Obituaries

Louis O. Kemp, 84, of Harpers Ferry died Wednesday, January 14, 2015 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services were held Saturday, January 17 at St. Ann's-St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Harpers Ferry, with Fr. John Moser officiating.
Louis Otto Kemp was born October 18, 1930 in Springfield, MN, the son of Louis O. and Anna (Gubrud) Kemp. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Springfield, where he also attended grade school. Lou graduated from Springfield High School and continued his education at Mankato State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in arts and economics. He also studied pharmacy for one and a half years in Brookings, SD.

Lorraine Della “Sis” Hirth, 90, of Lansing died Wednesday, January 14, 2015 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral Services were held Sunday, January 18 at Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Lansing, with Rev. Kevin Smith as the Officiant. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lansing.
Lorraine was born July 11, 1924 to Elmer and Elizabeth (Boltz) Sweatt in New Albin. She was baptized August 1, 1924 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in New Albin. She graduated from Lansing Public School in 1941.
Sis was united in marriage with Herbert Benjamin Hirth August 9, 1947 in Allamakee County. She worked as a waitress at Roeder’s Café, the Lansing Button Factory and Ben Decker’s Store in Churchtown. Sis enjoyed sewing, cooking and gardening. She was known for her great meals.

Clarice Lorrayne Ebner, 90, of Preston, MN died Monday, January 12, 2015 at the Gundersen Harmony Care Center in Harmony, MN. Funeral services were held Thursday, January 15 at Christ Lutheran Church in Preston, MN with Rev. Dave Jore officiating. Burial was in Crown Hill Cemetery, Preston.
Clarice was born September 15, 1924 in Waukon, the daughter of Carl and Ruth (Huffman) Smedsrud. She graduated from Waukon High School in 1942 and then attended secretarial training in Waukon. In 1943 she married Jonathan “Chuck” Ebner at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon. Following their marriage Clarice worked for years at a law firm in Waukon and she was also a stay-at-home mom raising five sons. In 1971 the family moved to Preston, MN and Clarice worked for Christ Lutheran Church as the secretary for many years until her retirement.
She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church. She enjoyed knitting, playing bridge and golf.

Mary Catherine (Byrnes) Wiedner, age 56, passed away December 30, 2014 at home in New Albin. A celebration of Mary’s life will be held Saturday, January 24 from 2-5 p.m. at the New Albin Community Center, located at 137 Rail Road Avenue SW in New Albin. The celebration will be an open house format with light food and drink provided by the family.
Mary was born September 19, 1958 and was a 1977 graduate of Waukon High School, attended Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis, MN and was a CPA in the Minneapolis, MN area. Mary married Richard Wiedner June 20, 1981 at Hanover Church. They lived in the Minneapolis, MN area for more than 30 years before moving back in 2013 to build their forever home on bluff land overlooking the Upper Iowa and Mississippi rivers.

Laura “Hope” Griffin, 84, of Waukon, formerly of Rochester, MN, died Sunday, January 11, 2015 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Graveside services will be held Thursday, January 15 at 11 a.m. at Oakwood East Cemetery in Rochester, MN. Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, January 14 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, where there will be a 7 p.m. prayer service.
Laura Hope Griffin was born October 17, 1930 in Waukon, the daughter of Fred and Ethel Hope (Sadler) Weymiller. She attended school in New Albin, graduated from Waukon High School in 1948, and attended Waukon Junior College.

WillaDean Ann (Lamphier) Kaeser, age 81 of Decorah,  formerly of Waukon, died Thursday, January 1, 2015 at the Aase Haugen Nursing Home in Decorah following an extended illness.

Eric S. Smith, 55, of Waukon (formerly of Postville), passed away Sunday, December 28, 2014 at the Good Samaritan Society in Waukon. Eric Steven, the son of Leslie and Jessie (Schultz) Smith, was born March 19, 1959 in Postville. He graduated from MFL High School in 1977. Eric farmed with his brother on the family farm near Luana and worked as a farm hand for several area farmers. He then worked as a welder for Guttenberg Industries in Guttenberg and Bituma in Marquette. He retired from Bituma when his health started to decline.
Eric enjoyed fishing, hunting, cooking and he loved to spend time with his family.    
Eric is survived by his two sons, Cory Smith of Decorah and Joshua (Alicia Hirth) Smith of Waukon; and his cousin, Nola (Norbert) Palmer of Waukon.     
Eric was preceded in death by his parents, Leslie and Jessie Smith; three brothers, Leighton, Richard and John Smith; and one sister, Kathleen Smith.

Dorothy F. Slifka, 95, of Waukon, died Monday, December 29, 2014, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Sunday, January 4 at 1 p.m. at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon with Deacon Mike Ward officiating. Burial was at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon.
Dorothy Frances Slifka was born January 27, 1919 in Cresco to Samuel and Ida (Bergman) Kratz. She was raised on her family’s farm in Howard County and received her education in a country school. Dorothy married the love of her life, Clarence W. Slifka May 26, 1939 at Assumption Catholic Church in Cresco. Dorothy and Clarence farmed in Cresco until they moved to Waukon in 1960. They owned and operated Slifka Café where Dorothy prepared and cooked fresh donuts every morning for 15 years. After closing the café, she continued as a cook at local diners and performed cleaning duties for a local business.

Gertrude A. Larick, 87, of Decatur, AL, formerly of Waukon, died Thursday, January 1, 2015 at Decatur General Hospital in Decatur, AL. Funeral services were  held Tuesday, January 6 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Jim Dubert officiating. Burial was at Wexford Cemetery, Lansing. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Loretta M. Sorum, 90, of Waukon, formerly of Decorah, passed away peacefully Friday, January 2, 2015 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon, where she was a resident for several years. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 7 at 11 a.m. at Glenwood Lutheran Church with Pastor Stacey Nalean-Carlson officiating. Burial will be at Glenwood East Cemetery, rural Decorah. Friends may call one hour before services at the church. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements. Family requests memorials be given to St. Jude's Hospital, Good Samaritan Home or Glenwood Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund.