DAVID MERRILL STOLP

Jul 8, 2026 | Obituaries

1940-2026

David Merrill Stolp, 86, passed away on June 4, 2026, at The Bridges in Ankeny. He was born on May 9, 1940, the son of  Merrill and Geraldine (Richman) Stolp in Rochester, Minnesota.

When he was 5, David’s family moved to Jackson, Minnesota, after his father returned from World War II. As a young man, David (Dave) was active in Boy Scouts where he earned the Eagle Scout award. He enjoyed playing football and basketball in high school and was a member of DeMolay. He graduated from Jackson High School in 1958. After completing his freshman year at Iowa State University, Dave enrolled at the University of Minnesota. 

In 1960, Dave married Janet Nielsen, also from Jackson. After Dave graduated in 1961 with a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Minnesota, he and Jan moved to Jackson where he worked for his father at the Jackson Millwork Company. They raised their four sons in Jackson.

Dave’s professional career was in the millwork and building materials industry in Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska. In addition to Jackson Millwork, he worked for Rodman Industries, Moehl Millwork and Millard Lumber. Dave was president of Moehl Millwork and president of the Millwork Division of Millard Lumber. He was a member of Hoo-Hoo, an international fraternal order of lumbermen.

In 1976, Dave and his family left their hometown of Jackson and moved to West Des Moines, where he worked at Moehl Millwork.

Dave was an active committee member in the Boy Scout troop that his sons attended and enjoyed watching his sons compete in sporting events.

When Dave accepted the position at Millard Lumber, he and Jan moved to Omaha, Nebraska. While living there, they converted their one-story ranch home into a stately two-story home. The Omaha World Herald published a feature article on their renovation.

In 2002, Dave and Jan retired and moved into their custom-built lake-front home on Lake Panorama in Panora. As with all of the places they lived, Dave and Jan enjoyed entertaining family, friends and neighbors, creating many happy memories.

After Jan’s death in 2016 as a result of Alzheimer’s, Dave moved to Guthrie Center. In 2023 he moved to the Mill Pond retirement community in Ankeny.

For leisure activities throughout his life, Dave enjoyed doing home improvement projects, reading (Westerns and history were favorite subjects) and playing golf. He served as president of the Jackson Golf Club. He was also active in the Republican party where he served in various volunteer positions in Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa at the county, congressional district and state levels.

Dave became a Mason in 1964 and was a member of the Masonic Lodge 121 in Panora.

Raised as a Presbyterian in Jackson, Dave was a practicing Christian throughout his life. He was a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Jackson where he was married. He attended worship services at Lutheran or Methodist churches in West Des Moines, Omaha, Panora, Guthrie Center and Ankeny.

Those left to cherish David’s memory include his sons, Greg (Laurie Kusek) Stolp, Tim (Heidi) Stolp, Jon Stolp and Steve (Maura Theisen-Stolp) Stolp; grandchildren, Kathryn (David Hayman) Stolp, Megan (Ben) Steinheimer, Dylan (Sydney Mock) Stolp, Hannah (Theo) Harris, Samantha Stolp and Jack Stolp; great-grandchildren, Noah Steinheimer, Hayes Harris and Jude Hayman; brother, Rich (Holly) Stolp; and many other loving relatives and special friends.

David was preceded in death by his wife, Janet (Nielsen) Stolp; parents, Merrill and Geraldine (Richman) Stolp; brother, Gary, and sister-in-law, Phyllis (Maguire) Stolp; and daughter-in-law, Lori (Mortenson) Stolp.

No services are planned at this time. Interment will be at the Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Jackson, Minnesota, at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org) in memory of Dave and Jan.

Condolences may be expressed at: www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com. 

3 DAYS OF SMALL-TOWN FUN AND BIG-TIME CELEBRATION

Jul 8, 2026 | Feature

The Panorama Days parade is an annual favorite. Parade registration begins at 9 a.m., and the parade begins at 10 a.m.

 

Panorama Days celebrates Panora’s 175-year history with a packed weekend of entertainment from July 31 through Aug. 2.

