Gwenith Renae Kells Mitchell July 9, 1950 - June 24, 2024

 

Gwenith Renae (Kells) Mitchell, 73, of Packwood, passed away at the Jefferson County Health Center on June 24, 2024. Visitation will be 1-3p Sunday, July 7th, at Prairie View Church near Ollie. A memorial service will follow the visitation at 3p with the Pastor Steven Lamb officiating. Burial will immediately follow the service in the Packwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to 4-H. Cards and memorials can be mailed to the Mitchell Family, 22595 Hwy 78 Ollie Iowa 52576. Friends may leave online condolences at www.cranstonfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Gwenith was born on July 9, 1950 to Myrtle Bernadine and Bob Kells in Chariton, Iowa. She married Roy Wayne Mitchell on June 29, 1974. After Gwenith graduated from Russell High school in 1968, she went to study college at Northeast Missouri State University in Kirksville, Missouri. After she graduated with a degree in education, she started her first job at Hedrick High School where she taught Home Economics until 1977. She returned to teaching in 1994 to Sigourney and later to Fairfield. Gwenith was an avid seamstress, baker, crafter & gardener. She was also involved in helping the community, school, 4H, TTT and church. She liked collecting antiques, watching musicals, visiting the Iowa State Fair, teaching others how to sew, and spending time with her 8 grandchildren.

Survivors include: children, Ryan (Heather) Mitchell of Pella, Grant (Katie) Mitchell of Ollie, and Renae Mitchell of Waverly; 8 grandchildren; two sisters, Roberta Reynolds of Russell; and Jan Chisman of Tucson, Arizona. She was preceded in death by: her husband, Roy Wayne Mitchell; and parents, Bernadine & Bob Kells.

 

Walter E. Faulconer Obituary May 25, 1926 - June 10, 2024

 The family of Walter Faulconer will welcome friends on Thursday, June 13, 2024, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton. A graveside service with military honors will follow at the Chariton Cemetery. There will be a luncheon back at the funeral home following the graveside service.

Memorials may be made in Walter’s name to the Chariton Public Library or the Lucas County Historical Museum.

Walter Faulconer was born on May 25, 1926, the second of two sons born to Jack and Mildred (Mowery) Faulconer in Tama County, Iowa on his grandparents’ farm north of Toledo. Fred and Walter lived with their grandparents until Jack and Mildred were able to buy a farm near Blakesburg in 1937. They moved to Lucas County in 1942 to a farm in Benton Township.

Walter graduated from Chariton High School in 1943. He enlisted in the Army in 1944 and served in the Philippine Islands, then in Post-War Japan, and returned home in late 1946. He farmed with his parents for a few years.

Walter met Caroline O’Dell in early 1949. They were married on September 30, 1949, and lived in Des Moines for about 1 ½ years, while Walter worked for Sutherland Lumber Co. Daughter Linda was born on November 14, 1950. They bought a farm in Lucas County near Walter’s parents in March 1951. Walter and Caroline lived there until moving to Chariton in 2003. Walter continued to work on the farm for several years helping our renters until 2019.

Walter was a longtime member of Sunny Slope Church of Christ near Promise City, Iowa. He was able to go on an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. in 2010 and really enjoyed the trip.

Walter passed away at Lucas County Health Center on Monday, June 10, 2024. He is survived by his daughter, Linda; sister-in-law, Alta Faulconer of Ponte Vedra, Florida; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Fred in 2017; and wife Caroline in 2022.