Obituaries

Darrell Ellis, 72, of Creston, died Feb. 6, 2012, at his home. Services are pending at Powers Funeral Home, junction of highways 34 and 25.

Janice Marie Embree, 74, of Gering, Neb., died Feb. 3, 2012, at Heritage Estates in Gering after an extended illness. A memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at Heritage Estates chapel in Gering, with a memorial service in Creston to follow at a later date. Iowa Cremation of Cedar Rapids is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be given in Janice’s name to Heritage Estates.

Russell Strable, 61, of Massena died Feb. 5, 2012, at Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic. Funeral services are pending at Steen Funeral Home in Massena.

Lorraine Moore, 89, of Aitkin, Minn., formerly a long-time resident of Creston, died Feb. 1, 2012, at Aicota Healthcare Center in Aitkin, Minn. Celebration of life services will be 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, at Pearson Family Funeral Service, 809 W. Montgomery St., Creston. The Rev. Tracy Edwards will officiate. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery in Creston. Open visitation will be 1 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Visitation with family present will be one hour prior to the services Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to Jerusalem Methodist Church and/or Ronald McDonald House in Des Moines.

Doris Sprague, 81, of Creston died Feb. 7, 2012, at Greater Regional Hospice Home. Services are pending at Powers Funeral Home, junction of highways 34 and 25.

Elvera Drake, 85, of Carl Community in Adams County died Feb. 6, 2012, at Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston. Arrangements are pending at Pearson Family Funeral Service, 701 Seventh St., Corning.

Neva Peterson, 88, of Creston died Feb. 4, 2012, at Greater Regional Hospice Home. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 10, at the First Baptist Church. The Rev. Dave Tebbenkamp will officiate. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery. Open visitation will be 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday with family present 6 to 8 p.m. at Pearson Family Funeral Service, 809 W. Montgomery St. Memorials may be directed to the missionary fund of the First Baptist Church.

Dorothea Tackett, 86, of Creston died Feb. 2, 2012, in Creston. Services will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, at the First Baptist Church. The Rev. Dave Tebbenkamp will officiate. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery. Open visitation will be 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday with family present 6 to 8 p.m. at Pearson Family Funeral Service, 809 W. Montgomery St. Memorials may be directed to the First Baptist Church in Dorothea’s name.

Lorraine Moore, 89, of Aitkin, Minn., formerly a long-time resident of Creston, died Feb. 1, 2012, at Aicota Healthcare Center in Aitkin, Minn. Celebration of life services will be 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, at Pearson Family Funeral Service, 809 W. Montgomery St., Creston. The Rev. Tracy Edwards will officiate. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery in Creston. Open visitation will be 1 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Visitation with family present will be one hour prior to the services Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to Jerusalem Methodist Church and/or Ronald McDonald House in Des Moines.

Neva Peterson, 88, of Creston died Feb. 4, 2012, at Greater Regional Hospice Home. Services are pending at Pearson Family Funeral Service, 809 W. Montgomery St.

David Crago, 69, of Afton, died Feb. 1, 2012, on his farm from injuries sustained in a tractor accident.

Vallee "Sam" Halvorsen, 73, of Osceola passed away Jan. 31, 2012 at his home in Osceola. Visitation will be held at the Kale Funeral Home in Osceola today. Family will be present from 6 to 8 p.m. Services will be held 10:30 a.m. Feb. 4 at the Kale Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family for a fitting tribute to be decided at a later date.

Dorothea Tackett, 86, of Creston died Feb. 2, 2012.

David Crago, 69, of Afton died Feb. 1, 2012, on his farm from injuries because of a tractor accident. Services are pending at Powers Funeral Home, 612 N. Dodge St., Afton.

John Murren, 80, of Creston died Jan. 31, 2012, at Creston Nursing and Rehab Center. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, at Powers Funeral Home, junction of highways 25 and 34. The Rev. Jim Morris will officiate. Burial will be in Guss Cemetery, southwest of Corning. Open visitation will be 2 to 8 p.m. Friday with family present 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Lorraine Moore, 89, of Aitkin, Minn., formerly of Creston, died Feb. 1, 2012, at Aicota Healthcare Center in Aitkin, Minn. Services are pending at Pearson Family Funeral Service, 809 W. Montgomery St., Creston.

Donna Marie Donner, 70, of Afton died Jan. 31, 2012, at Mercy Hospice in Johnston. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, at Lorimor Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the charity of your choice in Donna’s name. Pearson Family Funeral Service, 809 W. Montgomery St., Creston, is in charge of arrangements.

Edwin Miller, 88, of Bedford died Jan. 30, 2012, at Bedford Nursing and Rehab Center. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, at Ritchie Funeral Home,1406 Madison Ave., Bedford. Visitation with family present will be 9 a.m. until service time Thursday at the funeral home. Interment will be in Washington Cemetery in Gravity. Memorials may be given in his name.

Lori Howard, 49, of the Creston-Sharpsburg areas, died Jan. 28, 2012, at Greater Regional Hospice Home in Creston. Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 3, at Lenox United Presbyterian Church. There is no visitation prior to services. Interment of ashes will be in Hopkins Grove Cemetery in Polk City at a later date. Memorials may be directed to the Lenox Ministerial Association. Ritchie Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Gary L. Austin, 66, of Afton died Jan. 30, 2012, at Greater Regional Hospice Home in Creston. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 3, at Powers Funeral Home, 612 N. Dodge St., Afton. The Rev. Dwayne Henrichs will officiate. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery, east of Afton. Open visitation will be 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday with family present 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to Greater Regional Hospice Home or the family.

Robert “Mike” Clem, 68, of Rockport, Texas, died Jan. 28, 2012, at his home, after a 3 1/2 year battle with cancer. Memorial services will be held in Rockport, Texas, Saturday, Feb. 4. Interment will be at a later date in Prairie Lawn Cemetery.

Donna Donner, 70, of Des Moines, formerly of Afton, died Jan. 31, 2012, at Mercy Hospice in Johnston. Services are pending at Pearson Family Funeral Service, 809 W. Montgomery St., Creston.

Florence R. Shum, 84, of Creston, died Jan. 31, 2012, at Greater Regional Medical Center. Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 5, at Summit House in Creston. The Rev. Jerry White will officiate. No visitation will be held. Graveside services and burial will be in North Lawn Cemetery, near North Adams, Mich., at a later date. Memorials may be directed to Cancer Society of Iowa, Heart Association of Iowa or a donation of your choice. Powers Funeral Home, junction of highways 34 and 25, Creston, is in charge of arrangements.

John Murren, 80, of Creston died Jan. 31, 2012, at Creston Nursing and Rehab Center. Services are pending at Powers Funeral Home, junction of highway 34 and 25.