Obituaries

Edith L. Feuerhelm, 98, of Postville, formerly of Waukon, died Saturday, February 28, 2015 at Banner Gateway Medical Center in Gilbert, AZ. Funeral services were held Saturday, March 7 at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon, with Pastor Grant VanderVelden and Rev. Gary Catterson officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.
Edith Lenette Feuerhelm was born September 14, 1916 in Waukon, the daughter of Leonard James and Martha Jane (Barthell) Bulman. She was baptized at Mt Hope Presbyterian Church in rural New Albin and confirmed at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon. Edith graduated from Waukon High School in 1934.
June 22, 1936 she married Charles Arthur Feuerhelm in Lansing. She was the bookkeeper for Feuerhelm Mfg. in Waukon for many years. Edith moved to Postville in the early 1990s.

Richard H. “Dick” Schmit, 78, of Bartonville, IL passed away Thursday, February 19, 2015 at 10:14 a.m. at Heddington Oaks in West Peoria, IL. Mass of Christian Burial was held February 26 at St. Ann Catholic Church in Peoria, IL, with Father Terry Cassidy officiating. Entombment took place in Resurrection Mausoleum in Peoria, IL.
Dick was born February 24, 1936 in Bernard, the son of the late Cyril and Rosabella Otting Schmit. He honorably served for 18 months in the United Sates Army in Korea during peacetime. September 22, 1979, Dick married Joyce A. Kerker Stroemer at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Bartonville, IL.
Dick worked as an insurance salesman for the Knights of Columbus and for I.S.I. He previously was on the disaster services team for the American Red Cross.

Michael Everett Andregg, 57, of Sioux Rapids passed away Friday, February 27, 2015 at his home. A private celebration of Mike's life will be held at a later date. Michael was born October 6, 1957 to Otto and Betty (Townsley) Andregg in Wichita, KS. He grew up in Waukon and graduated from Waukon Senior High School with the Class of 1976. He remained in Waukon and worked at Northern Engraving until taking a position with Agriprocessers in Postville and then, most recently, with Rembrandt Industries in Sioux Rapids. In his positions he worked as a maintenance machinist. He was very mechanically inclined. In 1984, he married Tina Stone and they had a daughter who died in infancy. They eventually divorced. Mike will be remembered for his distinctive laugh, his big heart and his kindness to everyone. He loved hunting, fishing and his dog, Bubba. Mike was preceded in death by his father, Otto Andregg; his mother, Betty Andregg; and his daughter, Nicole Andregg.

Geraldine E. Kerndt, 91, of Waukon died Friday, March 6, 2015 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 11 at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Waukon, with Rev. Duane Smith officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 10 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.
Geraldine Evelyn Kerndt was born January 2, 1924 in French Creek Township, rural Lansing. She was the daughter of George William and Leonette Evelyn (Ashbacher) Verthein. Geraldine attended rural elementary school, graduated from Waukon High School in 1942 and took the normal training curriculum at Waukon Junior College. She taught at the rural French Creek and Lycurgus Schools.

Gary L. Brink, 73, of rural Postville died Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN. Funeral services were held Monday, March 9 at Zalmona Presbyterian Church in rural Waukon, with Pastor Tom Buresh officiating. Burial was at Zalmona Cemetery.
Gary Leo Brink was born November 26, 1941 to Leo George and Ruth Alice (Ludeking) Brink in Waukon. He was baptized and confirmed at Zalmona Presbyterian Church and attended Ludlow #3 rural school through the eighth grade. He was united in marriage to Lucille Marie Bigler August 29, 1959 at Big Canoe Lutheran Church in rural Decorah.

Bonnie J. King, 79, of Mason City died Monday, March 2, 2015 at home.  Memorial services were held Friday, March 6 at Major Erickson Funeral Home in Mason City, with Pastor Kathy Graves of Trinity Lutheran Church officiating.  Inurnment will take place in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Bonnie was born December 21, 1935 in Mason City, the daughter of Hans L. and Nettie B. (Hamson) Hjelle. She attended schools in Mason City. Bonnie married Frank Smed and the couple had three children, Kai, Rod and Nina. They later divorced. Bonnie married Keith E. King November 25, 1975 in Clear Lake.
Bonnie was well known for her love of animals.  She enjoyed her work at a small animal clinic, and was happiest with a small dog at her side. Bonnie took pride in her yard and spent countless hours outside, working on yard decoration upkeep and projects. She delighted in painting saw blades with landscapes or animal themes.

Alan Oscar Nyberg, 70, of Prairie du Chien, WI, formerly of Postville, died Saturday, February 21, 2015 at Gundersen Lutheran Health Systems, La Crosse, WI. Funeral Services were held Thursday, February 26 at Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Postville, with Greg Hamm as the Officiant. Burial will be at a later date in Postville Cemetery.
Alan was born October 20, 1944 in Postville to Allard and Jacqueline (Lane) Nyberg. He graduated from Postville High School and attended Upper Iowa University in Fayette, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration. Alan was united in marriage with Katherine Handke in 1968; they later divorced.

Vincent Raymond Dougherty, 78, of Central City, formerly of Prairieburg, died Monday, March 2, 2015 at the Promise House in Hiawatha. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 5 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Prairieburg.
Scripture Service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, with visitation to follow from 4-8 p.m. at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Central City. The family will also greet friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Prairieburg.
Vincent was born May 3, 1936, the son of Johnnie and Anna (Haas) Dougherty in rural Waukon. He graduated from Waukon High School and attended Kirkwood Community College. September 9, 1961, he married Elsie Marie Harwood at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion.
Vincent served with the U.S. Army during peacetime. He worked for the Iowa Department of Transportation, District 6 paint crew, retiring in 1997.

Gale Arthur Ludeking, 90, of Waukon died Wednesday, February 18, 2015 at his home in Waukon. Memorial Services were held Saturday, February 21 at Salem United Church of Christ, rural Waukon, with Rev. Susan Klimstra as the officiant. Inurnment will be held at a later date at the Salem United Church of Christ Cemetery, rural Waukon.
Gale Arthur, the son of George Arthur and Cynthia (Miller) Ludeking, was born January 29, 1925 at his family’s home in Glenwood Township, Winneshiek County. He attended country school at the Pagan School and graduated from Waukon High School in 1943. Gale enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in the Philippines and he was part of the Occupation Force of Japan. After he returned home, Gale was a buyer for Oscar Mayer Meat Packing in Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois.

Melvina Delores Pearson, 81, of Waukon, formerly of Postville, died Saturday, February 21, 2015 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Memorial Services were held Wednesday, February 25 at Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Postville, with Rev. Gary Catterson as the officiant. Inurnment will be held at a later date at the Postville Cemetery, Postville.
Melvina Delores was born February 11, 1934 in Farmersburg to Orville F. and Emily E. (Schultz) Nuehring. She was baptized and confirmed at Luana Lutheran Church. Melvina was united in marriage with Ralph V. Pearson June 18, 1954 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua.
Melvina attended Luana School, Luana. She worked as a nanny in Dubuque, she worked for Iowa Turkey Products in Postville and for Monona Wire in Monona for over 20 years. Melvina lived on the Pearson family farm in Hardin Township all of her life until she moved to Northgate Care Center in Waukon.