Wanda Austin

Wanda Bates Austin, 94, of Decatur, died April 15, 2013, at her home.

She was born March 1, 1919, in Hiwasse, to Jack Bates and Goldie Holloway Bates. She married Emmett Austin on October 26, 1938. She worked for Care and Share in Gravette from 1985 to 2009. She was a member of the Assembly of God Church and taught Sunday school for 50 years. She loved crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles, reading and gardening, as well as making jelly and canning.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; four brothers, and four sisters.

Survivors include daughters, Phyllis Jo Phillips and husband Byron of Bella Vista, Sharon Y. Boothe of Bentonville, Lynda Clevenger and husband Jeff of Flippin, and Janice Roberts and husband Greg of Siloam Springs; sons, Fred Austin and wife Janis of Fulton, Mo., and Robert Austin and wife Beverly of Decatur; 21 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; 12 great-great-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law, Iris Bates and Nadine Londagin of Decatur.

Funeral services were April 18 at Assembly of God Church in Decatur, with Dan Fagala and Kirk Anderson officiating. Burial followed at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Hiwasse. Arrangements were by Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs.

Leroy “Coke” Foster

Leroy “Coke” Foster, of Gravette, died April 18, 2013, in Florida.

He was born July 11, 1924, in San Diego, Calif.

A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 25, at the First Christian Church, 301 1st Ave. S.W., in Gravette. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday, April 26, with burial following at Hillcrest Cemetery in Gravette.

Full obituary will follow next week.

Rita Haisman

Rita Kay Haisman, 66, died April 15 at her home in Decatur.

She was born Dec. 5, 1946, to Gilbert and Patricia Lunsford in Nashville, Kan. She married Harry Haisman in 1967. At the age of 55, she was an honor graduate from the U of A. She was a substitute teacher for the Decatur School District and a homemaker. She enjoyed hunting and making quilts.

Survivors include her husband, Harry Haisman; three sons, CJ Haisman, Raymond Haisman and John Haisman; two daughters, Suzie Haisman and Patti Jones; one brother, Gilbert Lunsford and wife Caroline; one sister, Jeanette Goddard and husband Jim; and seven grandchildren.

A memorial service was held April 20 at Sisco Funeral Chapel in Springdale.

Raymond Koscheski

Raymond Louis Koscheski, 91, died April 12, 2013, at Concordia in Bella Vista.

He was born July 26, 1921, in Delhi, Okla., to Herman and Myrtle Koscheski. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and served during WWII in the Pacific. He was retired 38 years from Local 250 Plumbers and Pipefitters Union in California. He enjoyed planning and maintaining his large garden. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Centerton.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Moneta; and a son, Bruce.

He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Nancy Koscheski of Gravette; six grandchildren; and seven greatgrandchildren.

Funeral services were April 19 at Rollins Funeral Chapel in Rogers, with Stuart Bell officiating. Burial followed in Benton County Memorial Park. Arrangements were by Rollins Funeral Home of Rogers.

Bill Landwehr

William “Bill” T. Landwehr, 62, of Decatur, died April 16, 2013, in Bentonville.

He was born on March 21, 1951, to William and Dorothy Lorraine (Glaser) Landwehr. He was married to Phyllis (Holzkamper) Landwehr of Decatur. He grew up in Hawaii and San Diego. He loved turkey and deer hunting, fishing, gardening and grandchildren’s ballgames.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and son, Lenn Duncan.

He is survived by his wife; son, J.R. and wife Joyce Landwehr of Farmington; daughter, Phyllis and husband Rex Shoemaker of Batesville; brother, Rick Landwehr of Bella Vista; sister, Karen Jean Landwehr of New York; five grandchildren; and three greatgrandchildren.

A memorial was held April 22 at Rollins Funeral Home Chapel in Rogers. Services were by Callison-Lough Funeral Home in Bentonville.

Shirley Setser

Shirley Mae Setser, 95, of Gravette, died April 18, 2013, at Siloam Springs Regional Hospital, Siloam Springs.

She was born April 15, 1918, in McDonald County, Mo., to Burl Lane Skaggs and Ona Devonia Pendergraft Skaggs. She married Charles Woodrow Setser on Nov. 8, 1941, in Rocky Dell School, Benton County. She lived in Bentonville for one year prior to moving to Gravette in 1972. She was a 20-plus year member of the American Legion Auxiliary and affiliated with the Assembly of God Church.

Survivors include two sisters, Vivian Irene Clark of Garfield, and Rebecca Ruth Clark of Gravette.

Funeral services were April 23 at the Assembly of God Church, Gravette, with Bruce Yevelton officiating. Burial followed at Hillcrest Cemetery, Gravette. Arrangements were by Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs.

Joseph Stewart

Joseph B. Stewart, 91, of Gravette, and formerly of Pine Bluff, died April 20, 2013, at the Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale.

He was born in Swifton on June 11, 1921, to Marion and Rebeccie (Sudduth) Stewart. He served his country in the United States Army during WWII, where he participated in four battle campaigns and was wounded in Italy and received the Purple Heart. On March 31, 1961, he married Marjorie Edwards in Hot Springs, and they were married for more than 52 years before his death. He was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Gravette and worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad for many years as a brakeman and conductor. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans, Purple Heart, American Legion, Gideon’s, United Transportation Union and of the Central Bible College of Springfield (Mo.) Alumni. He enjoyed watching westerns and football, drinking coffee at Walmart, raising German shepherds and spending time with his family and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his birth parents; and by part of the McPherson family which took him in when orphaned.

He is survived by his wife Marjorie Stewart of the home; two sons, Jeff Stewart of Coal Hill; Joe Stewart and wife Malinda of Pea Ridge; three McPherson family siblings, Sonny, Eugene, and Tillie; and five grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24, at Benton County Memorial Park Funeral Home in Rogers.

Funeral services will be at 10 am, Thursday, April 25, at the First Assembly of God Church in Gravette. Interment will follow at 1 p.m. at the Fayetteville National Cemetery in Fayetteville, with Military Honors. Arrangements are by Benton County Memorial Park Funeral Home and Crematory of Rogers.