Johnston Woman Dies from February Car Collision with Semi-Trailer

Tara Leitzinger, 30, of Johnston, has passed away from a February vehicle crash under the Douglas Ave overpass on I-80/35 eastbound in Urbandale.

A Johnston woman has succumb to injuries from a February crash between a car and a semi-trailer in Urbandale. Tara Leitzinger, 30, of Johnston, passed away from her injuries suffered during the February 16 crash, according to Urbandale Police. Urbandale police are continuing the investigation. The Des Moines Register reports that Leitzinger had been a life support since the crash and was declared brain dead on Sunday. Her organs were harvested on Monday, according to the Register. She had been transported to a hospital in Lincoln, NE. Urbandale police and fire were notified of a car versus semi-trailer crash under the Douglas Ave overpass on I-80/35 eastbound on Saturday, Feb. 16 just before 9 p.m. The Register reports that Leitzinger rear…

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Obituary: Cynthia Lynn "Cindy" (Penningroth) Petrak, 40.

Cynthia Lynn (Cindy) Penningroth died February 7, 2013, at Methodist Hospital in Des Moines. Throughout her life, Cindy was a caretaker, concerned for the well-being of family and friends alike. She was admired, respected, and loved.

Urbandale Death Notices: Hatch and Lydon

Obituaries on Urbandale Patch are free. Please email the editor for information.

Carter D. Hatch, 88, of Urbandale, passed away on Jan. 28, 2013. At Carter's request his body was cremated. A memorial service will be held at a later date. A memorial fund has been established with the Boy Scouts of America, in care of the Mid-Iowa Boy Scout Council. Read a full obituary on the Iles Funeral Homes website. Kathleen Patricia "Kathy" Lydon, 62, of Urbandale died Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. Cremation rites have been accorded. A memorial service celebrating Lydon's life will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 1, at Iles Funeral Homes, Westover Chapel in Des Moines. A private interment will take place at a later date at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines. Read a full obituary on the Iles Funeral Homes website.

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'Not a Funeral but a Celebration': Community Gathers to Say Farewell to Elizabeth Collins

Family, friends and the community gathered in Cedar Falls to celebrate the life and love of Elizabeth Collins, whose body was discovered with her cousin Lyric Cook-Morrissey after a search that lasted nearly five months.

Hope, not despair, was the theme of the night Thursday as the community gathered to bid farewell to one of its stolen children, Elizabeth Collins. Elizabeth, 8, was mourned not just by her family and friends, but by thousands of people who spent months searching and praying for her and her cousin, Lyric Cook-Morrissey, 10, after the two girls disappeared while riding their bikes one sunny July day. "It’s a celebration for her," Elizabeth's mother Heather Collins said as around 1,500 people filled Heartland Vineyard Church in Cedar Falls. Countless others watched the service live on the local and regional news. "I know she’ll be looking down on us, smiling and dancing along with us and singing." The "Life and Love of Elizabeth" ceremony …

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OBITUARY: Trudy Goss-Hurley; Services Sunday

The mother of Urbandale high school football quarterback Ben Hurley died Wednesday after a long struggle with ALS.

Beloved Urbandale Teenager is Laid to Rest

Hundreds of mourners crowded into the church for the funeral service for Urbandale's Grace Chance, who died Jan. 12 of brain cancer.

Red and blue were the colors of Grace Chance's funeral Monday morning. They were the colors of Grace's championship softball teammates, who wore their uniforms as they ushered people into the sanctuary at Urbandale's New Hope Assembly of God Church.   Red and blue were on display as parents and friends wore their softball jerseys and jackets to the service. Even New Hope's Middle School Pastor, Jesse Johannesen, wore a bright red shirt. And red and blue were the colors of 100 balloons, released into a clear winter sky as 14-year-old Grace was laid to rest in the Chapel Hill cemetery. Friends and family hugged and cried and cheered as the wind carried the balloons toward the sun. Oh, there was plenty of black, plenty of mourning, plenty of …

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Memorial Services Set for Grace Chance of Urbandale

The Urbandale Middle School student's parents have announced information about services on her CaringBridge page.

Funeral services for Grace Mae Chance will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at New Hope Assembly of God Church, 6800 Townsend Ave., her mother, Shelly, announced Friday on her CaringBridge page. Grace, 14, died Thursday of brain cancer. Her grace and courage in the face of inoperable cancer touched many Urbandale residents who have been supporting the Chance family in the nearly eight months since she was diagnosed. About 600 people gathered for a prayer ceremony at the family's home Sunday night. Interment will be at Chapel Hill Gardens Cemetery on Merle Hay Road. Family will receive friends Sunday from 1:30 until 4:30 p.m. at New Hope Assembly of God Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis…

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