George Werts Jr. Obituary October 23, 1924 - September 5, 2024

George Werts Jr. passed away on September 5, 2024, in Knoxville, Iowa. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at First United Methodist Church in Knoxville. George will be interred next to his wife, Doris following services at Lincoln Cemetery in rural Knoxville.

George was born in Lucas County, Iowa on October 23, 1924, to George and Amy (Petteys) Werts Sr. He was raised on the family farm and graduated from Russell High School. On March 18, 1945, George married Doris Bennett at the Methodist Church Parsonage in Chariton, Iowa. George served in the U.S. Army towards the end of WWII. After he left the Army, he took a job with the VA Hospital in Knoxville. He served countless veterans until his retirement.

George and Doris loved to travel, visiting many places around the country. They enjoyed working with The Good Sam Camp Club. In his spare time, George loved working in the flower garden. He was a very meticulous man who like to have everything in their place. He always made sure his surroundings were clean and organized.

George is survived by his daughter, Kay (Rudy) Benki; grandchildren: Kris (Kelli) DeBont, Kelli (Chris) Farley, Mason Benki, and Eric Benki; great grandchildren: Blake (Morgan) DeBont, Paige DeBont, and Chase (Jonah) Brink; step-great grandchildren, Britney and Josh; and great-great grandchildren: Theo, Kampbell, Nash, and Jack.

George was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife of 68 years, Doris; son, Darrell (Diane) Werts; great grandson, Alex DeBont; and his sisters: Marvel, Ruth, and Velma.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to First UnitedGeorge Werts Jr. passed away on September 5, 2024, in Knoxville, Iowa. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at First United Methodist Church in Knoxville. George will be interred next to his wife, Doris following services at Lincoln Cemetery in rural Knoxville.

George was born in Lucas County, Iowa on October 23, 1924, to George and Amy (Petteys) Werts Sr. He was raised on the family farm and graduated from Russell High School. On March 18, 1945, George married Doris Bennett at the Methodist Church Parsonage in Chariton, Iowa. George served in the U.S. Army towards the end of WWII. After he left the Army, he took a job with the VA Hospital in Knoxville. He served countless veterans until his retirement.

George and Doris loved to travel, visiting many places around the country. They enjoyed working with The Good Sam Camp Club. In his spare time, George loved working in the flower garden. He was a very meticulous man who like to have everything in their place. He always made sure his surroundings were clean and organized.

George is survived by his daughter, Kay (Rudy) Benki; grandchildren: Kris (Kelli) DeBont, Kelli (Chris) Farley, Mason Benki, and Eric Benki; great grandchildren: Blake (Morgan) DeBont, Paige DeBont, and Chase (Jonah) Brink; step-great grandchildren, Britney and Josh; and great-great grandchildren: Theo, Kampbell, Nash, and Jack.

George was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife of 68 years, Doris; son, Darrell (Diane) Werts; great grandson, Alex DeBont; and his sisters: Marvel, Ruth, and Velma.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to First Methodist Church in Knoxville.

 

Karen A. Orwig Obituary March 9, 1942 - September 2, 1942

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• Karen A. Orwig, 82, passed away peacefully in her home on September 2, 2024. Services will be held Friday, September 13, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Chariton. The family will receive friends on Thursday, September 12, from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton. Memorials can be sent to First Lutheran Church in Chariton, or the Circle of Freedom Shelter in Seymour.

• Karen Annette was born March 9, 1942, in Fort Dodge, Iowa to Raymond and Loretta Peters. On November 22, 1961. Karen married the love of her life, David Orwig at the St. John Lutheran Church in rural Palmer, Iowa. After a brief period in West Bend, Iowa, they lived in Kirksville, Missouri for several years. Karen and Dave then moved and settled in Lucas County in 1965, where they raised their family. Karen worked in the Courthouse as the Lucas County Deputy Clerk of Court for more than two decades, and then went on to work for Chariton Abstract Company for several years.

  Together they were blessed with three sons, Steven, Michael, and Mark. Karen lived the simple life and loved the farm and raising Red Angus cattle with Dave. She also enjoyed their routine “hither and yon” trips around Lucas County as well as numerous vacations to visit family and friends. Karen and Dave enjoyed camping at the Iowa State Fair. Most mornings or evenings you could catch them sitting outside and would always welcome a good visit. Karen knew how to visit and was genuine in her conversation. Family was her priority. Miles and miles of road were traveled going to ball games and events for her kids and grandkids. If you knew any of the Orwig boys or their family, you would know Grandma Karen. Because of her compassion and caring nature, she was referred to as “my second Mom” by so many. As the matriarch of the Orwig family, Karen and her home were the center of the family gatherings, which always included her famous potato salad, brown bread and red Jello. She loved the Lord, and attending and being active in the church was important to her. Every summer, the grandkids looked forward to spending the week with her and going to Bible camp at the church. Much like the Bible verse, Karen was patient and kind, and was described by others as selfless, always putting everyone’s needs ahead of her own. She spent many hours at her sewing machine, quilting blankets for the Bethel mission and her grandkids or mending jeans for the Orwig family or making outfits for various events. She always talked about how blessed she was and was always praying for those that needed it. In her later years, she really enjoyed spending time and having coffee at Let’s Eat, Hardees and Hy-Vee with “The Breakfast Gals” and also meeting with the faculty wives’ group. She loved to play Marbles, cards and games with her family and friends, and of course, was Trainwreck’s biggest fan, traveling around to many of their shows.
  
  

• Sep12

  Visitation
  Thursday, September 12, 2024
  4:00PM - 7:00PM 
   

  Sep13

  Celebration of Life

  Friday, September 13, 2024

  10:30AM

 

 

Larry D. Wutzke Obituary November 10, 1946-August 6, 2024

Larry Dean Wutzke, age 77, of Chariton, passed away on August 6, 2024, at the Chariton Speciality Care Center from complications of Parkinson’s Disease and other related illnesses.

Larry was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on November 10, 1946, to Edward and Virginia Wutzke. A baby sister Elaine was born July 29, 1954. She only survived fifteen days. He was never married and lived his life with his parents in rural Russell.

Larry graduated from Russell High School with the class of 1966. He was employed by Johnson Machine Works in Chariton for 30 plus years. After his employment he lived the rest of his life in Chariton.

He was a faithful member of the Assembly of God church in Chariton. The members were a special family to him.

Survivors include his cousins; Ronald (Doris) Christensen, cousins-in-law; Linda Christensen, Dick (Peggy) Christensen, Pam (Bill) Sandy, Bruce (Barbara) Wutzke, and all of their families.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents; Edward and Virginia Wutzke, sister; Elaine Wutzke, grandparents; Herman and Sophie Wutzke and Holm and Hazel Christensen, cousins; Wayne Wutzke and Jack Christensen.

Larry’s wishes were to be cremated and have a graveside service.

The graveside service will take place, Saturday, August 24, 2024, at the Russell Cemetery at 2:00 p.m.