa, the daughter of James and Fannie (Stone) Westlake. January 4, 1928, she was united in marriage to Harry C. Brenneman in Muscatine, Iowa. Mrs. Brenneman was a homemaker and farm wife. She enjoyed cooking, crocheting, raising her six children and especially spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She will be deeply missed by her children, Audrey Dodson and her husband Kenneth, Kenneth Brenneman and his wife Eunice, Vernon Brenneman and his wife Deborah, Raymond Brenneman and his wife Andrea, Ronald Brenneman and his wife Jane, Debbie Magruder and her husband Doug, all of Lone Tree; 13 grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and 28 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harry (February 7, 1987); one great grandchild, Sandy Sue Brenneman; five brothers, Charlie, Frank, Earl, Merle and Roy; and three sisters, Elsie, Fern and Cora Mae.

Robert “Bob” C. Ramer, 93, of Iowa City, Iowa, died Tuesday, May 25, 2010, at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics in Iowa City. A time of remembrance was held Friday, May 28, at the Sorden-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services in Lone Tree, Iowa. Burial was in the Lone Tree Cemetery with full military rites provided by the Lone Tree American Legion Post 457. Online condolences may be sent to www.lewisfuneralhomes.com.
Robert C. Ramer was born February 21, 1917, in Conesville, Iowa, the son of Chester and Ruth (DeLap) Ramer. He was a graduate of Conesville High School. Mr. Ramer enlisted in the U.S. Army in February of 1941, serving with the 887th Military Police, two years and nine months in the European Theatre, being discharged in the fall of 1945. Before being sent overseas, he met and married Helen Novstrup, of Sisseton, Minnesota, March 25, 1942, in St. Paul, Minnesota. After the war, the couple truck farmed in Conesville and later grain farmed and raised livestock in Nichols and Lone Tree. Mr. Ramer also worked for G.P.C. in Muscatine and for the University of Iowa Physical Plant. Retiring to Heber Springs, Arkansas, for 20 years and then came back to Iowa City for the past 15 years. Mr. Ramer was a member of the Lone Tree American Legion Post 457 and served on the Nichols School Board. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, farming, dances, playing cards, reading Western books, and building things in his shop such as bikes, wind chimes, board games, bird houses and anything else he could think of.
Mr. Ramer will be deeply missed by his wife of 67 years, Helen Ramer, Iowa City; two sons, Ralph Ramer, Iowa City; Larry Ramer, Iowa City; four granddaughters, Elizabeth Willham and her husband Brian, Des Moines, Iowa; Stephanie Ramer and her fiancé Dr. Nathan Heubner, Burlington, Iowa; Kathrine Lapp and her husband Mike, Green Bay, Wisconsin; a special friend, Natalie Ramer, Iowa City, who lived with and helped care for Mr. Ramer; two great grandchildren, Callie and Grace Willham; two brothers, Chester “Jack” Ramer, Cedar Falls, Iowa; Max Ramer and his wife Margaret, Conesville; and two sisters, Jean Yedlik, Muscatine, Iowa; and Alice Hazen and her husband Bob, Muscatine.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Don Ramer and his wife Hazel; Pete Ramer and his wife Fonda; one sister, Frances Bennett and her husband Harrison; daughters-in-law, Christine Ramer and Molly Ramer-Houlihan; brother-in-law, Ernie Yedlik; and a sister-in-law, Elaine Ramer.

Kenneth Lloyd Harrison, 76, of Columbus Junction, Iowa, died Saturday, May 29, 2010, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa. Funeral services were Wednesday, June 2, 2010, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Riverside, Iowa with Rev. Rich Adam officiating. Burial was in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Iowa City Hospice or St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Online condolences for the Harrison family may be sent to www.lewisfuneralhomes.com.
Kenneth Lloyd Harrison was born April 16, 1934, in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of Pearl and Opal (Jones) Harrison. June 26, 1954, Mr. Harrison was united in marriage to Patricia Louise Cory in Elkhart, Iowa. He was a foreman for L.L. Pelling for 45 years and was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Riverside. He enjoyed fishing and spending time with his family and friends.
Mr. Harrison will be deeply missed by his wife, Patricia Harrison, Columbus Junction; his children, Mike Harrison, Columbus Junction, Mark Harrison and his wife Rene, Riverside; Kent Harrison, Columbus Junction; Robin Harrison, Iowa City; Kevin Harrison, Ainsworth, Iowa; Russell Harrison, Columbus Junction; eight grandchildren, Josh, Nicole, Amy, Jessica, Cody, Billy, Katie, and Kendell; five step-grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and one sister, Sharon Garcia and her husband Eddie, Cambridge, Iowa.
Mr. Harrison was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Mae Fry; a half-brother, P.C. Harrison; and a half-sister, Nellie Hills.