By Rich Wicks | Lake Panorama Times

The 2026 Panorama Days 5K Run/Walk is Saturday, Aug. 1, with the race starting at 8 a.m. on the east side of the Panora Town Square. This event is sponsored by Reshape Fitness Studio.

Panorama Days is an annual highlight of summer fun in the area, and this year looks to be no exception. So much is planned for this year’s Panorama Days that it could not all fit into one calendar month. Therefore, events begin on Friday, July 31 and wrap up on Sunday, Aug. 2. The Panora town square and Main Street area will be the hub for most of the Panorama Days events, with some events elsewhere, especially at Lake Panorama.

The events included in Panorama Days can be grouped into three main categories: 1) Watch and listen, 2) Compete, and 3) Eat, drink and have fun.

 

Watch and listen 

Attendees are welcome to bring lawn chairs to enjoy many events, including the parade, live music, the car show, the waterski team performance, Citizen of the Year announcement, UTV parade and more.

 

Compete 

For those who enjoy the thrill of competition, Panorama Days includes the 5K run/walk, cribbage tournament, bass fishing tournament for adults, fishing derby for kids, bingo, chicken drop bingo, pickleball tournament, bags tournament, golf tournament and the Little Miss/Mister announcement, to name a few.

 

Eat, drink and have fun 

This year’s annual Kid’s Fishing Derby, sponsored by Fin & Feather, is Sunday, Aug. 2, at the Lake Panorama marina. Registration begins at 8:15 a.m., with fishing from 9-11 a.m.

Panorama Days will offer many opportunities to enjoy a meal, snack and refreshments. Attendees can enjoy the pancake breakfast, family fun zone, alumni banquet, food and drink vendors, “chalk the block” and more.

 

A blend of the old and new

The theme of this year’s Panorama Days is “A Panoramic View of 175 Years: Celebrating our Decades of History.” Erica Stamp-Matthies, who serves as coordinator on the Panora Chamber of Commerce, shared the plans for this year’s celebration. The 2026 event will be a blend of the popular offerings that locals have enjoyed for years, along with some new and improved options.

“A lot of the same things are happening. We have the cribbage tournament that starts the day on Friday at 2 p.m. with registration at 1:30 p.m.,” Matthies said. “Last year we had asked for some feedback, and one thing we heard was people wanted more kids’ things to do on Friday afternoon on the town square. So, we took that and ran.”

Matthies said the 2026 Panorama Days will again include some of the popular kids’ activities from previous years, such as mini golf, yard games and “chalk the block.”

The 2025 Panorama Days Friday night street dance featured Oreo Meatwagon. Providing live music this year from 8-11 p.m. on Panora’s Main Street is the Tank Anthony Band.

“And we have giant Jenga and Tetris and other things for the kids on Friday from 2-9 p.m.,” she said. “We also have live music all afternoon. Starting at 3:30 p.m., we have Kile Jackson. Starting at 5:30 p.m., we have Brick Imerman. And then our headliner and street dance will be Tank Anthony Band.”

Matthies noted a few other changes and some new events. 

“We’re bringing in axe throwing and a gaming trailer,” Matthies said. “Wine and Yoga with Reshape Fitness will take place at Boulder Beach this year, so that is a change of location.” 

Matthies shared that due to many requests, a pickleball tournament has been added. She also noted that an event from last year’s Panorama Days was so popular that there are plans to expand it this year.

“Chicken drop was brought back last year. We have a fenced-in area with a board of 100 numbers on it. You buy a square for $10, and we put the chicken in, and wherever it poops, that person wins the 50-50 pot,” Matthies said. “We’re looking to do that three times. The first will be Friday evening at 9 p.m., then at 1 p.m. on Saturday and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, pending that the squares get purchased. The proceeds will go toward the Chamber scholarships that we give out to the senior class.”

 

The parade

The Panorama Days parade is an annual favorite. The 2026 parade will follow the same route as in past years. This year, parade registration begins at 9 a.m., and the parade begins at 10 a.m. Matthies noted that the parade theme focuses on celebrating the community’s decades of history. 

“We are hoping that people grab ahold of this decades theme, and they can do their float like whatever decade they want to highlight,” she said. 

