Muscatine County Iowa Obituary Archives

MUSCATINE, Iowa - Annabel Idle, 85, of Muscatine, died Tuesday, June 5, 2001, at Unity Hospital.
Services are pending at the Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home.

Muscatine Journal  June 05, 2001
Contributed by Susie Martin-Rott

Mrs. Idle was employed as a registered nurse at Hershey and Bellevue hospitals and Hershey Nursing Home.
Annabel Costello was born Aug. 20, 1915, in Muscatine. She married Carl Idle in 1944 in Muscatine. He died in 1968.

Memorials may be made to Bloomington-Muscatine Friends Church.
Survivors include a son, John C., Indianola; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Quad City Times 06 Jun 2001
Contributed by Susie Martin-Rott

Services are 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home. The Rev. Arturo Carranza of the Bloomington-Muscatine Friends Church will officiate. The vocalist is Addi Miller and Evelyn Hetzler is the organist. Pallbearers are John C. Idle, Larry Idle, Brian Marron, Bud Ross, Dennis Bellinger and Duane Bellinger. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery.

Visitation is 4-7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Bloomington-Muscatine Friends Church.

Mrs. Idle was born Aug. 20, 1915, in Muscatine, the daughter of John Edward and Tillie Nelson Costello. She married Carl L. Idle Aug. 1, 1944, in Muscatine. He preceded her in death in 1968.

She graduated from Muscatine High School and Moline Public Hospital Nursing School.

She was a life long resident of Muscatine having worked as a Registered Nurse at Hershey and Bellevue Hospitals and Hershey Nursing Home.  She was an active member of the Bloomington-Muscatine Friends Church.

Survivors include a son, John C. Idle and his wife, Janemarie, of Indianola; two grandchildren, Larry Idle of Linden, and Diana Marron and her husband, Brian, of Indianola; and five great-grandchildren, Joseph, Tyler, Nicholas and Jessica Idle and Kasey Marron.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; an infant daughter, Anna Marie; and an infant brother.

Muscatine Journal June 06, 2001
Contributed by Susie Martin-Rott

COLUMBUS JCT., Iowa- Services for Bernard H. Idle, 79, will be 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Columbus City Cemetery.
Visitation is 2-8 p.m. today at Stacy-Lewis Funeral Home, Columbus Junction, with the family present 6-8 p.m.
Mr. Idle died Thursday at Washington County Hospital, Washington. He farmed in the area until 1979 and was a member of Louisa County Farm Bureau.

He married Geraldine "Gerry" Bopp in 1940 in Lone Tree.
Memorials may be made to Louisa County Responders Ambulance.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Kathy (Mrs. Vern) Rode, Columbus Junction; a son, Keith, Omaha, Neb.; three granddaughters; and a sister, Carol Wolf, West Liberty.

Quad-City Times, Saturday, June 15, 1996, page 7M, column 4:
Contributed by Susie Martin-Rott

Mrs. Idle, wife of John Idle, an old resident of Cedar Township, Muscatine County, died of rheumatism last Thursday evening, and was buried at Cedar Bethal Sunday.  The funeral was attended by a large concourse of relatives and sympathizing friends.

Source: Wapello Republican, 20 Feb 1890

She removed when a girl with her parents to Champaign County, Ohio.  On December 1, 1839 she was united in marriage to John Idle, who survives her.  By this union there were five children born, two of whom died in infancy.  The three yet living are:  Louisa, wife of A.V. Riggs, Francis (F.B.), and Isaiah Idle, all living in this community.  In 1845, she, with her husband, moved to Iowa, taking their place among the first settlers of our state, and having been familiar with its history for forty-five years.  During this time great and important changes have occurred.  She was converted to God, Baptized and united with the Christian Church February 1867 and since that time has given satisfactory evidence to her friends of having lived as a constant and consistent Christian, although very largely deprived of fellowship with the churchof her choice all these years.  In the pains incident to her disease, she was patient and uncomplaining, willing to suffer, and live to the finish her mission in life.  In her last sickness she expressed willingness to die, saying she was finally prepared, and death had lost his terror, and would give ease and rest.  She prayed and trusted in the Lord for the salvation of her family and rejoiced much as she was permitted to see some of them brought to Christ.