Gerald T. Prybil, 70, of Iowa City, Iowa, died Sunday, May 16, 2010, at his home from an apparent heart attack. Funeral services were held Saturday, May 22, 2010, in Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service, Iowa City, Iowa, with the Rev. Rich Adam officiating. Burial was in the Oakland Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association, Alzheimer’s Research or Parkinson’s Research.
Gerald Prybil was born April 18, 1940, in Iowa City the son of Carl E. and Patricia (Erusha) Prybil. He grew up in the Oxford area, was a graduate of Oxford High School and served in the Army National Guard from 1959-1965. He married his high school sweetheart Jean Patterson September 2, 1961, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Iowa City.
Mr. Prybil was a journeyman/pressman at Moore Business Forms in Iowa City for more than 14 years. In 1969, he started Prybil Heating and Air in North Liberty, a business which his son presently owns and operates. Mr. Prybil was a member of the Iowa City Moose Lodge #1096, North Liberty Optimist Club, RSES and the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce. He loved to travel, spending winters in Florida in the motor home, trout fishing and cooking for family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Jean Prybil, Iowa City; a daughter, Cathy Figueroa (Al), Iowa City; a son, Jeff Prybil (Linda), Iowa City; his mother, Patricia Prybil, Riverside, Iowa; five brothers, Carl Prybil Jr. (Loretta), Riverside; Jim Prybil, North Liberty, Iowa; Don Prybil, Riverside; Tom Prybil (Pat), Riverside; Steve Prybil (Kerry), Riverside; four grandchildren, Molly and Adam Prybil; Kristen and Nick Figueroa; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Carl.

April 18, 1968 - February 14, 2010
Sandra L. Donovan, 41, of Iowa City, Iowa, died Sunday, February 14, 2010. A memorial mass was held Thursday, February 25, 2010, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Iowa City with the Reverend Michael Phillips. Memorial donations may be given to establish an educational fund for her daughter, Regan; or for the needs of patients and families of the Adult Leukemia and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, in lieu of flowers. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service of Iowa City was in charge of the arrangements.
Sandra Lee Viet was born April 18, 1968, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, the daughter of Darwin and Karla (Jamison) Viet. She attended schools in the Wellsburg-Steamboat Rock School District, graduating in 1986. She enlisted with the United States Air Force following high school were she met her future husband, Shawn M. Donovan, and they were married October 21, 1989, in San Bernardino, California. Upon leaving the Air Force, the couple moved back to Iowa, where they attended and graduated from the University of Iowa, Sandra with her BSN degree in Nursing. She was employed by the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics since September of 1996, caring for patients and their families in the Adult Leukemia and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit for the past four years.
She is survived by her husband, Shawn Donovan, Iowa City; and her daughter, Regan; her mother, Karla Wessels, Tama, Iowa; two sisters, Doreen Morrow, Tama; Veronica Uthe (Chris), Dumont, Iowa; a niece and nephews, Autumn Morrow, Adam Gerdes, and Jakie Uthe; her mother-in-law, Kristine Donovan, West Allis, Wisconsin; a sister-in-law, Colleen Greoschel (Neil), Malone, Wisconsin; a brother-in-law, Charles Donovan (Jennifer), Waukesha, Wisconsin; and niece and nephews, Kiley Donovan, Evan Greoschel, and Cullen Dovonan.
She was preceded in death by her father, Darwin Viet; father-in-law, Michael Donovan; and her grandparents.

February 15, 1976 - January 18, 2010
Nathan J. Gottlieb, 33, of Iowa City, Iowa, died at Genesis Medical Center in Davenport, Iowa, Monday, January 18, 2010, after a sudden heart attack. A memorial service was held Sunday, January 24, 2010, at Joe’s Place in Iowa City. Memorial contributions may be made to emmagoldman.com or iowadonornetwork.org.
Nathan J. Gottlieb was born in Iowa City February 15, 1976, the son of John and Linda Gottlieb. He attended Kalona Elementary, Mid-Prairie High School and University of Iowa. He worked the door at Joe’s Place for many years. He was a great storyteller, traveled widely and enjoyed lengthy road trips on his motorcycle. Mr. Gottlieb was a fire safety equipment installer and taxi driver in Iowa City, returning to college to study environmental science. He was a gun collector and enjoyed hunting, a dream of his was to manage his family’s woodland property in Riverside, Iowa.
He had several narrow escapes over time, including being trapped in an overturned truck, barely escaping with his life from the basement of a burning building in Iowa City, and freeing himself from a vehicle submerged in freezing water in Old Man’s Creek.
A self-described pro-Choice redneck, Mr. Gottlieb loved kids, particularly the young people around him: Doak and Lucia Allgood, Piers Rodd, and William and Ashton O’Malley.
He is survived by his girlfriend, Julia O’Malley; father, John Gottlieb; and two sisters, Sarah Gottlieb and Chloe Allgood.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Linda Gottlieb.