Regarding the parade lineup, Matthies encourages all parade entries to arrive from the east via Clay Street to avoid traffic congestion.

“You go to the four-way no matter which direction you’re coming from,” she said. “From Casey’s, go north to Clay Street, then take that to the parade lineup.”

 

Other highlights

This year marks 175 years of Panora history, and Matthies noted a Friday event related to that milestone.

“The Guthrie County Historical Village’s cabin is turning 175 years old this year, so they are having hayrides from the square to the village every 15 minutes or so, and an open house at 5 p.m. with free root beer floats,” Matthies said. “They are taking donations, because they are hoping to get the cabin reroofed.”

The bags (cornhole) tournament will be a doubles tourney, round robin format, with registration at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday and will begin at noon. The cost is $40 per team, and each team will play a minimum of six games.

Classic car enthusiasts will again have many sweet rides to ogle at. 

“The car show was huge last year,” Matthies said. “It continues to get bigger.”

For those who enjoy watching artistic endeavors, Matthies shared information on an event that helps support the Chamber directly. 

“We’re also going to have a wood carver come,” Matthies said. “We pay for his time and give him the wood, and then we get the carvings at the end of it. Our intention is to bring them to the gala we have in the winter, and then we’ll auction them off.” 

Panorama Days continues through Sunday with several very popular events on the final day, including the kids’ fishing derby, golf tournament and more.

“On Sunday, there will be a come-and-go praise band event, and a freewill donation lunch by Tori’s Angels,” Matthies said.

A celebration such as Panorama Days is greatly dependent on the weather. Although some of the individual events could be moved indoors in case of inclement weather, others may need to be postponed or canceled if Mother Nature intervenes. According to Matthies, the best options for anyone wanting an update on any schedule changes is to visit the Facebook page of the Panora Chamber of Commerce or listen to a local radio station. 

Another challenge is parking. Because of street closures, attendees should be prepared to walk a few blocks. 

“Parking can be kind of interesting,” Matthies said. “Main Street will be closed down, and a little bit north and south of there, at the square. There will be handicapped parking to the north of the square, and our porta-potties will also be there.”

In the age of cell phones and GPS, data is available about where people go, how long they stay and from where they came. Matthies shared data from Tracer AI regarding attendance at the 2025 Panorama Days. 

“Last year, we had 6,200 visits to Panora’s Main Street on the dates of Panorama Days,” Matthies said. “And the average time they were here is 117 minutes.”

The complete schedule of Panorama Days is viewable on the Panora Chamber page on Facebook. Matthies also explained that individuals and organizations are welcomed to take a role in Panorama Days as volunteers and/or sponsors. 

“If people want to become a sponsor, that would be great,” she said. “We always try to keep as much of Panorama Days as free as possible.”

PATRIOTIC THEME PLANNED FOR 2026 SKI TEAM PANORAMA DAYS SHOW

Jul 8, 2026 | News

Members of the Lake Panorama Ski Team posed for a photo following the 2025 Panorama Days show. Of note are the two people seated on the right end of the dock. David Dwyer is sitting with his grandson, Timothy Dwyer. These two represent the oldest and youngest members on the ski team.

 

By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times

The first practice session for the 2026 Lake Panorama Ski Team was May 28. For more than 40 years, the team has put on a show during Panorama Days. This year’s show will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1, with parking and viewing on Lake Panorama’s south shore. 

Several pyramids are formed during the annual Lake Panorama Ski Team show. This pyramid was a crowd-pleaser during the 2025 performance.

The theme for this year’s show is “Red, White and Skis.” 

“We wanted to include an Americana theme to go with Panora’s 175th anniversary and America’s 250th anniversary,” says Heather Isom, who is a member of the Lake Panorama Ski Team board. “Our team shirts are white with red and blue images. We plan on using Americana-themed music throughout the show.”

Prior to the show, members of the ski team will be in the Panorama Days parade towing the Ski Team boat, with kids “skiing” behind the boat and adults throwing candy. 

The ski team has 45 members this year with 32 of those skiing. The skiers include 19 adults and 13 kids. Others help with ropes, boat driving, music, photography and general organization. 

