Obituaries

Edward C. Downing, 85, of Le Mars, Iowa passed away on Tuesday, May 28, 2013 at the Plymouth Manor Care Center in Le Mars following a brief illness.  A Celebration of Life Service will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, 2013 at the United Methodist Church of Le Mars.  Rev. John Battern will officiate.  Burial will take place at a later date at Hillside Cemetery in Merrill, Iowa.  Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 31, 2013 at the Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars.  The family will be present from 5-7 p.m. with a prayer service scheduled at 7:00 p.m.  Visitation will resume at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at the church.  Expressions of sympathy may be directed through www.mauerjohnsonfh.com

Shirley  Traufler, 81, of Le Mars, Iowa passed away suddenly Thursday, May 23, 2013 at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Le Mars with Father Kevin Richter officiating.  Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars.  Visitations with the family present will be after 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 28, 2013 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Le Mars with a 4:00 p.m. combined Christian Mothers and Catholic Daughters Rosary Service followed by a 7:00 p.m. Scriptural Wake Service all at the church.  Visitation will continue Wednesday morning from 9:30 a.m. until service time.   Arrangements are with the Carlsen-Feuerstein Funeral Home of Le Mars.  Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.carlsenfuneralhome.com

Dorothy P. Spies, 83, of Hinton died Wednesday, May 22, 2013, at a local care facility.  Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Hinton United Methodist Church.  Private graveside services will be in Melbourne Floyd Valley Cemetery, rural Hinton.  Visitation with the family will be from 5 to 7 pm Friday, with a Prayer Service at 7 p.m. at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel in Sioux City.

Online condolences may be sent to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Dorothy was born July 21, 1929 in Logan, IA; she was the daughter of Willard “Tommy” and Lola (Piercy) Shaw. The family moved to the Sioux City area when Dorothy was a child. She graduated from Hinton High School in 1947.  Dorothy married John R. “Jack” Spies Oct. 24, 1947 in Sioux City; he passed away on March 21, 2009 in Sioux City.

Dorothy received her teaching certificate from Morningside College and taught in rural schools in the Hinton area and the Hinton Community Schools. She was a secretary for Spies Bros for 36 years.

Dorothy was a member of Hinton United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school and held various offices on the church board. She had served as president of the United Methodist Women. She was a member of the Abu Bekr Shrine Women’s Auxiliary serving as president for 5 years. Dorothy was on the advisory board of the Shriners Hospital for Children in Minneapolis for 17 years. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Daughters of the Nile and the Hinton Civic Club. She was an active volunteer of the American Cancer Society and Meals on Wheels.

Survivors include her 3 children: Kenneth Spies and his wife Betti of Hinton, IA. Janice Allen and her husband Joel of Germantown, WI, Thomas Spies and his wife Sherry of Baton Rouge, LA; 7 grandchildren: John Spies and his wife Tonya, Brad Spies, Dana Allen, Matthew Spies, Brianna Parkhill and her husband Kyle, Kamden Spies and Cale Spies; 3 great grandchildren: Brody, Kenedi and Dawson; a sister in law: Bette Shaw of LeMars, IA; a brother in law: Duane Spies of Hinton, IA and many nieces and nephews.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and 2 brothers: Willard and Donald Shaw

Memorials may be directed to the Shriners Hospital for Children Transportation Fund or Hinton United Methodist Church.

Roy  G.  Sitzmann, Sr., 94, of Kingsley, Iowa passed away Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 25, 2013 at St. James Catholic Church in Le Mars with Father Paul Eisle officiating.  Interment with Military Honors provided by the Wasmer American Legion Post #241 will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Neptune.  Visitations with the family present will be after 3:00 p.m. Friday, May24th at the Carlsen-Feuerstein Funeral Home in Le Mars followed by a 4:00 p.m. Knights of Columbus Rosary service and a 7:00 p.m. Scriptural Wake Service all at the funeral home.  Visitation will continue Saturday morning at the church from 9:30 a.m. until service time.  Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.carlsenfuneralhome.com.