1951 - 2010
Dianne Brown, 58, of Washington, Iowa, died Saturday, January 23, 2010, at her residence following a battle with cancer.
Services were Friday January 29, 2010, in Marion Avenue Baptist Church with Pastor Bobby Roberson officiating. Interment was in Elm Grove Cemetery, Washington. Memorials may be directed to Mrs. Brown’s special projects at Marion Avenue Baptist Church. Online condolences may be sent to the family through the web at www.jonesfh.com. The Jones - Eden Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Dianne Norman was born August 11, 1951, in Winston Salem, North Carolina, the daughter of Dallas and Frances (Pope) Norman. She attended Sedge Garden Elementary School and graduated from East Forsyth High School in Kernersville, North Carolina. She was united in marriage to Pastor Larry Brown March 3, 1972, at the Gospel Light Baptist Church in Walkertown, North Carolina. She has been a resident of Washington, Iowa, since 1973. Mrs. Brown was a homemaker. She was proud to be a pastor’s wife for 36 years and to have home schooled all seven of her children. Mrs. Brown was a member of Marion Avenue Baptist Church, where she was a Sunday School Teacher, organized the ladies meetings, sang in the choir, was a volunteer secretary, and helped with the church décor and decorations. She enjoyed gardening and tending her ten acre yard. She enjoyed visiting Kalona where she would go to the bakery and country store with her family.
She is survived by her husband, Pastor Larry Brown, Washington; daughter, Joanna Kobernat and husband Jeremy of Santa Clara, California; four daughters, Sarah Leone and husband Mark, Kernersville, North Carolina; Rachel Wyatt and husband Jerry, Tanzania, East Africa; Rebecca Trieber and husband Tim, Santa Clara, California; Leah Brown, Washington; two sons, Daniel Brown and wife Monica, Hot Springs, Arkansas; Joseph Brown and wife Charity, Washington; one granddaughter, Tatum Brown, Hot Springs, Arkansas; her father, Dallas Norman, Kernersville, North Carolina; and one brother, Keith Norman and wife Pam, Kernersville, North Carolina.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Frances Pope Norman; an infant son, David Larry Brown; two infant grandchildren; and one brother, Ray Norman.

July 14, 1927 - January 21, 2010
Donald E. Buckman, 82, of Conesville, Iowa, died Thursday, January 21, 2010, at Unity Hospital in Muscatine, Iowa. Per Mr. Buckman’s wishes, he was a tissue donor and his body has been cremated. There will be no visitation and funeral services will be held at a later date. A memorial fund has been established at the funeral home in his memory. The Sorden-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services of Lone Tree, Iowa, is caring for the funeral arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.lewisfuneralhomes.com.
Donald A. Buckman was born July 14, 1927, in Conesville, the son of Charles Arthur and Emma (Carter) Buckman. He graduated from Conesville High School in 1946. March 28, 1951, Mr. Buckman was united in marriage to Doris Arlene Peterson in Iowa City, Iowa. He was a farmer. He was a member of the N.R.A. and enjoyed the outdoors, all wildlife, feeding and housing the birds, woodworking, an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan and spending time with his family and friends. Mr. Buckman also gave blood to the DeGowin Blood Center on a regular basis.
He will be deeply missed by his wife, Arlene Buckman, Conesville; his children, Mark Buckman, Conesville; Gail Dieckman and her husband Bill, Columbus Junction, Iowa; Brian Buckman and special friend Cheri Meyers, Conesville; Teri Linton and her husband Craig, Skiatook, Oklahoma; five grandchildren, Billie Jo Roberts, Josh Buckman, Lizabeth Maurer, John Dieckman, Loni Moushon; four great-grandchildren, Blayne Roberts, Laken Roberts, Josie Roberts, Marlie Stout; and siblings, Dorothy McLain, Lockridge, Iowa; Ethel Houghton, Arizona; Viola Dodson, West Liberty, Iowa; Maxine Lee, Arizona; Edwin Buckman and his wife Kay, Joliet, Illinois; Norma Baughman and her husband Ralph, Iowa City, Iowa; and Carol Kacena and her husband Stan, Iowa City.
Mr. Buckman was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Ruth Solomon; and two brothers, Charles and Lyle.