The youngest skier this year is 4-and-a-half years old and will be part of the “Duckie Board” act. The oldest adult skier is in his 70s and is a grandfather of the youngest skier.

These young ski team members performed tricks on boards in the 2025 Lake Panorama ski team show. From the left, Leyton Temple, Reese Mills, Clint Isom and Tate Mills.

Isom says each year brings an ebb and flow of ski team members. 

“Our college group of kids didn’t come back this year since they have jobs and internships now,” she says. “But we gained a new family of three. New members of all ages are welcome. The only requirement is membership in the Lake Panorama Association.”

Ski team practices are held each Thursday night, weather permitting, from 6-8:30 p.m. In June, team members spend most practices trying different things. In July, the team firms up the acts and act order. 

“Practices are held both Tuesday and Thursday the last two weeks of July,” Isom says. “We run our practice in order like the show, so we can see the flow, plus gauge the areas that need more time to let water settle. Practices the last week of July are dress rehearsals with the skits and music.”

Usually, it’s the kids performing on saucers. But on May 28, the first practice of 2026, some of the adults wanted to try saucers. From the left, Matt Lukacs, Sarah Mills and Jake Huseman.

This year’s ski show is expected to last an hour-and-a-half to two hours. Similar to previous years, there will be canopies and free water on the south shore to help with the heat. Viewers are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets.

People also can watch the ski team show from their boats. 

“We have worked with Lake Security for years trying to ensure everyone’s safety,” Isom says. “We set up large buoys to show the no-wake area in the main basin. It starts at the south shore and extends northwest to the area headed towards the dam. The buoys north of the ski show mark the area where boaters can anchor and watch the show.” 

The show will include Matt Lukacs and his barefoot skiing, and the “Willie” hitchhiker act with father and son duos Larry with Clint Isom and Eric with Leyton Temple. This involves Clint and Leyton jumping onto their dad’s back as they ski by the dock. 

This lineup of 11 women performed during the 2025 Lake Panorama Ski Team show.

“We will have lots of pyramids, saucers and kneeboards. There will be flags, a girls’ line, trick skis and much more. We also are working on additional props for skiers since this is an anniversary year for Panora,” Isom says. 

This is the fourth year for the Lake Panorama ski team to have formal legal status. In 2023, a board of directors was formed, officers elected, bylaws established and 501(c)3 nonprofit status obtained. 

Because of the ski team’s nonprofit status, donations are tax deductible. Donations help cover gas in the boats, team insurance, equipment and equipment maintenance, costumes and props. 

A donation bucket will pass through the south shore viewing area during the show, and a boat will go through the area where people are viewing from the water. 

Not all of the annual Lake Panorama ski team show is performed on the water. When the lake water needs time to calm down between ski acts, a skit or dance happens on shore.

A QR code printed on ski team posters and pamphlets will be available at the show and other locations to allow electronic donations. Donations also can be made by check, payable to Lake Panorama Ski Team, and mailed to P.O. Box 384, Panora, Iowa, 50216.

CLASSIC CARS, SKI SHOWS AND COMMUNITY

Jul 8, 2026 | Publisher's Column

There is nothing quite like Panorama Days to remind us that humanity is chaotic, charming and deeply committed to eating fried food outdoors.

On paper, Panorama Days sounds quite wholesome — live music, a lengthy parade, smiling families. In reality, it is a delightful mash-up of sunburns, long lines and numerous renditions of 1980s power ballads. And yet, we keep coming back.

Maybe it is because Panorama Days turns our comfortably ordinary place into something magical. Suddenly, our city is packed with classic cars, our lake is full of courageous water skiers, and our stomachs churn from too much ice cream. Streets close, tents pop up and everyone seemingly agrees that standing in line for 10 minutes for an almost cold beer is quite reasonable.

The real entertainment, though, are the people. Panorama Days is one of the few times when strangers will strike up conversations with others for no reason at all. You could be minding your business, ready to bite into a hamburger, and suddenly someone is telling you where to find “the best cheese curds on this side of the Mississippi.” 

Somehow, though, it is not just about the food. It is about the stories behind it. Every booth or food truck has someone proudly explaining their recipe, their craft, or why their salsa is “award-winning.” You nod, you sample, you pretend you understand the subtle flavor notes. It’s a cultural exchange with napkins.

