William Robert Hefner, 1906-1986

Seymour Herald - 2 October 1986

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  William Robert Hefner, Bill as he was known to his family and friends, was born November 19, 1906 at Jerome, Iowa, the son of William and Elizabeth Forsythe Hefner. He passed away September 26, 1986 at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Centerville, at the age of 79 years, 10 months and 7 days.

  Bill was united in marriage to Harriett Hart September 6, 1930. To this union two children were born. They celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in September of 1980.

  Bill spent most of his life farming in the Jerome area except for two years when he worked on a milk route in Detroit, Michigan.

  He was a member of the Jerome United Methodist Church.

  He was preceded in death by his parents and wife, Harriett, in February of 1984.

  Bill is survived by his two children; Mrs. W. E. (Colleen) Henderson of Des Moines, Iowa and Norman Hefner of Seymour, four grandchildren; Jill Pearson of Des Moines, Iowa, Mark Hefner of Centerville, Iowa, Roma Snook of Chariton, Iowa and Henry Hefner of Seymour, and six great grandchildren. Also a sister Lena Burkett of Des Moines, Iowa and a host of other relatives and friends.

  Bill was a kind and loving father, grandfather and friend. He will be missed by all who knew him.

  Services were held Monday, September 29, 1986, at 10:30 a.m. from Randolph Funeral Home in Seymour with the Rev. Don Bardole, officiating. The hymns "Going Down The Valley" and "In The Garden" were sung by Dick Strope with Iris Merritt pianist. Pallbearers were Paul McElvain, James McElvain, Barney Mallett, Wilbur Rupalo, Kenneth Owen and Carl Hamm. Interment was in the Jerome Cemetery.

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Card of Thanks

  May we take this method of thanking our neighbors and friends for their kind expressions of sympathy in our recent bereavement. These expressions have been deeply appreciated. Special thanks to the Golden Age Manor Nursing Home and the staff.

  --The Family of William Hefner

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Gravestone of William R. and Harriett M. Hefner

in the Jerome Cemetery

Row 7, Block 23, Lot 9

William Hefner, Sr., 1872-1956

Daily Iowegian - 24 February 1956

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Wm. Hefner Sr. Taken by Death

  William Hefner, Sr., 83, and a resident of Seymour, died at the St. Joseph Hospital in Centerville at 11:45 p.m. Thursday night following an illness of three months.

  Mr. Hefner was born at Exline, lived for many years at Jerome and had spent all of his life in this immediate area. He was widely known and his death is mourned by a wide circle of friends and relatives.

  He had been in the hospital on two different occasions during his illness.

  Mr. Hefner lived the major portion of his life on a farm a mile west of Jerome. His wife Elizabeth preceded him in death but two children survive his passing. They are Mrs. Lena Burkett, of Des Moines, and William Jr., of Jerome.

  There are two sisters and one brother surviving and they are Mrs. Emma Cook, of Minneapolis, Minn., and Miss Lizzie Hefner, of Centerville. The brother, Leonard lives in Mystic.

  There are four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. The Hefners had celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1949 prior to the wife's death. THey were both members of the Methodist church.

  Funeral services will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Jerome Methodist Church with the Rev. Sam Cox officiating.

Lena Hefner Burkett, 1903-2007

The Des Moines Register  - 17 December 2007

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  Lena Burkett, 104, passed away on December 15, 2007 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Lee Webb at 10 a.m. Tuesday, December 18, 2007 at Hamilton's near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave. with an Eastern Star service to follow.

  Lena was born on December 13, 1903 in Jerome, Iowa, to William and Elizabeth Forsyth Hefner. She graduated from AIB in Des Moines and also majored in home economics at Iowa State College (now known as Iowa State University).

  On May 30, 1931 she married Mervin W. Burkett. Lena has been a member of the Eastern Star and also Union Park United Methodist Church each for over 50 years.

  Survivors include her sons, William and Raymond (Shirley) Burkett; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, an infant son, Bobby and her only brother, William Hefner.

  Visitation with the family present will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, December 17, 2007 at the funeral home.

  Memorial contributions may be made to her church, Union Park United Methodist.