Ruth Earlene Spidell
, Iowa
August 30, 2026
Ruth Earlene Spidell, age 84, passed away on Monday, August 31, 2026 at Valley View Village in Des Moines. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 5, 2026 at 10:30 am at Coburn Funeral Home in Colfax. The family will greet friends on Saturday from 9:30 am until service time. Burial will take place at Newton Union Cemetery. Condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.comThe daughter of Earl and Alicia (Burns) Carpenter, Ruth was born on May 28, 1942 in Fresno, California. On February 9, 1961, she was united in marriage to Jerry Sampson Spidell. Ruth was a member of Four Square Church in Newton, where she was a faithful follower of Christ. She was also a member of the Moose Lodge. Ruth worked as a hairdresser for many years. She enjoyed doing crafts and crocheting. She had a very creative and compassionate personality. During the holidays…
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Karalyn Sue Schroder
, Iowa
September 8, 2026
Karalyn Sue Talsma Schroder was born February 17, 1936, in the middle of one of the coldest and snowiest winters in Iowa history. The harsh winds created drifts so high that people walking on top of drifts were sometimes walking above the telephone lines. In the midst of this, her father, James Talsma Sr. and her mother Nellie Baarda Talsma traversed the gravel roads across the snow-covered landscape to Skiff Hospital where Dr. Anspach delivered Karalyn. Karalyn had four siblings, Dorothy (VandeKieft), Eunice (Davidson), William Talsma, and James Talsma Jr. to welcome her home. Seven years later, after the tragic drowning death of brother Bill in the Skunk River, a younger sister, WillaJo (Stursma) was born.Once spring came, bringing relief from the harsh winter, one of the hottest summers on record followed. It was the middle of the Great Depression and severe heat brought 100 plus degree temperatures setting records…
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David Anthony Wharff
, Iowa
October 7, 2026
David Wharff died October 8, 2026, in West Des Moines, Iowa. David was born on December 12, 1934, in Des Moines, Iowa, the only son of Opal and W. Harold Wharff. David grew up in Colfax, Iowa, married the love of his life, Marianne, in 1964, and they raised their two children on a beautiful acreage outside of Colfax.David graduated from Colfax High School in 1953 and earned a BA from Missouri Valley College and a master’s degree from Iowa State University. David believed strongly in community service. In his early years, he served as an Assistant Scoutmaster and Explorer Post Advisor for the Boy Scouts. Later, he was active in the Masonic Lodge, Colfax Jaycees, and the Colfax Historical Society, and he served on the Colfax and Colfax-Mingo school boards. For many years, he was a member and Elder of the First Presbyterian Church and later joined Immaculate Conception…
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