2025 Memorials

Linda Lake Ackland, age 78, passed away on July 26, 2025. Linda lived a life full of color, joy and faith. Born in Hot Springs, South Dakota on June 7th, 1947, Linda lived in many places. The daughter of Genevieve and Epimenio Aguilar, she moved more times than her age during her young years. From the East Coast to California, she spent her childhood exploring on her bike (named Golden Girl), playing with her siblings Anita and Ernest and planting flowers everywhere she went.

She met her husband and love of her life, Jay Ackland, while in Pensacola, Florida. They eloped in Mobile, Alabama, in 1966 and began their devoted marriage and partnership. Their love brought three children (James, Rochelle and Jessica) into the world and they began to build a home. They moved to Neola, Iowa, in 1973, and after their first three years living there, she told Jay, “this is the longest I’ve lived in one place my whole life.” That home in Neola became the site of her favorite place in the world, her garden. Linda grew an immaculate garden full of color and variety. The garden was a place for many kids and pets to run and play before being called in by her loud whistle from the porch. They were usually greeted by a hot meal and chocolate chip cookies. That porch was also the place to be every night for sunset. If you couldn’t be there, Linda was sure to send you a picture of the best ones.

Linda had a huge heart. In her 78 years, she served friends, family and neighbors. Whether it was coffee at the 24-hour diner, a handmade card in the mail or food in her kitchen, Linda always had something to give. Her beautiful garden grew far beyond her fence through the love she shared.

Linda was known for her big heart and stubborn soul. She was a 26-year breast cancer survivor and faced each day with strength. You could rarely get a read on her because she never complained and was always talking about her family, which she loved so much. She was a rock, a safe place and comfort for her family. Sending a message of encouragement to her siblings, listening to her kids and getting updates from her grandkids and great-grandkids, she loved her family dearly.

Whether it was family reunions, watching barrel racing, camping with her dog Ryder, or many trips to Hawaii with Jay, she always made a memory and treasured any time she got to spend with the people she loved. Her family will get to enjoy these memories for years to come through the many scrapbooks she made and gifted.

Linda stood strong in her faith. She loved God and her community at Underwood Lutheran Church. She and Jay raised their family with a strong faith that will carry them through her loss.

Each year, her family looked forward to the Christmas and Easter celebrations that she curated so intentionally. And while her attention to detail in wrapping gifts and hiding eggs didn’t go unnoticed, her relationship with Jesus always shone through.

She is with Him now and she will continue painting beautiful sunsets to share with everyone who loves her, until we meet again.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Genevieve L. Aguilar and Epimenio M. Aguilar.

Linda is survived by her husband, Jay Ackland; children: James Ackland (Mary), Rochelle Clemen (Gerald), Jessica Hundt (Brad); grandchildren, Zachary Pohlman (Katherine), Paige Myers (Cole), Genna Clemen, Tate Clemen, Douglas McCambridge (Haley), Justin McCambridge, Brooklyn Stufft (Alex), Trent Hundt; great grandchildren, Natalie Mickleson, Isla Pohlman, Charlotte Myers, Harper Lang, Dakota Myers, Isabella Myers, Winnie McCambridge; siblings, Anita Wasserburger (Richard) and Ernest Aguilar; nieces and nephews and a host of other family and friends.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home on Thursday, July 31, 2025.

Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 AM at Underwood Lutheran Church on Friday, August 1, 2025. The family requests you wear floral print, teal, coral or bright colors to the services in honor of Linda.

Linda will be laid to rest at South Dakota National Cemetery, Sturgis, SD at a later date.

The family will direct memorials to Underwood Lutheran Church, Jennie Edmundson Foundation’s Breast Health Fund and Midlands Humane Society

June 7, 1947 — July 26, 2025

Jose Martinez passed away peacefully on July 23, 2025, in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He was born on June 12, 1926, in Teocelo, Veracruz. He lived a full and remarkable life that took him from his small hometown in Mexico to New York City, where he met his wife, Caryl, and ultimately to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he lived for the last 60 years. His passion for life, his family, his medical practice, and his dog training hobby will be warmly remembered and missed by his friends and family.

Jose was the first in his family to attend college. After graduating from medical school in Mexico City he started a lengthy career as a physician, working for two and half years in rural communities where there were no other medical services available. He then decided to go to New York City to complete an internship and residency fellowship in urology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. While in New York he met and married Caryl.

Jose and Caryl moved to Omaha in 1963. He became the first full-time urologist at the Omaha Veterans Administration Hospital. Moving to Council Bluffs in 1964, he established his own medical practice and served patients throughout Southwestern Iowa, with weekly trips to Harlan and Atlantic for office hours over many years. He loved his work and his patients and he maintained an interest in the advances in medical techniques and practices that took place during his career.

After retiring from his medical practice, Jose continued to provide health services by volunteering at several homeless shelters and clinics. Jose also had the time to fully embrace his dog training hobby. He, with Caryl’s support, won numerous competitions with his golden retrievers and later judged obedience trials throughout the United States, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Jose continued to compete and judge until he was 90 years old. Four of his golden retrievers became obedience champions. After his dog Slammer placed in the top four in the country, Jose represented the United States in an international obedience competition in England. He was proud to represent his adopted country.

Jose was dedicated to his family – his seven siblings and their children in Mexico – and to his devoted wife, Caryl, their two children, and his grandchildren. He and Caryl served the Council Bluffs community through numerous civic and charitable organizations. He loved history, and together with Caryl he traveled the world, with trips to China, Russia, Europe, and Africa. He enjoyed golf, tennis, cycling, cards, woodworking, and many other hobbies. Other than golf, there was almost nothing he wasn’t good at, if he put his mind to it. A gourmet cook and music lover, he had a zest for life, a sharp wit, and a smile that delighted his family, friends, and strangers until his final days.

Jose was beloved by his children and his five grandchildren, each of whom developed a special bond with him. In 2017 he returned to Mexico with one of his grandsons for a visit to his childhood home, reuniting with family and old friends.

Jose is preceded in death by his parents, Jose and Emilia, and five of his seven siblings. He is survived by his wife Caryl and their children: Beth (Jeff) Cohen, Lawrence (Anne) Martinez, Grandchildren Sydney Cohen, Justin Cohen, his namesake J. Alex (Dr. Sonia Ruparell) Martinez, Jack (Hadley Jackson, fiancé) Martinez, and Lindsay Martinez.

A celebration of Jose’s remarkable life will be held later this year.

Any memorials may be directed to the Jennie Edmundson Foundation, 933 E Pierce St, Council Bluffs, IA 51501; the CHI Health Foundation - Mercy Council Bluffs, 12809 W Dodge Road, Omaha, NE 68154; the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation, or a charity of your choice.

June 12, 1926 ~ July 23, 2025