Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service

Jackson John Peters born Saturday December 25th, 2021, to parents Charles & Breanna Peters. He weighed 7 pounds 5.3 ounces and 20 inches long. Jackson’s family was blessed with two months of his wonderful presence. Jackson was escorted to heaven with angels on March 4th, 2022, surrounded by loved ones while holding mommy and daddy’s hand.

Jackson was blessed with his mommy’s nose & big brown eyes. His daddy’s cheeks, and the sweetest smile. Jackson enjoyed his photo shoots with his mommy and his nighttime stories with daddy. “Buggie” was loved and adored by so many, especially, his mommy, daddy, grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Jackson will always remain a precious baby to our family. One day they will hold him again. Until then Great Grandma Cathy, Great – Great Grandma Nancy, Great-Great Grandma Lanette, Great-Great Grandma Cella, Aunt Ashlee and many other ancestors are watching, adoring, and keeping him safe for mommy and daddy.

Irwin Weinman died suddenly of a heart condition on March 3, 2022.

He was born in Detroit, Michigan, on October 13,1952. After retiring from his work in the auto industry, he moved to Iowa eight years ago to live with his brother, Gary Weinman and the generous care and support of Jennifer Conzett. He enjoyed doing farm chores, working out at the gym, going on long walks, watching old movies, and, most of all, listening to music and going to live concerts. He was a regular attendant of Shabbat services at Agudas Achim Synagogue. He had a gentle nature and he loved people. He always met his many friends and strangers with his infectious smile.

Irwin was the son of Holocaust survivors Abram Weinman and Ella Schneier Weinman, who preceded him in death, as did his brother, Phillip and his daughter, Jennifer, whom he kept in his heart. He is survived by his brother, Gary; son, Ricky; nephew, Joseph Weinman; nieces, Aliza Weinman and Sarah Weinman and their families, and many cousins in the United States and Israel.

Aileen Agnes (Smyth) See, 75, died suddenly on March 3, 2022, from cancer related complications.

She was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on May 22, 1946, the youngest child of Agnes (Zahradnik) and Delbert Smyth. Aileen and her older brother Marvin grew up on a farm outside of Ely. Aileen attended Ely schools through 5th grade and Prairie after the schools consolidated where she graduated in 1964. While in school she was active in 4-H, Home Economics and volunteered in the library.

After graduation she worked at Collins Radio until her marriage to Lawrence (Larry) See on October 28, 1968, at which time she joined him as a Navy wife in San Francisco. Outside of her time spent in California, she lived for a short time in Ely, Tiffin, and North Liberty during which time she had 3 children before acquiring the acreage just south of Solon where she resided until her passing.

Aileen worked a variety of positions including as the Laundry Supervisor for the Solon Nursing Care Center in the mid to late 1980's before starting work at NCS which was known as Vangent by the time she retired in 2015 from her role as a mailroom supervisor.

Aileen's lifelong love of sewing and crafting was expressed in her decor and fashion. She enjoyed music, visiting her extended family in Wisconsin, driving her Monte Carlo Super Sport and collecting Polish Pottery. She was an extremely kind and caring person whom everyone loved and respected.

Diana Lynn DeWalle, 63, of Riverside, IA passed away peacefully Tuesday March 1, 2022 with her husband Keith by her side while in the care of The Bird House Hospice – Hospice Home of Johnson County. She was a loving wife, sister, aunt, and friend. She was kind, positive, happy, social and caring. A Celebration of Life will be planned for a later date this year.

Diana was the second child of Jim and Joy (Hesseltine) McFall born October 21, 1958. She grew up in Iowa City and graduated from City High School, class of 1977. She received an Administrative Assistant Associates degree from Kirkwood Community College in 1978.

Diana and the love of her life Keith DeWalle were united in marriage for 42 years and made their home in Riverside, IA. Diana worked as a University of Iowa College of Law Secretary for the over 43 years. Diana and Keith enjoyed vacationing visiting family in Arkansas, fishing and dining out. She loved shopping, cooking, flowers and animals. Diana and Keith have enjoyed the companionship of many horses, dogs and cats through their life together.

Diana enjoyed life and spending time with her family celebrating special occasions. She hosted many family birthday parties, and enjoyed decorating for the holidays and celebrating with family and friends.

Bernard N. Ngila, of Iowa City, Iowa passed away on February 3rd, 2022, at the age of 42.

Bernard Ntheketha Ngila was born February 10, 1979, in Kenya, Africa the son of Fidelis Ngila and Bernedetta Kavini Ngila. He received his formal schooling in Kenya including attaining his first degree there. He relocated to Florida attaining his master’s degree at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Florida. He was a devoted catholic and a former priest at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Florida. He met his wife Bella Kituza in Florida, later relocated to Iowa City, Iowa to be near other family members. Bernard and Bella were wedded in Iowa City on 3rd September 2016. He worked for Systems Unlimited for a several years.

Lyndon D. Crist, age 78 of Iowa City died peacefully February 23, 2022, at The Bird House, Hospice Home of Johnson County.

