Jerene "Jake" Long, 61, of Spencer, passed away Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Spencer. Visitation will be held Thursday, Sept. 12, from 5-7 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Emmetsburg. Funeral service will be held Friday, Sept. 13, at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Kolleen Queener officiating. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Emmetsburg. Jake's family requests that everyone in attendance please wear your favorite racing shirt.

A celebration of life gathering for Merle Dean Johnston, 92, of Arnolds Park, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 2-5 p.m. at The Hutt Bar & Grill in Arnolds Park. The family requests memorials be given to Lakes Regional Hospice in Spirit Lake. He passed away on Aug. 3, 2024, at his 536 Dam Road home.

Funeral services for Carole Kluender, 81, of Hartley, will be conducted at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 14, at United Methodist Church in Everly. Rev. Mike Eeton will officiate the service, Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m., Friday, at the Warner Funeral Home in Everly, with family present. Interment will beat Pleasant View Cemetery in Hartley. Kluender passed away Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley. Warner Funeral Home in Everly is in charge of arrangements.

Shawn Derek Kracht, 54, of Grundy Center, passed away suddenly on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, from a pulmonary embolism. He leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness and selflessness that will be forever cherished by all who knew him. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 8, at Orchard Hill Church in Grundy Center. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 9, at Orchard Hill Church in Grundy Center with burial to follow at Rose Hill Cemetery.

Memorial services for Roger Rossiter, 103, of Spirit Lake, will be on 10:30 a.m., Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Warner Funeral Home in Everly. Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral at the funeral home. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery in Spencer. Rossiter passed away Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, at Accura Healthcare of Spirit Lake. Warner Funeral Home of Spencer is in charge of arrangements.

With heavy hearts, the family of Shirley Ione Walker, of Spencer, would like to share the news of her passing on Aug. 29, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. Shirley was born in Omaha, Nebraska, to Neils and Ione (DeVol) Johansen. Shirley met the love of her life, Arnie Walker, in high school math class at Benson High in Omaha. Because the country was at war, they both graduated in January. Arnie went to Fort Leonard Wood and Shirley tried to find a job.

Janet Koenig, 90, of Spencer, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, at Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spencer. A rosary service will start at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday at the church followed by a visitation up until the time of the service. Burial will be held in the Riverside Cemetery in Spencer.

Angi Nemmers, of Brandon, South Dakota, formerly of Spencer, passed away unexpectedly at the Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls on Thursday, July 11, 2024, at the young age of 57. A memorial service honoring Angi's life will be held at Occasions in Spencer on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, with lunch provided. Burial at Northlawn Cemetery will follow the service.

Ester Reese, 97, of Spencer, formerly of Peterson, died Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, at St. Luke’s Lutheran Home. Funeral services are Saturday, Sept. 7, 2 p.m., at the United Methodist Church, Peterson. Visitation one hour prior to the funeral at the church. Burial in Oakland Cemetery in Peterson. Warner Funeral Home, of Peterson, in charge of arrangements.

Shirley Ellen (Pieper) Crawmer, 66, of Spencer, formerly of Jackson, Minnesota, was born to Charles and Audrey (Rowe) Pieper on Feb. 26, 1958, in Spirit Lake. She entered her eternal life on Aug. 23, 2024, at her daughter’s home, surrounded by her family.

She was united and marriage to Marc W. Crawmer on Nov. 15, 1980. They had three children: Jean, Trin and Travis.

LaVonne Peterson, 92, of Spencer, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, at the St. Luke Lutheran Home in Spencer.

John W. Lattner, 72, of Peosta, Iowa, passed away on Aug. 20, 2024 at Mercy One Hospital in Dubuque after a short illness.

The family of Jeannie Seely, of Spencer, is saddened to announce her passing on Aug. 4, 2024, age 79.

Dolores Marie Schmidt, the daughter of Peter and Alvina Meyer Herges, was born in Glencoe, Minnesota. Her childhood days were spent in Melrose, Minnesota, where she attended St. Boniface Grade School and Melrose High School. After High School, she went to work as a secretary for a larger local factory, her husband’s Farm & Home Stores (Shoppers Supply) and was a stay-at-home mother, which she excelled in.

Claudia Kay (Pfeiffer) Nichols, born Jan. 13, 1952, in Marshalltown, died peacefully in her home on Aug. 21, 2024.

Left to cherish her memory are her three children: Andy (Haley) Nichols, their children, Asher, Lily and Greta. Katy Carey (Joe), their children, Olivia, Jackson and Janey. Molly Fitch (Phil), their children, Tommy and Ben. Her siblings, Amy (Todd) Doyle and Beth (Steve) Rodgers. Her mother, Kay Pfeiffer, and her loving companion, Ron Williams.