Clare Burdette Davis Obituary

 Services for Clare Burdette Davis, 84, of Russell will be Thursday, November 30, 2017 at 2:30 p.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton. Interment will follow at the Russell Cemetery. Family will receive friends on Thursday, prior to the service at 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the Russell Public Library or the Russell Fire Department.
Clare Burdette Davis passed away on November 25, 2017 at the Iowa Veteran's Home in Marshalltown.Clare Burdette Davis was born December 16, 1932 to Howard Leroy and Mary Clanin Davis at his grandparent’s home in rural Russell, Iowa. He was raised in Russell alongside his sisters, Ethel and Mary Alice, and attended Russell High School.

Clare served in the United States Army from April of 1953 until April of 1955. He was stationed in Korea after the war. Clare was awarded a National Defense Service Medal, a Korean Service Medal, a United Nations Service Medal, and a Good Conduct Medal.

Farming was always a love of Clare’s. At one time he owned a small farm, but most of his farming experience was as a farmhand for area farmers. Clare loved to drive trucks. His driving career started while he was stationed in Korea where he drove a supply truck. After returning home he drove for various truck lines over the years, including: Russell Produce, the Stone brothers of Chariton, Werner, and he retired from Brooks. Clare was proud of the fact that he drove in all of the 48 mainland states and he never failed to mention that he drove in Washington, D.C.

Clare was an avid reader all of his life. He would read anything, from an encyclopedia, to one of his favorite western stories. He was the proud owner of a 1953 John Deere 70. There was a time when he used the tractor to pull a roller for the City of Russell. Clare served on the Russell City Council for eight years and was a proud member of the Russell American Legion.

In the later years, Clare really enjoyed visiting with friends over a cup of coffee at The Last Chance in Russell. He had a very dry sense of humor and a quick response for everything. The staff at the Iowa Veteran’s Home in Marshalltown really enjoyed getting to know Clare and considered him a favorite patient.

Clare is survived by his children: Juanita (Richard) Hanson, Robert (Karen) Davis, Mary Davis, Janet (Ed) Davis-Savich, and Linda Davis; sisters, Ethel (Weston) Laing and Mary Alice Davis; nephew, John (Sheila) Laing; great niece, Amy Laing; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Preceding him in death were his parents, Howard and Mary Davis; and his daughter, Minda Davis.

Halleen McKay Obituary

 Halleen Ruby McKay, 95, of Russell, Iowa passed away November 21, 2017 at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. She was born October 31, 1922 in Brighton, Iowa to William and Mary Curtis (Turner) DeWolf, the youngest of 5 children.
She attended school in Brighton, Iowa before marrying Everette McKay on May 15, 1940. To this union they raised five children; Roger, Mildred, Ronny, Marilyn and Rita.
Halleen and Everette farmed in the Washington, Iowa area before moving to Russell, Iowa in 1951. She was a hardworking housewife, helping with the farming, had a large garden, raised and dressed chickens, baby-sat for grandchildren, great-grandchildren and always had big meals on the table. She enjoyed gardening, sewing, flowers, animals and going to the Iowa State Fair.  She loved Christmas and always made lots of homemade candy.
Halleen was preceded in death by her parents, husband Everette, son Roger and grandson Kevin.  Also two brothers, Orie DeWolf and Harold DeWolf; two sisters Opal Lemley and Cecil Hesseltine.
She is survived by children Mildred (John) Guffey of Carlisle, Iowa, Ronny (Patty) McKay of Chariton, Iowa, Marilyn (Butch Vanderpool) Trenary of Chariton and Rita McKay of Russell, Iowa.  Grandchildren Dennis Guffey, Michael Guffey, Diana Abrahamson, Susan Gustafson, Brian Trenary, Rodney Mumford, 12 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild Lilly.

Bernard Blubaugh Obituary

 Bernard Eugene Blubaugh, 79 of Valeria, died Friday, November 17, 2017, at Valley Baptist Hospital in Harlingen, Texas from complications of acute leukemia. He leaves his wife of 56 years, Janice (Reynolds) Blubaugh; daughters, Cindy Blubaugh, Kathy (Pete Bowen) Hale, and Lisa Blubaugh; grandchildren, Trevor (Lyndsay) Neuendorf, Courtney Neuendorf, Blake (Kelsey) Hale, Natalie Hale and Brian Blubaugh; sister, Sharon Blubaugh; brothers, Leo (Pat) Blubaugh, Robert (Mariann) Blubaugh, and James (Judy) Blubaugh as well as several nieces, nephew and a whole lot of friends. Bernard was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Teresa Ann (Blubaugh) Neuendorf.
Bernard was born to Fred and Agnes Blubaugh in Melrose, Iowa. He attended Russel High School and then following graduation served for four years in the United States Air Force. After serving his country, he married his high school sweetheart, Janice. They raised their family in Valeria, Iowa and after 30 year retired from Maytag.
Bernard always loved to brag to everyone about his children and grandchildren. He also loved helping local farmers, finding any excuse he could to go to Hy-Vee to gab with everyone and giving his friends a hard time. Summers he and Janice spent as much time as possible camping at state parks and loved camping at the Iowa State Fair. The last 14 winters, they spent in San Benito, Texas at Fun-n-Sun RV Resort, where they were involved in many different activities.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, November 25, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Colfax. Burial with Military Rites will take place at McKeever Cemetery. The family will greet friends on Friday, November 24, 2017 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family and condolences may be left for them at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com.

Richard "Bud" Cromer Obituary

 Richard Lee “Buddy” Cromer was born on March 10, 1934 to Harry Paul Cromer and Myrtle Helen (Arnold) Cromer in Chariton, Iowa.  Richard passed from this life, November 6, 2017 at the Circle of Friends Legacy Lodge located in Chariton at the age of 83 years.
Buddy grew up and attending school in the Chariton area. He served his country in the United States Navy from 1951 through 1955. He had met and married Marilyn Shuey, to this union six children were born, David, Dennis, Margie, Steven and twin boys, Ronald and Donald. January 2, 1982, Richard was joined in marriage to Twyla Malone and they resided in Chariton, Iowa. After the military, Buddy attended college for his Heating and Cooling certificate. He worked as a HVAC specialist at various establishments. Buddy was last employed with the Hy-Vee pharmacy as a medical delivery person, which he enjoyed very much as it kept him busy during his retirement.
In Buddy’s spare time, he took pleasure in woodworking, fishing, playing cards and playing board games with friends and family members.  Buddy was an avid mushroom hunter and would look forward to mushroom season each year. He appreciated going for lunch at the sale barn, tinkering with vacuums and other small motor contraptions, and shopping trips to Wal-mart were among his favorite past-times.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Harry Cromer and Helen (Arnold) Cox; his sisters, Betty, June Duree, and Janice Burrell; and his uncle, Harly Davidson.
He is survived by his wife, Twyla Cromer of Chariton, IA; his children, David (Terri) Cromer of Mitchellville, IA, Dennis Cromer of Maine, Margie (Joe) Gorecki of Newton, IA, Steven (Michelle) Cromer of Des Moines, IA, Ronald (Kathy) Cromer of Chariton, IA, Donald (Debbie) Cromer of Lucas, IA; his brother, Tommy Charles Cromer; and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.
A private family interment will take place in the Chariton Cemetery. A Celebration of Life dinner will be Saturday, November 18, 2017, from 1:00- 5:00 p.m., held in the Chariton Community Center next to the high school