Craig LeRoy (“Leh-Roy,” and  don’t you dare pronounce it any other way) Whitaker. Craig LeRoy Whitaker, 76, finally ran out of lives after spending decades proving he had more than any reasonable person should. If you knew Craig, you know this obituary almost writes itself-because Lord knows he gave us enough stories. Craig was born September 2, 1949, to Alfred and Audrey (Griffin) Whitaker. He grew up into the kind of man who could fix just about anything, tell a ...

Kim K Smith, 77, of Burlington, died Thursday, November 13, 2025, at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington. Born July 25, 1948, in Burlington, IA, she was the daughter of Kenneth and Jean (Lehman) Tiemeyer. Kim graduated from Burlington Community High School.  She earned her Bachelor’s from Drake University and her Master’s from UNI. She started her teaching career at The Woodward State Hospital and School, then eventually returned to Burlington ...

Marjorie Irene Voelker “Marge”, of Burlington, Iowa passed away peacefully on June 5, 2026 at the age of 96. Born April 25, 1930, she was the daughter of Raymond and Irene Heckenberg.  She was married to the late Kenneth “Kenny” Gahn, and they had 5 children. Although she faced many challenges in her early adult life (including a 22-month old son needing to be hospitalized for several months), Marge was gifted with a strong work ethic, frugality, and a motherly ...

Joyce Elaine Brockway, 83, of Burlington, died Saturday, July 11, 2026, at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington. Born June 20, 1943, in Burlington, Joyce was the daughter of Stanley Robert and Helen Koch Herman. While attending Burlington Notre Dame Catholic High School, Joyce met her lifelong sweetheart, Terry Martin Brockway. They graduated together in the class of 1961 and were married on May 2, 1964 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in ...

LeRoy Albert Mertens, 88, of West Burlington, passed away on July 8, 2026.  He was born at home on December 21, 1937, near Houghton, Iowa, to Henry and Ellen (Holtkamp) Mertens. He graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School with the class of 1956. Mert worked as a milkman for Sunshine Dairy in Burlington, then in manufacturing at JI Case, and later as a part-time custodian at West Burlington schools. He married Marilyn McCullough on December 19, 1964, and together they raised two ...

Thomas William Bruner, 70, formerly of New York, died at his home in Burlington on Saturday, July 4, 2026. Born on May 13, 1956, in Burlington, Iowa, Tom was the son of William Clay and Shirley Ann Hofmann Bruner. Tom graduated from Burlington High School in 1974 and went on to build a career as a flight steward, a profession that perfectly suited his adventurous spirit and love of people. His work allowed him to travel the world, experience different cultures, and form friendships ...

Dr. Daniel “Dan” Bruce Garrison, a beloved husband, father, orthodontist, and veteran, passed away on July 5, 2026, at the age of 47.  His life was marked by dedication to his family, profession, community, and service to others. Born on March 6, 1979, Dr. Garrison grew up in Richmond, Virginia. After high school, he served a two-year mission in Peru, where he became fluent in Spanish. He later attended Brigham Young University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology ...

Terry Butler, 85, of Wapello, died Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at his home. Born April 15, 1941, in rural Morning Sun, he was the son of Everett Leroy and Lucille Curran Butler. On July 11, 1965 he married Pamela Rosalie Jack in Wapello.  They had recently celebrated their 61st anniversary. Terry graduated from Morning Sun High School in 1959 and then went on to earn a Bachelor Degree from Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant in 1963. Following his education Terry proudly served his ...

Ruth Ann Bennett, 84, a longtime resident of Burlington, Iowa, died peacefully Wednesday, July 15, 2026, in Topeka, Kan., surrounded by her loving family. Cremation has been entrusted to Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home in Topeka. Services are pending with Prugh Funeral Service in Burlington. A full obituary will be published at a later date.

Dennis Craig Moss, 80, of Burlington, Iowa, died Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at Thrive of Lake County in Mundelein, Illinois. Born July 21, 1945, in Burlington, Iowa, he was the son of Harry Edward and Delores Ana Teske Moss. On January 22, 1966, he married Susan Alice Senn in St. Patrick Catholic Church, Burlington. She preceded him in death on April 1, 2018. Denny was a 1963 graduate of Burlington High School and then graduated from Southeastern Community College. He was a U.S. Air Force ...