All Obituaries

Lavonne Shirley Birkey, 78, of Fort Dodge, died May 18, 2022 at the Paula J Baber Hospice Home in Fort Dodge.  A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 21, at 10:30am at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge.  Visitation will take place on hour prior to the memorial service. Lavonne Birkey was born December 10, 1943 to George and Laurene (Engel) Beneke.  She graduated from Palmer High School in 1961.  On June 28, 1969 Lavonne married Norman Birkey at St. Paul...

Ruth Irene (Whitehill) Zemke, 69, of Fort Dodge, IA died Monday, May 16, 2022, at the Paula J Baber Hospice Home with her loving family by her side.  A celebration of life gathering will be held from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM on Saturday, June 11, 2022, at Deercreek Apartments, 700 S. 17th Street.  All who wish to come may do so.   Memorials may be directed to the family.  Ruth was born June 17, 1952, in Fort Dodge to Gerald and Irene (Bollerman) Whitehill.  She...

Jerry R. LaBaume, 82, of Harcourt, IA, died Saturday, May 14, 2022, at UnityPoint Health – Trinity Regional Medical Center.  Memorial services will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, May 21, 2022, at the Historic Bruce Funeral Home, 923 1st Avenue South, with Rev. John Elkin officiating.  A gathering of family and friends will be held one hour prior to the service.  Memorials may be directed to the family. Jerry was born September 6, 1939, in Hamlin, TX, the son of George...

Donald L. Rogers, 81, of Fort Dodge, IA, died Friday, May 6, 2022, at the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home.  Private family services will be held at a later date.  Memorials may be directed to the family. Donald was born June 2, 1940, in Fort Dodge, IA, the son of Earl and Lillie (Goodman) Rogers.  He attended Fort Dodge Senior High.  On August 2, 1959, he was united in marriage to Dorothy Volf at the Otho Methodist Church.  Don worked for the City of Fort Dodge (Street...

Robert Wayne Cornell, 60, of Fort Dodge passed away April 30, 2022, at the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home in Fort Dodge.  There are no services scheduled at this time.

James L. Moore, 57, of Corwith, IA died Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at MercyOne North Iowa Hospice in Mason City, IA.   Private family services will be held at a later date.  A celebration of life will be held later family and friends will be notified. Memorials may be directed to the family. James was born July 29, 1964, in Algona, IA, the son of Delbert R. and Viola (Christopher) Moore.  He graduated from Algona High School in 1983.  At the age of 19, Jim moved to...

Brenda L. Porter, 67, of Otho, IA died Monday, April 25, 2022, at her home.  Private family services will be held at a later date.  Memorials may be directed to the family.  Brenda was born November 14, 1954, in Castine, ME, the daughter of Arnold E. and Eleanor L. (Parker) Steele.  She attended school in Bradford, RI.  On December 16, 2000, she was united in marriage to Cory M. Porter in Livermore, IA.  Brenda enjoyed spending time with her family –...

Audrey Darlene (Cran) Carter, 88, of Humboldt, IA died Thursday, April 21, 2022, at Unity Point – Trinity Regional Medical Center.  Graveside services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, May 21, 2022, at Union Cemetery in Humboldt with Pastor Lela Disburg of Faith United Methodist Church officiating.  Memorials may be directed to the family.  Audrey was born July 8th, 1933 in Humboldt. Her parents were Kenneth A. & Nina E. (Hart) Cran. She graduated from Fort Dodge...

Betsie M. Stewart, 60, of Fort Dodge, IA passed away on Friday, April 15, 2022, at her home.  Private family services will be held at a later date.  Memorials may be directed to the family.  Betsie was born June 14, 1961, in Florida, the daughter of Ray and Barbara (Friche) Grimes.  She grew up in California and attended school in Paso Robles.  Her family meant the world to her – especially her grandchildren.  Betsie enjoyed painting rocks,...

Dennis O. Zemke,73, (also known as “GRIZZ”), of Fort Dodge, IA died Friday, April 15, 2022, at the Clarion Wellness and Rehabilitation Center with family by his side. A celebration of life gathering will be held from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM on Saturday, May 14, 2022, at Deercreek Apartments, 700 S. 17th Street.  All who wish to come may do so.  Inurnment will take place at North Lawn Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family. Dennis was born August 6, 1948, in...

