Obituary

Marcella “Sally” Woods, 96

Marcella “Sally” Woods, 96, formerly of Gowrie, passed away August 21, 2025 at Rolling Meadows Senior Living in Carroll, Iowa.

Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 1, 2025 at Laufersweiler’s Palmer & Sons Funeral Home, Gowrie. (Please note the date). A visitation will be 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home. Burial will be at Lost Grove Township Cemetery, Harcourt.

Survivors include her sisters Mary Page and Nancy Hartwigsen; children Bill (Tylene) Woods, Mike (Jan) Woods, Kent (Meg) Woods and Terry (Pat) Rabbitt; grandchildren Damon (Stephanie), Cory (fiance Stephani), Derek, Alicia (Chris), Josh (Tiffany), Kevin (Toni), Kurt (Andrea), Maureen (Andy), Brittany (Chris), Abbey (Cale), Ellen, Colin, Crista, Rebecca, Hannah (fiance Tadgh), Joshua (Whitney), Chivaun, Nicholas; 25 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Mary Byrns; husband William (Bill) Woods; son Steven; siblings George, Irene, Vava and Robert.

Sally Woods was born September 5, 1928 at home on the farm in the Bagley area, Greene County, Iowa. After graduating from Cooper High School in 1945, Sally attended Drake University for one year and continued living in Des Moines working at a doctor’s office until marrying Bill Woods on February 20, 1949.

Bill and Sally lived in Lorimor for a short time, then moved to their “cozy” south of Lorimor. In the spring of 1952, they moved to the farm in Webster County where they lived until moving to Gowrie the summer of 2006. She moved to Winterset in 2016 with her daughter Terry and husband Pat. Sally’s final move was in 2020 to Swan Place Senior Living Center (now Rolling Meadows) in Carroll, Iowa.

Sally was active in the Lanyon Covenant Church. She was an avid quilter and was often found with a needle and thread in her hand whether she was embroidering, quilting, or making clothes for her grandkids. She knew everyone’s favorite meal by heart and was a cookie baker extraordinaire. Sally and Bill liked to travel and go on fishing trips. She loved having her family home, enjoying a game of cards or board games (was a perpetual Clue winner) with the kids and grandkids. Sally encouraged everyone to join in on activities and festivities at Rolling Meadows. 

Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.

Edna Arlene Hintch

Edna Arlene Hintch, daughter of John Arthur and Edna (Berglund) Anderson, was born on a farm north of Harcourt on January 26, 1933. She passed away peacefully at the Marian Home in Fort Dodge on August 6, 2025, at the age of 92. 

Arlene was baptized and confirmed at Faith Lutheran Church in Harcourt, where she was a lifelong member. She attended schools in Harcourt where she graduated high school in 1950. She worked as a telephone operator after graduating. Later, she met and married Donald Hintch of Callendar, on June 8, 1952. 

Arlene was a homemaker, raising 4 children while working part-time jobs at Younkers and as a rural mail carrier. Then in 1973 she took a full-time position at the Harcourt Savings Bank until her retirement in 2000.

As a very active member of the Harcourt Community, Arlene was involved in the Alumni Association, Ladies Legion Auxillary, Community Club, as well as the Lutheran Brotherhood Council. At church she was a Sunday school teacher, choir member and financial officer. Working the Community Club concession stand for many years, she served the favorite “Harcourt Special” maidrite sandwiches. Her other hobbies and activities included gardening (weeding), baking (especially her Swedish rye bread), and card club. After losing her husband in a tragic plane crash near Harcourt, she developed an interest in traveling. Her first airplane trip was to Japan where she visited her son, Paul, and his family, as he was stationed there in the US Navy. She would return to Japan, as well as make a number of trips to Norway where she visited her daughter, Donna and her husband Andres. Aside from these overseas trips, she traveled widely throughout the United States. She was an avid fan of both the Iowa State Cyclone and the Iowa Hawkeye men’s and women’s sport teams. 

Arlene was preceded in death by her parents, husband and siblings; including a sister, Marilyn Chase, brothers, Laurel Anderson and LuVerne Anderson, and her son-in-law, Andres Bakkerud. 

She is survived by her brother Vincent Anderson of Council Bluffs; daughters, Donna Bakkerud of Nesbyen, Norway and Linda Hintch of Ames; sons, Gary Hintch of Belleville, WI and Paul (Bella) Hintch of Jefferson City, MO; four grandchildren, Christopher, Kelsey, Jacob and Brittany (companion, Paul); and five great-grandchildren, Kya, Emry, Brayden, Mayson, and Aylee (due early October); and many other nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at Faith Lutheran Church in Harcourt with Pastor Rod Meyer officiating. Burial will follow in Lost Grove Township Cemetery. There will be a visitation from 4:00 to 7:00 PM on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at Laufersweiler Palmer & Sons Funeral Home in Gowrie.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left to the Beacon of Hope in Fort Dodge or the Harcourt Community Club.

The family would like to thank the doctor, nurses, and staff at the Marian Home and Unity Point Hospice for their care, compassion, and support for Arlene.

Mary Ellen Luna

May 17, 1960- August 12, 2025

It is with the most profound sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved Mary Ellen Luna, age 65, on August 12, 2025 in her home in Callender, Iowa.

Born in Boone, Iowa, Mary was was an incredibly kind mother and wife, the heart of her home, the keeper of her families love, and the rock that her family could always lean on.

She was known for the love she poured into her family, the strength she carried through every storm, and the joy she brought into every moment. She wasn’t just a wife and mother, she was a safe place, a teacher, and a light that could never be dimmed.

Mary’s proudest accomplishment was being a Navy wife. She tirelessly stood by her husband throughout a long successful military/civilian servant career of over 40 years, not only supporting her family and being their strength, but also helping those around her even when she herself struggled.

As a Navy wife, Mary navigated a hectic lifestyle, moving from one coast to the next and everywhere in between all while caring for her family and those around her. After several military wars and tours, Mary retired in Iowa back to her roots and spent her last days with her loving husband traveling and being with her children and grandchildren.

She always put her family first, wore her heart on sleeve and gave to others without a second thought. Her kindness knew no bounds and she left an imprint on every person she met.

Every memory of Mary is a thread in the tapestry of her family’s lives, and that will never unravel. Her voice will echo in our hearts when we need guidance. Her love will wrap around us when the nights feel too heavy and her spirit will live on in her children and grandchildren and every life they touch, just as she touched so many.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, James and Florence, her mother in law Sarah, her sisters Judy and Barb, brother Bobby and brother in laws Ray and Sam. She is survived by her loving husband Mateo, children Joshua and Mandy, daughter in law Heather, son in law Blair, grandchildren Niya, Mattea, Matthew and Devlin, grandson in laws Damian and Hunter and countless other extended family members.

Some people leave this world quietly, but their love leaves echoes that last forever...

May her family find comfort in the lord: “Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”- Joshua 1:9

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”- Matthew 5:4

Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”- Matthew 11:28

A memorial service and reception will be held at Farnhamville Methodist Church on Monday, August 25, 2025 at noon. Laufersweiler Funeral Home is serving the family.