Steven Jones, age 67, of Danbury entered into his heavenly home on June 27, 2024.
    A Celebration of Life was held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at the Armstrong-Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton. Ron Rice officiated. Visitation was held prior to the service.
    The Armstrong-Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton, was in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online www.armstrongfuneral.com
    Born on March 18, 1957, to Edna (Blydenburgh) and Robert Jones in Bay Shore, NY. Steve grew up on Long Island where his love of the ocean and water began. Throughout his life, Steven would continue to be drawn to the water.
    While living in Mesa, AZ, Steve met his former spouse, Sonia (Sterrett) Jones. The couple settled in Marcus, IA, where they raised their three children Kurt, Nick, and Kristi.
    When his sons were young, Steve was a Boy Scout Leader, and during this time he was named Cub Scout Leader of the year. He enjoyed camping, bonfires, woodworking, crafts, drawing, cooking, and yard work. Steve also loved to decorate outside at Christmas time, "The more lights the better!" He delighted in building giant snowmen and forts with his children during the Iowa winters.
    Steve had accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior and was a faithful member of the United Methodist Church of Marcus.
    The last few years of his life were spent living with his son Kurt in Danbury where he felt extremely blessed to spend time with his granddaughter Skylar. Steve's sense of humor and willingness to help made him a friend to all he met.
    Survivors include his children: Kurt Jones of Danbury, Nick Jones of Onawa, and Kristi Jones (Fiancé Travis) of Madrid, IA; granddaughter Skylar; siblings Bob (Sue) Jones of Florence, SC, Barry (Dianne) Jones of Queen Creek, AZ, and Nancy (David) Oltrogge of Akron; former wife Sonia Jones and former mother-in-law Vera Sterrett; and many wonderful nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
    Steve was preceded in death by his mother and stepfather Edna and Bruce Tuttle; father and stepmother Robert and Vera Jones; sister Lorraine Cullington; great niece Charlotte Rose; and former father-in-law Walter Sterrett Jr.

    Robert R. "Bob" Gosch, age 79, of Smithland passed away on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at the Methodist Hospital of Omaha.
    A Funeral Service was held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at the Armstrong-Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton. Beth Vogt officiated. Committal Services followed in the Mount Hope Cemetery of Mapleton. A Visitation was held one hour prior to the service.
    The Armstrong-Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton was in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online www.armstrongfuneral.com
    Robert Ray "Bob" Gosch, the son of Vernon and Ethel (Atkins) Gosch was born on October 3, 1944, in Mapleton. He grew up in the Mapleton area and received his education at Mapleton High School.
    After high school, Bob began farming with his father until his passing in 1971. For 40+ years Bob worked for various John Deere implement dealers, doing everything from working as a technician to being a service manager or equipment manager. He used to joke that he worked on the "red stuff" for six months once and that was long enough before he went back to working on the good stuff. After his retirement, Bob helped out at Nutrien Ag Solutions in Whiting as seasonal help.
    Bob was blessed to be the father of five children: Kim, Rusty, Shawn, Shane, and Steve. On October 4, 2014, Bob married JoAnn Polly, and the couple made their home on an acreage near Smithland.
    In his younger days, Bob enjoyed riding horses and coyote hunting. He loved tinkering on engines, whether it was a tractor or lawnmower; the lawnmower he used to mow over the flowers. Bob refurbished or worked on many tractors during his lifetime. He enjoyed not only attending tractor pulls but participating in them as well. Bob was a professional when it came to trading pick-ups and lawnmowers. He will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved him
    Left to cherish his memory include his wife JoAnn Polly of Smithland; children Kim Buschmann of Sac City, Rusty Gosch of Lake City, Shane Gosch (fiancée Bree) of Omaha, and Steve Gosch of Omaha; grandchildren Justin, Jeremy, Brittany, Ashley, Alex, Seth, Alexa, Nolan, Sarah, Logan, and Keegan; 11 great-grandchildren; sister Lu Zetta (Robert) Sparks of Flagstaff, AZ; sisters-in-law Delores Gosch and Jean Gosch; and extended family and friends.
    He was preceded in death by his parents Vernon and Ethel Gosch; wife Barb Gosch; son Shawn Gosch; grandchildren Tyler Gosch and Bayleigh Rowland; brothers Verlynn Gosch and Ronald Gosch; and sister Alta (Bob) Blackman.

    Jonathan Brown, the infant son of Alex and Beth Brown, and little brother to Lillian, James, and Joseph, was born sleeping and welcomed into his heavenly home on June 22, 2024. With heavy hearts we honor and say goodbye to our baby boy Jonathan. Those we have held in our arms for a little while, we hold in our hearts forever. Some people only dream of angels; we were able to hold one in our arms.
    A Private Family Mass of Christian Burial will be held with interment to follow in the St. Mary Catholic Cemetery of Mapleton.
    The Armstrong - Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online www.armstrongfuneral.com.
    Jonathan will be forever remembered and loved by his parents Alex and Beth Brown of Oto; siblings Lillian, James, and Joseph; grandparents James and Kathleen Brown of Mapleton, Kathleen Highstreet of York, NE, and Bradley Highstreet and Ingrid Finn of Schleswig; and many aunts, uncles, and extended family and friends.