Obituaries

Dorothy Thoma

Mar 24, 2025

Dorothy M. Thoma, 96, of Fort Dodge, passed away Monday March 24, 2025, at the Bickford Cottages.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:30 PM on Tuesday April 15, 2025, at Holy Trinity Church with Msgr. Kevin McCoy officiating. Burial will follow at Corpus Christi Cemetery. There will be a visitation on Monday April 14, 2025,...

James Eich

Apr 12, 2025

James Eich, 81, passed away Saturday, April 12, 2025 at Friendship Haven. Services are pending

Rosella Davis

Apr 10, 2025

Rosella K. Davis, 82, of Fort Dodge, passed away Thursday April 10, 2025, at the Marian Home.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on April 22, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lohrville. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Lohrville. There will be a visitation on Monday April 21,...

Charles "Bill" Messerly

Apr 9, 2025

Charles "Bill" Messerly, 87, of Fort Dodge passed away April 9, 2025 at Woodlands Senior Living Center in Clive.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 14, 2025, at the Chapel of Peace Mausoleum at North Lawn Cemetery. Military Rites will be conducted by the U.S. Army Honor Guard and the VFW Post 1856. A visitation will...

Joyce Goforth

Apr 5, 2025

Joyce Goforth, 98, of Callender, passed away at her home on the morning of Saturday, April 5, 2025.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 9th at 11:30 AM at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Callender. Burial will follow at North Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be on Wednesday starting at 10:00 AM at the church in Callender.

Laufersweiler...

Helen Johnson

Apr 5, 2025

Helen Johnson, age 89, of Gowrie, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on April 5, 2025 at Bickford Cottages in Fort Dodge. She lived a beautiful life and her warmth and kindness were deeply felt by all who knew her.

Helen J. Johnson was born on Feb. 12, 1936 in Rodman, Iowa to Joseph and Celestine Knoer. On Dec. 18,...

Dawn McMahon

Apr 2, 2025

Dawn Renae McMahon, 64, of Otho, passed away Wednesday April 2, 2025, at her home. A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend; leaving behind a legacy of love, kindness, and cherished memories.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday April 7, 2025, at Laufersweiler Funeral Home. There will be a visitation at 10:00 AM until the...

John Duro

Mar 31, 2025

Dr. John Duro, 83, of Fort Dodge, passed away Monday March 31, 2025, at Simpson Health Center, Friendship Haven.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday April 5, 2025, at St. Marks Episcopal Church. Burial will follow at North Lawn Cemetery with Military Rites by the U.S. Army Honor Guard and VFW Post 1856. There will...

Ronald Hepp

Mar 31, 2025

Ronald O. Hepp, 93, of Rockwell City passed away Monday, March 31, 2025 at Accura Healthcare of Lake City.

Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Friday, April 4, 2025 at Immanuel Lutheran Church. A burial will follow in Rosehill Cemetery.

Ronald is survived by his wife, Marjorie Hepp of Rockwell City; children, Allyn (Pixie) Hepp of Rockwell City, Robert...

Peggy Larson

Mar 30, 2025

Margaret "Peggy" Larson, age 95, passed away on March 30, 2025 after a brief illness resulting in kidney failure. A memorial service will be held on Sunday April 27 at 2:00 pm at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, with Reverend Emily Sauer officiating. Visitation will be held at St. Olaf before the service, beginning at 12:30 pm.

Peggy is survived by...

Doug McGough

Mar 29, 2025

Douglas "Doug" McGough, 66, of Twin Lakes, Iowa, passed away unexpectedly on March 29, 2025, at his home in Naples, Florida.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Holy Trinity Church with Msgr. Kevin McCoy officiating. A visitation will be 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at Laufersweiler Funeral Home.

Born on July 30, 1958, Doug...

Kristine Godfrey

Mar 28, 2025

Kristine Kay Godfrey of Fort Dodge, passed away at Gowrie Care Center on March 28th, 2025 at the age of 72.

She was joined in death by her parents Arlo Floyd Godfrey and Luella Maxine Graham, her daughter Michelle Cahill, and great grandson Colson McMullen.

Kristine is survived by her daughter Gina McMullen; grandsons, Corey, Dawson, and Joseph...

Kay "Rick" Ricklefs

Mar 27, 2025

Kay "Rick" Ricklefs was born January 19th, 1939, and passed away March 27th, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas at the age of 86. Rick was the son of Zola and Edward Ricklefs, raised in the Manson, Iowa area, and lived the majority of his life in Richards, Iowa before moving to Converse, Texas. Rick married Rosella "Rosie" Kavanaugh and together...

Richard Tappe

Mar 26, 2025

Richard Allen Tappe, age 83, passed into eternal rest on March 26th. He died as he lived, with strength and deep faith, and surrounded by the love of his family.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM Monday March 31, 2025, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church with Msgr. Kevin McCoy officiating. Burial will follow in Corpus Christi...

Shirley Stewart

Mar 25, 2025

Fort Dodge - Shirley A. Stewart, 93, passed away Tuesday March 25, 2025, peacefully with loving care at Bickford Assistant Living in Fort Dodge.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday March 29, 2025, at Laufersweiler Palmer & Sons Funeral Home, Gowrie, with Lay Minister Beth Carlon officiating. Burial will be in Lost Grove Township Cemetery in...

Belia Hollingsworth

Mar 24, 2025

Belia A. Hollingsworth, 68, of Fort Dodge, passed away on Monday, March 24, 2025.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 28, 2025 at Laufersweiler Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Corpus Christi Cemetery. A visitation will be 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with a rosary at 7:00 p.m. 

Survivors include her husband James Hollingsworth, children Travis...

Rita Hawthorne

Mar 19, 2025

Farnhamville - Rita J. Hawthorne, age 80, passed away on March 19, 2025, at Accura HealthCare in Lake City, Iowa.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on March 25, 2025, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Farnhamville with Pastor Aaron Zimmerman officiating. Burial will follow at Reading Township Cemetery in Farnhamville. A visitation will be held on March...

Shirley Chase

Mar 19, 2025

Shirley Chase, 84, of Newton, formerly of Fort Dodge passed away Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at Mercy One Newton Medical Center.

Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Monday, March 24, 2025 at First Covenant Church in Fort Dodge. A visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at the church. A private family burial will be held...

Shawn Gully

Mar 19, 2025

Shawn Lee Gully, a beloved father, brother, and friend, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday March 19, 2025.

Funeral services will be 1:00 PM Saturday, March 29, 2025 in the chapel of Laufersweiler Funeral Home. A visitation will be 11:00 AM until the start of the service. Burial will follow in North Lawn Cemetery.

Born on January...

Michael Milligan

Mar 18, 2025

Michael I. Milligan, 76, of Coalville passed away Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at his home.



Graveside services will be held at a later date at North Lawn Cemetery.



Survivors include his wife, Beverly Mericle, son, Dennis and wife Lindsey Milligan of Fort Dodge, Karin Milligan of Fort Dodge, son Steven Milligan and his wife Amanda of Fort Dodge,...