Lyndon Dalbey Crist was born February 3, 1944, in Minneapolis, MN, the son of Louis G. Crist and Mildred (Dalbey) Crist. Growing up in Clear Lake Iowa he graduated from high school there and the University of Iowa in Iowa City. He earned Masters degrees in Music Education from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and Graphic Design from Iowa. He taught vocal music and choir in several high schools in Iowa before returning to Iowa City where he worked as a graphic designer. Music remained an important part of his life in Iowa City as he belonged to the New Horizons Band and arranged music for several smaller musical ensembles. He also had special interest in Frank Lloyd Wright architecture and world history events.

Elaine Louise Nicholson, 92 of Coralville Iowa died February 25, 2022 at Crestview Speciality Care in West Branch. Her body has been donated to the Deeded Body Program at the University of Iowa Medical School Pathology Department. Her cremains will be interned with her husband and put to rest at the family farm.

Elaine was born April 28, 1929 in Queens, New York. She earned her nursing degree in 1952 and served as a 1st Lieutenant in the US Air Force. She married Donald Nicholson in 1954 in Savannah, Georgia where they were both stationed. They moved to Iowa in the late 50s. She was a nurse in the ophthalmology department at the University of Iowa for many years. Elaine enjoyed spending time cooking, gardening, sewing, and quality time with her family.

Martha Schemmel, long time resident of Johnson County, died Monday, February 21, 2022, at Highland Ridge Care Center in Williamsburg, Iowa.

Martha was born July 17, 1928, to Alvin and Elsie Maske Hightshoe. She graduated class valedictorian from Cosgrove Consolidated High School in 1946, and began her 56 year teaching career at Green Valley #9 that same year. She wed Melvin Schemmel January 20, 1960. In pursuing her education, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1965, and her master’s degree from Northeast Missouri State College in 1970.

The cornerstones of her life were her faith, her love of family, her passion for teaching and the nurture of every green and living thing in her gardens. And all of this rich life she shared with Melvin, her husband of 62 years. She laughed easily. She loved unconditionally. So many lives were touched by her gifts, gifts that those who knew her cherished long after those gifts were obscured by the veil of dementia.

Patricia K. Cooper, age 82, passed away February 22, 2022, in Iowa City.

Patricia was born December 9, 1939, in Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of Alvin and Sylvia (Yavorsky) Foraker. Pat was an artist starting at the age of 8. She would give her paintings as gifts and decorate her mother’s home. She even painted wall murals and eventually displayed some of her artwork at the University of Iowa. Pat also was an amazing miniature artist, creating hand-made paintings, dolls, flowers and furniture. She also designed a dollhouse to hold all her creations. Pat had her own bakery business, specializing in wedding cakes. And she also sold her art and crafts.

Pat worked as a secretary at the University of Iowa for many years. She also loved gardening and surrounded herself with flowers. After her retirement, she and her husband built her dream home; a log cabin in the woods, where she could enjoy nature’s beauty.

With heavy hearts we announce the passing of our beloved Salem Hand, who transcended this world on February 14, 2022. Born August 31, 1997 to parents Peter Hand and Roben (currently) Schmidt in Conifer, Colorado, Salem was Assigned Male at Birth (AMAB) and was given the name Wesley Jacob. She completed the family of five, which included her older siblings, brother, Ian, and sister, Lindsay. The family moved eight months later to a larger home in the mountain forest in Evergreen, CO, where they enjoyed frequent sightings of elk, foxes, and even a black bear and her cubs. It was here that Salem’s love for nature was first experienced. She was a precocious, happy child homeschooling alongside Lindsay from her first days, while displaying her uncanny abilities to express herself creatively in words, exploring artistic medians of all sorts, singing and dancing with her sister, and making everyone laugh with her constant surprises. At the same time, it was obvious from a very early age that she had a lot going on that she didn’t share. The family moved to Oklahoma to be near extended family when she was 3 years old, and it was there that she began exploring art more formally with her grandmother, Mona Gilstrap. She received three first place awards at the local fair for her artwork at the age of 6.

In 2002 her uncle Grady sustained severe injuries and brain trauma in a motorcycle accident which proved impossible to manage in Oklahoma, so the family uprooted and moved to Phoenix Arizona in 2004 to provide better care of him. Soon after, she and her sister were enrolled in a charter school. The classroom did not always easily align with Salem’s free spirit and intellectual gifts. In third grade, Salem had three hopes for her life: “Someday I hope to be an artist, Someday I hope I will still know my friends, Someday I hope for world peace”. Several schools were tried, and she was most happy in Montessori education. In 2009 she received her Black Belt, First Degree in Taekwondo.

But as she approached adolescence, she became more withdrawn from family and friends. She was tiny for her age, and received merciless teasing from classmates. By eighth grade she had built walls that seemed impossible to pe*****te despite sincere (if uninformed) attempts by parents and professionals, which usually backfired. The efforts she made in school became forced but remarkably, in spite of a growing depression, she had many accomplishments and continued to develop her talents, especially in art and music. In 2014, she received the Air Force ROTC Order of Daedalians Medal representing outstanding citizenship and excellence in academics as well as the Thinking Science Award from Sunnyslope High School. By the time she changed high schools in order to attend an early college program in her junior year, she had accumulated over 100 hours in community service. She graduated Paradise Valley High School in 2016 with an Academic Excellence Award, Arizona State University Dean’s Scholarship and Scottsdale Community College Honors Scholarship.