The funeral services were held at the residence Sunday morning, February 16, conducted by Dr. L.D. Johnson, parson of the M.E. Church.  The day was all that could be desired for such an occasion, and an immense concourse of people assembled to gaze for the last time upon the form of one whom they had known and loved for so many years, and to sympathise with her bereaved husband.  After the services the remains were laid away in an beautiful spot, in Cedar Bethel Cemetery, awaiting resurrection morning.

Source: Muscatine Journal, 20 Feb 1890
Contributed by Susie Martin-Rott

Sheriff Robert Lewis of Louisa county said his preliminary investigation indicated cars driven by the Gabriel youth and by the Keswick pastor collided about in the middle of the road on a curve on a hilltop.

The three youths, returning from a midnight show at Washington, Ia., were in an automobile owned by Gabriel's father. The pastor, who was west-bound, was riding alone.
 

The Gabriel car caught fire after the crash and the Columbus Junction fire department was called: Dust thrown on the car extinguished the blaze within a short time but the firemen remained at the scene to help direct traffic.

It was learned at the Washington County hospital the Wilson youth is the most seriously injured of three accident patients there. He incurred head injuries and fractures of the right femur (thigh bone) and left knee and ankle. An attendant described his condition as "not good."

The Rev. Mr. Garrett, about 24, years old, incurred a fracture of the right arm and laceration on the head. He also suffered some concussion, it was reported.

The Gabriel youth was in "good condition."  He was reported to have incurred a probable fractured ankle. He also suffered a deep cut on the forehead.
 

Sheriff Lewis said both cars were badly damaged. The Gabriel car was a 1956 Dodge sedan. The Rev. Mr. Garrett was driving a1951 Chevrolet four-door sedan.

The accident turned to tears and grief the joy and laughter that had prevailed as the juniors and seniors held their annual pre-graduation events.

The evening began with the annual junior-senior banquet at the Columbus Junction high school. A dance in the school gym followed. School officials said the banquet and dance completed the scheduled program at the school.

Further activities, arranged by the Junior-Senior Mothers, were to include the midnight show at Washington and breakfast about 3 a.m. in the Legion building in Columbus Junction.
It was reported that only a few of the grief-stricken students showed up for the scheduled breakfast.
 

Terry Idle lived on his parents farm about three and a half miles northwest of Columbus Junction. The fatal accident occurred within about three miles of the Idle home.
Terry was active in school sports and today was scheduled to run in the 440-dash at the state track meet at East High school in Des Moines.

It was reported that parents accompanied most of the students on the Washington trip. One of the cars enroute back to Columbus Junction, not the one carrying three youths, was stopped by a Highway Patrolman, who permitted the car to continue after a warning, it was reported.
Surviving besides the parents are two other younger children in the Idle home.

The body was removed to the Stacy funeral home, where funeral services are pending. It was reported shortly before noon that the Wilson youth had been transferred from the Washington hospital to the University hospital at Iowa City.
 
Muscatine Journal Saturday May 17, 1958 Front page
 Note: There is also a picture of Terry Idle on front page of the paper.

Columbus Junction ---- Funeral services for 17-year-old Terry Idle, Columbus Junction high school junior killed in a two-car crash near here early Saturday morning, were held in the Methodist church at 2 o'clock this afternoon.

The junior class and the "C" club of the Columbus Junction school attended the services in a body. The Idle youth was a letter winner and active in sports. In addition, a large number of other high school students attended the funeral, at which the Rev. George Pennington officiated.

Casket bearers were Terry Edwards, Joe Howell, Gene Enke, Tom Wasson, Doren Cutkomp and Charles van Auken,, Connie Gary and Beverly Howell were in charge of flowers, and Mrs. B. O. Roundy was organist.

The Idle youth died shortly after the crash in the Washington county hospital.
Three others hurt in the crash are still hospitalized. They are:
Douglas Gabriel, 16, son of Mr. and Mrs. Omer Gabriel, Columbus Junction, is in St. Luke's hospital, Davenport, suffering with broken ankles, knee puncture, a deep gash on the forehead, the loss of several teeth and shock, Gabriel was the driver of the car in which Idle was riding.
George Wilson, 16, brother-in-law and brother of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Parks, Columbus City.  Wilson is in University hospital, Iowa City, where his condition was described as critical.
The Rev. Laurence L. Garrett, 24, pastor of the Methodist churches at Keswick and Thornburg, is at Washington County hospital, Washington, where his condition was described as fair but improving.
 
