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The Kee softball team did the splits this past week, winning one game and losing one game in each of its three scheduled dates to currently hold a 6-8 overall season record that includes a mark of 4-2 in Upper Iowa Conference play. The Lady Hawks first took turns at North Fayette Valley handing each other a mercy-rule loss Monday, June 6, Kee accomplishing that first with a 16-6 win in five innings before falling in game two by a 20-8 result in three innings. The softball Hawks finished with a similar split result in their Wednesday, June 8 home double-dip with Turkey Valley, falling in game one by a 5-0 final before pounding out a 14-4 mercy-rule win in six innings in the nightcap. The Kee girls then finished the week with a runner-up finish at the Vinton-Shellsburg Tournament Saturday, June 11, playing to a 9-2 win over Belle Plaine in the opening round before falling in the tournament championship game by just a 3-2 result to English Valley.

A busy week of seven games saw the Waukon softball team put two of them in the win column this past week, the squad remaining in search of its first Northeast Iowa Conference (NEIC) victory of the season. The Indians opened the week winning a 5-0 home battle with Central Elkader Monday, June 6 before dropping both games of a doubleheader at New Hampton Tuesday, June 7 by scores of 12-0 and 14-2 in three innings each. The Tribe then fell at Charles City Friday, June 10 by a 12-1 result in five innings before winning one of three games at the Riceville Tournament Saturday, June 11, defeating MFL/MarMac, 6-2, before falling to both Osage and St. Ansgar by 7-6 final results to currently hold a 3-9 overall record that includes a 0-6 mark in Northeast Iowa Conference play.

Mary Rita Clauson Regan, 60, of Des Moines passed from this world Tuesday, March 22, 2022. Services were held March 26 at Ankeny Funeral Home in Ankeny with Fr. Jerry Blake officiating. Sympathy cards may be sent to Ron Regan and Family, 3906 Aurora Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50310.

Mary was born July 24, 1961 in Waukon, the daughter of John M. and Ruth Anne Clauson. She graduated from Waukon High School in the spring of 1979 and married her high school sweetheart, Ron Regan, October 13, 1979. Mary worked on the family farm and enjoyed raising her four beautiful children for the next 14 years, but her strong desire to help others compelled her to obtain a degree in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Psychology from University of Wisconsin - La Crosse in 1999.

Lynn A. Feuerhelm, 80, of Lansing passed away Sunday, June 12, 2022 at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, WI. Memorial services will be held Saturday, June 18 at 11 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 111 N. 9th Street, La Crosse, WI 54061, with Fr. Mike McElwee officiating. Inurnment will be in the columbarium in the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament in La Crosse, WI.

A visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday, June 17 at Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home in Lansing and one hour before the service at church Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Christ Episcopal Church music fund. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Alice Joan Rydz (nee Hawes), formerly of the Wexford area, passed away May 31, 2022. Funeral services will be held at St. Matthew’s Church in Schaumburg, IL Tuesday, June 28 at 10 a.m., gathering at 9:30 a.m. followed by a graveside service at Abraham Lincoln Cemetery in Elwood, IL at 1 p.m.

Alice was born October 12, 1935 in Wexford to John Hawes and Ellen Conway Hawes. She married Robert S. Rydz June 7, 1958.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Robert; her brother, Gerald Hawes; her sister, Sister Therese Marie Hawes, PBVM; and a granddaughter, Nicole Nordlander.

She is survived by three brothers, Msgr. Cletus Hawes, Father Donald Hawes and Cyril Hawes; and her daughters and their partners, Cheryl Nordlander (Mickey Salerno), Valerie (Jeff Foster) and Michelle Rydz (Paul Sum). She was a proud grandmother of eight and great-grandmother to three. She greatly loved her many cousins, nieces and nephews, and friends.