Music adds another layer. Local bands take the stage and give it everything they have got. And there is something refreshing about a performance where the lead singer might also be your dentist.

Of course, no festival is complete without at least one mildly chaotic moment. Maybe it is a sudden rain shower that sends everyone scrambling under tents. Maybe it is a child covered head to toe in cotton candy. Maybe it is you, realizing you have been walking around for an hour with powdered sugar on your face. These are the moments that turn a nice afternoon into a story you will tell later.

In the end, Panorama Days may be a bit messy, kind of loud and a little crazy, but that’s exactly why it matters. It pulls people out of their routines and into a shared space, where the goal isn’t productivity or efficiency, but simply being there, celebrating our community and each other. 

You may leave feeling slightly tired, possibly sticky and definitely overfed, but you also leave with a feeling that, at least for a few hours, you were part of something fun, spontaneous and genuinely human. And, of course, you will be back next year for more.

 

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Lake Panorama Times
641-332-2707
shane@gctimesnews.com 

2026 BEACH BALL RAISES $38,000

Jul 8, 2026 | News

Beach Ball attendees helped Friends of Lake Panorama raise $1,040 with a half-card draw game. Galen Johnson, a Friends of Lake Panorama board member, asked those who had a card that matched the one he drew from a bucket to stand. Then he narrowed down the options until the winner was the only person standing.

For the sixth year in a row, individuals and businesses became Friends Beach Club members to support this event. 

By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times

Susan Thompson, right, has been the Friends of Lake Panorama executive director since the nonprofit was formed in December 2013. The 2026 Beach Ball marked her retirement from that position. Succeeding her as the Friends executive director is Shanell Wagler, who has been a Beach Ball volunteer for several years.

The 2026 Friends of Lake Panorama Beach Ball had a profit of $38,000. The event was held June 12 at The Captain’s Pick at Lake Panorama National Resort with 190 guests in attendance.

For the sixth year in a row, individuals and businesses became Friends Beach Club members to support this event. Those who joined at one of these levels paid a little extra to get a little extra by making a direct donation to Friends of Lake Panorama. Friends Beach Club members were listed in the program.

There were 15 businesses and groups of individuals that spent $1,000 to join the Premier level of the Beach Club. Seventeen couples spent $300 to be in the Couples Beach Club with nine businesses, couples or individuals donating $200 to sponsor a table. 

There were 72 items donated for the silent auction, which brought in $6,765. The live auction of 11 items raised $11,575. Proceeds from a 50/50 raffle and a half-card-draw game netted $3,045.

At a meeting June 16, the Friends board of directors voted to earmark the $38,000 Beach Ball profit for two projects.

A total of $10,000 goes to the Lake Panorama National capital campaign for golf course improvements. A forward tee box renovation project is planned for this fall, pending donations. The tees included are holes 1, 2, 4 and 15. This project would complete the forward tee box work on the front nine, and make a start on needed work on the back nine.

Beach Ball volunteers Dee Eckley, Dani Navarro, Kathy DeLucca, Joan Trebon and Paula Hansen

The remaining $28,000 will go toward a hard-surface walking path at Boulder Beach. 

Friends of Lake Panorama is a nonprofit charity dedicated to improving recreational amenities at Lake Panorama. It was established in response to LPA members asking for ways to give back to the Lake Panorama community with an estate gift or other tax-deductible donations. The IRS granted Friends 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in July 2014.

This year marked the ninth Beach Ball fundraiser organized by Friends of Lake Panorama. Those nine events raised a total of $261,000. Beach Ball funds, combined with private donations from more than 300 couples, individuals and businesses, have financed an impressive list of completed projects. 

Those include playgrounds at all three beaches, sports courts at Boulder and Sunset beaches, dog park, south shore recreational area that includes trails, disc golf, benches and a picnic shelter, enhancements to the Panorama West Nature Trail, tree plantings at the lake’s west entrance, updated tee boxes and driving range at Lake Panorama National, more than 20 new benches at beaches and golf courses, and several smaller projects.