OBITUARIES
Affordable & Professional: Breakthrough Web Design 515-897-1144
OBIT: Bailey McPherson
Bailey Hope McPherson, 33, formerly of St. Cloud, Minnesota, passed away surrounded by the love of her family on Thursday, February 12, 2026 in Mason City, Iowa. A Celebration of Life will be held at The Rustic Barn Venue in Nora Springs, IA at 2:00pm on Saturday, March 14, 2026 with Mark Doebel officiating.
OBIT: Russell Dean “Russ” Steenblock
Russell Dean “Russ” Steenblock, 76, of Mason City, Iowa, passed away surrounded by his family. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, veteran, and friend, Russ lived a life marked by hard work, loyalty, faith, and quiet strength.
OBIT: Bernita Ann Stanton
Bernita Ann Stanton, 95, of Greene, passed away peacefully Friday, February 13, 2026, in Mason City, Iowa after a short illness. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 1:00 PM at St. Mary Catholic Church in Greene.
OBIT: Kathy Kay Roberts
Kathy Kay Roberts, 70, of Rockwell, Iowa, passed away peacefully on February 13, 2026, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City, surrounded by the love of her family. In accordance with Kathy’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.
OBIT: Eldon Doane
Eldon Doane, 82, of Thornton, passed away Thursday, February 12, 2026 at Westview Care Center in Britt. Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, February 17 at 10:30 AM at the Thornton United Methodist Church, with interment at Pleasant View Cemetery in Thornton.
OBIT: Judy Nolte
Judy Nolte, 86, of Sheffield, passed away, Friday, February 6, 2026, at Franklin General Hospital, Hampton while under Hospice Care. Memorial services will be held 11 AM, Saturday, May 23, 2026, at Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Sheffield.
OBIT: Steven F. Smith
Steven F. Smith, 83, of Northwood, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at his home, surrounded by loved ones. Just months after the passing of his beloved wife, Patricia, Steve’s heart was ready to be with her again. After 63 years of marriage and a lifetime spent side by side, it seems only fitting that he would follow her lead once more, never a Valentine’s Day alone.
A time to greet friends and relatives will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Conner Colonial Chapel.
OBIT: Laura J. Walton
Laura J. Walton, 72, of Joice and recently of Good Shepherd in Mason City, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 13, 2026, after a decade-long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. A Celebration of Laura’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at First Lutheran Church in Northwood.
OBIT: Jay E. Sturges
Jay Sturges, 88, of Clear Lake and formerly of Rockwell, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at Apple Valley Assisted Living, surrounded by those he loved. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026, at Faith United Church of Rockwell.
OBIT: Marty Jay Ehret
Marty Jay Ehret, age 74, passed away at his home on Friday, February 13, 2026, surrounded by the family he loved.
OBIT: Judy Ann Aukes
On Wednesday, February 11, 2026, Judy passed away at her home in Allison, Iowa, after her hard-fought battle with cancer.
OBIT: Lester Leroy Ross
April 5, 1948 – February 11, 2026 Lester Leroy Ross, a devoted family man, veteran, and servant to his community, passed away unexpectedly at his home in Boone, Iowa, on February 11,
OBIT: Kelsi Soenen
Kelsi Soenen, age 32 of Emmetsburg, passed away on Sunday, February 8, 2026 at Palo Alto County Health System in Emmetsburg. Funeral Services for Kelsi will be 10:30 AM on Friday, February 13, at Grace Church in Emmetsburg.
OBIT: Donald Allan Prestholt
Donald Allan Prestholt, 91, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at the Oakwood Care Center, Clear Lake, Iowa.
OBIT: Mark Jahnel
Mark Jahnel, 71, of Orchard, Iowa, passed away at his home Wednesday, February 4, 2026, due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
OBIT: Ellie Van Hauen-Nielsen
Eleanor Maureen “Ellie” Van Hauen-Nielsen, 85, of Charles City, Iowa, passed away peacefully under the care of St. Croix Hospice on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
OBIT: Robin Fay Nye
Robin Fay Nye, 66, of Clear Lake, passed away Friday, February 6, 2026, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City, Iowa.
OBIT: Gregory G. “Greg” Beekman
Gregory G. “Greg” Beekman, 66, of Humboldt, passed away Saturday morning, February 7, 2026, while in hospice care in Fort Dodge.
OBIT: Gretchen I. Olson
After living a full life, Gretchen has completed her earthly journey and is now at home. Gretchen will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband, Ronald, and daughter, Dawn Ingersoll, at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City.
OBIT: Ricky J. Winger, Sr.
Ricky J. Winger, Sr., 64, of Garner passed away Saturday, February 7, 2026, at his rural home.
OBITUARIES
Affordable & Professional: Breakthrough Web Design 515-897-1144
College Basketball: #5 Iowa State Cyclones outlast #2 Houston Cougars, 70-67
AMES – No. 6 Iowa State (23-3, 10-3 Big 12) rallied from a double-digit deficit and outscored No. 2 Houston (23-3, 11-2 Big 12) 17-4 in the final seven minutes in a massive 70-67 victory Monday night in Hilton Coliseum.
OBIT: Bailey McPherson
Bailey Hope McPherson, 33, formerly of St. Cloud, Minnesota, passed away surrounded by the love of her family on Thursday, February 12, 2026 in Mason City, Iowa. A Celebration of Life will be held at The Rustic Barn Venue in Nora Springs, IA at 2:00pm on Saturday, March 14, 2026 with Mark Doebel officiating.
Books in Mason City library that offer children lessons on sexuality divide citizens, could be “banned” at Tuesday meeting
MASON CITY – The Mason City library board is meeting Tuesday afternoon, and things could get weird when the agenda reaches the “Book challenge” item, as some citizens are furious that certain books available to kids offer startling images of human genitalia, naked lessons on how to get wild pleasure, or even transmit po r no graphic material. Meanwhile, other citizens who want kids to have access to these books are equally disturbed that they could get banned altogether or moved farther away from the “children’s” area.
Northern Iowa woman nabbed for drunk driving after returning to accident scene
Police say this Northern Iowa woman left a bar, got behind the wheel and backed into a parked car before leaving the scene of the collision, but as cops arrived to investigate, the tipsy boozer drove back to the scene with her pal, and they both shotgunned a tall cold can of comeuppance.
College Wrestling: No. 7 Iowa Hawkeyes steamroll Purdue, 32-6
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The seventh-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team defeated Purdue, 32-6, on Sunday afternoon at Holloway Gymnasium.
Women’s College Basketball: No. 13 Iowa 80, Nebraska 67
LINCOLN, Neb. – No. 13 Iowa (20-5, 11-3) defeated Nebraska (16-10, 5-10) inside Pinnacle Bank Arena on Monday afternoon, 80-67. The Hawkeyes have earned 10 consecutive seasons of 20 wins for the second time in school history.