Jerry Lee Mabe of Center Point, Iowa and formerly of Fort Dodge, Iowa passed away peacefully surrounded by family at Methodist West Hospital on April 10, 2022, in West Des Moines, Iowa, at the age of 70.  A celebration of life gathering will be held from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM followed by a Funeral Discourse at 4:00 PM on Thursday, April 14, 2022, at the Historic Bruce Funeral Home, 923 1st Avenue South – Fort Dodge, with Randy Mason of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses...

Gary D. Clark, 75, of  Fort Dodge, IA died Wednesday, April 6, 2022, at his home.  Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, April 8, 2022, at the Historic Bruce Funeral Home, 923 1st Avenue South – Fort Dodge, with Rev. John Elkin officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM on Thursday, April 7, 2022, at Historic Bruce Funeral Home, and continue one hour prior to the service.  Interment will take place in North Lawn Cemetery.  Memorials...

Lillian Alice (Titman) Sturtz, 103, of Fort Dodge, passed away Friday, April 1, 2022, at Fort Dodge Health and Rehab Center.  Private family services will be held at a later date with inurnment at Lawn Cemetery in Boxholm, IA.  Memorials may be directed to the family.  Lillian was born in Hamilton, Nebraska on February 20, 1919, a daughter to Belle (Coffery) and Victor Titman. She graduated from High School in Nebraska in 1937.  Lillian married Charles (LaVerne) Sturtz...

Gary Wayne Andrews Sr., 72, of Fort Dodge, IA died March 21, 2022, at Fort Dodge Health & Rehab.  Memorial services will be held at a later date.  Memorials should be directed to the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home. Gary was born June 27, 1949, in Evanston, Iowa, the son of William and Loretta (Grossnickle) Andrews.  He was united in marriage to Judy Marsh.  The couple later divorced. Over the years, he worked several odd jobs until his retirement. Gary enjoyed...

Richard W. Sample, 69, of Fort Dodge, IA, died Thursday, March 17, 2022, at Fort Dodge Villa Care.  Private family services will be held at a later date.  Memorials may be directed to the family.  Richard was born January 1, 1953, in Des Moines , IA, the son of Harold and Elizabeth June (Casey) Sample.  He attended school in Des Moines.  Rick proudly served in the U.S. Army.  After many years together, Rick was united in marriage to Rania Baker in 2016. ...

Mary W. Berckhan, 85, of Fort Dodge, IA, died Sunday, March 6, 2022, at Unity Point – Trinity Regional Medical Center.  Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, March 14, 2022, at the First Presbyterian Church, 1111 5th Avenue North, with Rev. Sara Hill officiating. Services will be live streamed via the First Presbyterian Church and Historic Bruce Funeral Home Facebook pages.  Interment will take place at the International Order of Odd Fellows Cemetery in...

Brenda Lee Krimmel, 46, of Fort Dodge, died Thursday, March 3, 2022, at Unity Point – Trinity Regional Medical Center.  No Services are scheduled. Memorials may be directed to the family.   Brenda was born September 22, 1975, in Webster City, IA, the daughter of Theodore and Edna (Green) Wertz.  Brenda was a homemaker who enjoyed spending time with her family and friends – especially her granddaughter:  Jayla.  She also enjoyed listening to music and...

Robert N. Knutson, 58, of Fort Dodge, died Thursday, February 24, 2022.  A celebration of life gathering will be held from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at the VFW Post 1856, 518 S. 29th Street – Fort Dodge.  Memorials may be directed to the family.  Robert was born July 6, 1963, in Fort Dodge, the son of Robert L. and Elizabeth J. (Davis) Knutson.  He attended Fort Dodge Schools.  Bobby was a “Jack of all trades” and worked...

Velma A. Ramus, 101, of Fort Dodge, died Saturday, February 19, 2022, at the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home.   Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, February 26, 2022, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 400 S. 13th Street, with Pastor Jonathan Jahnke officiating.  Services will be live streamed via the St. Paul Lutheran Church Facebook page.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.  Interment will take place in North Lawn Cemetery.  Memorials...

Steven M. Fortney, 68, of Fort Dodge, died Friday, February 18, 2022, at the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home, after a long fight with health issues.  He is now at peace in Heaven with God and all his family as well as Melanie's family.  Private family services will be held at a later date.   Memorials may be directed to the family.  Steven was born September 19, 1953, in Fort Dodge, the son of Mervin and Wanetta (Edmunson) Fortney.  He attended school at Fort...