Muscatine Journal Monday, May 19, 1958 page 10
Submitted by Carolyn Hidlebaugh   

Annette Marie Irwin, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth H. Irwin of Fruitland, was stillborn today at Muscatine General hospital.

Surviving are the parents; the maternal grandmother, Mrs. Mary Truesdale; the maternal great grandmothers Mrs. Victoria Everett and Mrs. Nuffie Creamer; the paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond H. Irwin of Route 2; and the paternal great-grandmother, Mrs. Etta Frye.

Graveside rites at St. Mary's cemetery will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday by the Rev. Thomas R. Doyle.  The Riley funeral home is in charge of arrangements.

From the Muscatine, IA, Journal, Jan. 24, 1964
Research Source June Welsch

Beverly Jean Irwin, two months old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Irwin, route 3, died at 9 p. m. Tuesday at
Bellevue hospital after an illness with whooping cough.

The child was the daughter of James Edward Irwin and the former Iona Dipple, who reside near Fairport.  Surviving are the parents and the grandparents.

The body is at the Riley-Meyers Funeral home where it will remain until 3 p. m. Friday when it will be taken to Ziegler Memorial Lutheran church at New Era.  Services will be conducted at that church at 4 p. m. Friday by the Rev. David M. Funk, pastor of Grace Lutheran church interment will be in Fairport cemetery.

Muscatine Journal Wed. Aug. 7, 1946
Contributed by June Brewer Welsch

New Era----Pauline Mary Irwin, 64, Route 2, died Wednesday at University Hospitals, Iowa City.

Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Ziegler Memorial Lutheran Church, New Era.  Pastor James E. Fowler will officiate.  Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.  Visitation will be until 8 p.m. today and from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday at the Geo. M. Wittich-Lewis Funeral Home and from noon until service time at the church.  A memorial fund has been established at the funeral home.

The daughter of George and Etta Craddock Frye, she was born Dec. 20 1919, in Muscatine County.  She was a life resident of this area.

Her marriage to Raymond H. Irwin took place Feb. 20, 1938, in Muscatine.  She was a member of the Ziegler Memorial Lutheran Church, the women of the Moose and the Eagles Auxiliary.

Survivors include three sons, Kenneth H. and Larry G. both of Muscatine, and Gerald "Gary" of Mesa, Ariz.; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two brothers, Melvin Frye of Minden, Nev., and Clarence Frye of Muscatine; and two sisters, Mrs. Albert (Geraldine) McCleary and Mrs. Ike (Iris) Lee, both of Muscatine.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband in 1980, and one granddaughter.

Source, Muscatine, IA, Journal, Dec. 22, 1983.
Research Source June Welsch
Note from June Welsch, Pauline was born Feb. 20, 1919 source Social Security Records.

MUSCATINE, Iowa - Wilma Louise Irwin, 72, Muscatine, died Friday, Jan. 24, 2003, at Unity Hospital.

Services are 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Geo. M. Wittich-Lewis Funeral Home. A luncheon will be held at the Eagles Lodge after the services. Pallbearers are Nick Reifert, Scott Reifert, Andy Reifert, Ben Reifert, Daniel Reifert, Layne Irwin, McKenzie Irwin and Marty Irwin. Burial will be at Muscatine Memorial Park Cemetery.
Visitation is 4-7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. A memorial has been established.

Mrs. Irwin was born Aug. 19, 1930, in Wood River, Ill., the daughter of Glenn and Viola Herlein Reifert. She married Kuehl Irwin July 24, 1954, in Davenport.

She worked for the Muscatine School District for many years as a cook.
<P>She loved reading, traveling and doing crafts. Her main enjoyment was spending time with her grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Terry Irwin of Orlando, Fla.; a son, Dale Irwin and wife Terri of Muscatine; a sister, Jean Patterson and husband Don of Greenfield; five brothers, Rick Reifert and wife Lori of Bondurant, LaVerne Reifert of Muscatine, Ed Reifert and wife Mattie of Limestone, Tenn., Ron Reifert and wife Nancy and Bill Reifert and wife Eve, all of Muscatine; two sisters-in-law, Ann Reifert and Charlotte Esmoil, both of Muscatine; and two grandchildren, Layne and McKenzie Irwin.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and three brothers, Earl Reifert, Jerry Reifert and Jim Reifert.

Muscatine Journal
Contributed by June Welsch

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Last updated: 02 May 2004