Gordon “Gordy” Wayne Vongroven, 75, passed away Saturday, June 11, 2022 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. A celebration of life will be held Friday, June 17 at 11 a.m. at Waterloo Ridge Lutheran Church, rural Dorchester. Pastor Diane Odermann will officiate. Military rites will be provided by American Legion Post # 249 of Spring Grove, MN.

Friends may call from 10-11 a.m. prior to services at the church. Roble Funeral Home of Spring Grove, MN is assisting the family with arrangements.

Gordy was born in Spring Grove, MN April 23, 1947 to Norman and Julia (Lasseson) Vongroven. He grew up on the family farm, and later joined the Navy to fight in the Vietnam war. Though he didn’t speak much of the war itself, he told tales of being the captain’s driver, jumping off the ship to swim in the ocean, and accidentally sounding the alarm for what turned out to be jellyfish rather than enemy submarines.

Ralph Arneson, age 96, of Decorah passed away Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah. At Ralph’s request, a private family service will be held at a later date. Burial will be in the Big Canoe Cemetery with full military rites. Memorials can be sent to Linda at 320 Lakeshore Drive, Nashua, IA 50658.

Ralph Eugene Arneson was born August 14, 1925 to Martin and Nora (Grindeland) Arneson in Pleasant Township, rural Winneshiek County. He was baptized and confirmed at Big Canoe Lutheran Church. Ralph attended the Sattre Country School No. 8 through eighth grade and graduated from Decorah High School with the Class of 1943.

Alex James Heller, 33, of Waukon died Thursday, June 2, 2022 at his residence in Waukon. No service will be held.

Alex was born January 11, 1989 in Guttenberg to Timothy and Dawn (Rufenacht) Heller. Alex lived at Woodward in Des Moines for a number of years and then moved to his current residence, Mosaic in Waukon, where he resided for the past seven years. He truly enjoyed his home and loved all of his staff and caretakers.

Alex was a happy guy who loved Disney movies, Hot Wheel cars, trains, spending time with his brother, Andrew, and he especially liked giving hugs.

He is survived by his parents, Tim Heller and Dawn Heller; his brother, Andrew Heller; his half-brother, Bryce Heller; his grandmothers, Anita Heller and Coleen Soddy; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Alex was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Lawrence Heller and James Rufenacht.

Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Elkader assisted the family.
 

Scott Theodore Spinner died May 6, 2022 peacefully in his home of natural causes. Scott will be cremated and laid to rest in his family burial plot at Cherry Mound Cemetery, Harpers Ferry. Memorial services will be held 8:30 a.m. July 2 at Cherry Mound Cemetery.

Scott was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore Peter Spinner and Helen Frances Spinner (née Bogue).

Scott is survived by his elder brothers, Richard Gene Spinner of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and Michael Lee Spinner of McGregor; one sister, Barbara Marie Olivia of Mobile, AL; his nephews: Joshua Kenneth Spinner, his wife Peggy June and their children, Bodie Jon Spinner, Breyda Bleu Spinner and Keota Bogue Spinner, and Dominic Piunno and Carmen Piunno; his niece, Simone Frances McKenna Spinner; and his son, Jordan Theodore Jayko Spinner, all of Colorado; and many cousins, aunts, uncles and friends. He is also survived by his two loyal dogs, Jax and Hawkeye.

Judy L. Diersen-Ashbacher, 79, of Lansing passed away peacefully Tuesday, June 7, 2022 at Crossing Rivers Health in Prairie du Chien, WI. Memorial services were held Tuesday, June 14 at Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home in Lansing with Pastor Todd Krueger officiating. Burial of ashes will be at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Spring Grove, MN. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements.

Judy Lucille Diersen- Ashbacher was born the 10th child in a family of 12, in Spring Grove, MN to Alphy and Benora (Harstad) Solberg. Though she was born July 3, 1942, she was a firecracker nonetheless.

After graduating from Spring Grove High School in 1960, Judy worked at the high school as a librarian for a few years. She married Bernell Diersen; they later divorced. She worked for many years at the Lansing Button Factory and Northern Engraving.