Obituaries

John A. Pierce, 65, passed away Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, in Solon, after a courageous battle against pancreatic cancer and a recent stroke.
A celebration of life will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Solon United Methodist Church, followed by a gathering at Lake Macbride Golf Course from 4-7 p.m. Patrons are requested to wear Black and Gold or Cubbie Blue.
Memorials are established with the American Cancer Society and the Solon Community Food Pantry, where he volunteered.
Jones-Eden Funeral Home, in Washington, is in charge of cremation.

Roger L. Thompson, 58, of Ely, died Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Memorial services will be held Thursday, Nov. 17, at Hope United Church of Christ in Hiawatha. Visitation was Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Brosh Chapel & The Avacentre in Solon.
Survivors include two daughters, Alyssa and Amanda Thompson, and a son, Adam, all of Ely; his mother, Nadine of Cedar Rapids; three brothers, Mark (Doni) of Ely, Scott of Cedar Rapids and Bill (Becky) of Marion; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father.

Vera “Pauline” Lynch, 89, of Solon, passed away peacefully Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016, at Solon Assisted Living Village.
Funeral Services were held Monday, Nov. 7, at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. Burial was held at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. A visitation was held Sunday, Nov. 6, at the funeral home, with a luncheon following the committal. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.

Andrea Jean Durm, 50, died surrounded by loved ones on Oct. 13, 2016.
Daughter of Harold and Phyllis Fiala, Andrea was born May 15, 1966, and grew up on the family farm in Solon. She was married to Troy Durm on Nov. 2, 2015, in their home in Lynchburg, Tennessee.
Andrea graduated from Solon High School in 1984 and attended Capri College. She was later employed as a respiratory therapist at Lincoln Medical Center in Fayetteville, Tennessee. She was passionate about her work and worked with many people she always called friends.

Dorothy J. “Dottie” Ballantyne, 80, of Solon, died Monday, Oct. 10, 2016, at the Solon Nursing Care Center of kidney failure. Private family services were held at Oakland Cemetery in Solon. Brosh Chapel and The Avacentre in Solon is handling “Dottie’s” arrangements. Dottie was born May 6, 1936, in Pontiac, Michigan, the daughter of Lyle and Laura Reid. She graduated in 1954 from Van Nuys High School in California. She attended Graceland College in Lamoni, where she met her future husband, Jim Ballantyne. They married on Aug. 27, 1955, in Lamoni.