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With sadness, we announce the passing of Bill December 10, 2021. William “Bill” Seiter was born November 15, 1945 in Oceanside, CA to William and Lucille Seiter. The family moved to La Crosse, WI when he was six years old.

Bill graduated from Central High School in La Crosse, WI. He immediately went into active duty with the United States Navy serving on a ship in the Mediterranean Sea and waters near Cuba. It was when he returned to La Crosse that he met his wife, Sally Spiegler. They were able to celebrate 53 years of marriage in March. Together they had three children, Bill, Nick and Jane.

Bill was an engineer for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad for 37 years. In his spare time he was an avid outdoorsman; he loved to go fishing and hunting. He enjoyed fishing in Canada, an Alaskan caribou hunt, and annual hunting trips to South Dakota and Wyoming with his boys. Although his health was in decline, he enjoyed a final antelope hunt in Wyoming this fall.

Roger E. Frick, 67, of Waukon died Monday, December 13, 2021 at his home. A visitation was held Thursday, December 16 at Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon. A second visitation with a short service was held Saturday, December 18 at Schultz Funeral Homes in DeWitt, with burial following at Inland Cemetery in Bennett.

Roger Edwin Frick was born June 19, 1954 in Davenport, the son of Edwin H. and Marian L. (Vilmont) Frick; he was baptized March 30, 1955 at the Bennett Methodist Church. Roger grew up on the family farm in Bennett and graduated from Bennett High School. He continued farming, raising dairy cows and Black Angus cattle.

June 29, 1973, Roger married Susan Heick in Bennett. In 1979, the couple and their family moved to Waterville to farm before moving to Waukon in 1986. For 36 years, Roger drove truck for Innovative Ag Services in Waukon.

Richard “Ode” T. Odegaard, 77, of Waukon died Wednesday, December 15, 2021 peacefully at his home with family and his beloved dog, Ty, by his side. Memorial services will be held Wednesday, December 29 at 1 p.m. at Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon with Deacon Patrick Malanaphy officiating. Burial of ashes will be held at a later date.

Friends may call from 11 a.m. until time of services Wednesday at the funeral home. Masks are required. The service will be live streamed on Martin-Grau Funeral Home’s facebook page as well.

Richard Thomas Odegaard was born November 30, 1944 in St. Paul, MN, the son of Arnold and Evelyn (Winters) Odegaard. He was baptized at Faith Lutheran Church in St. Paul, MN and confirmed at the Methodist Church in Winona, MN. Dick served in the United Sates Navy and attended one year of college at the community college in Rochester, MN.

John J. Dunlevy, 83, a lifelong resident of Lansing, died Saturday December 4, 2021 at Gundersen Health System, La Crosse, WI. Interment with graveside services will be in Gethsemane Cemetery, Lansing at a later date with Fr. Sean Smith officiating. A memorial service and celebration of life is also being planned by the family for next Spring.

John was born May 23, 1938, the son of Michael “Joe” Dunlevy and Ethel Casey. He graduated from Immaculate Conception High School in 1956 and attended the State Teachers College in La Crosse, WI. John graduated in 1961 with a BS in English and Spanish. He taught high school Spanish for several years in various schools in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin before returning to Lansing in 1969 to take over ownership as editor of The Allamakee Journal from his father.

He married Frederica Grant November 15, 1969 in Freeport, IL. They raised three children in Lansing and later divorced in 1990 but remained lifelong friends.

Dustin William “Mudd” Mudderman, 42, was called to be with his Savior Friday, December 10, 2021. Funeral Service was held Saturday, December 18 at United Methodist Church in Lansing with Pastor Sedar Shako as the officiant.

He was born January 26, 1979 to David and Diane Mudderman of Fairbank. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church where he was baptized and then Lord of the Harvest Lutheran Church where he was confirmed. Dustin attended Wapsie Valley Community Schools and continued his education at Iowa Lakes Community College and then Mt. Mercy College. Growing up, Dustin worked at the family business.

City of Waukon officials have just received word that power will be shut down in the City of Waukon for Alliant Energy customers at 10:30 AM today (Thursday), and will be shut down for approximately 2 hours. This is being done in an effort to assist with repairs of electrical lines in the area. Please take necessary precautions!

Another generous donation was recently received for the new Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic. A gift of $5,000 was given by Peoples State Bank. Pictured above, left to right, at the main entrance to the Medical Clinic is Kristy Gaunitz, RN; Amanda Swenson, Scribe; Paige Cota, CMA; Laura Baxter, RN, Clinic Director; Shelle Fogt, LPN; Michael Coyle, CEO, all of the Veterans Memorial Hospital Clinic; and Dan Headington, Senior Credit Analyst; Dennis Lyons, Agricultural Relationship Manager-Vice President,  and Clem Schulte, Chief Credit Officer, all of Peoples State Bank. Nearly $500,000 has been raised for the renovations to the clinic building and equipment purchased. The clinic has been open since May 3 and has served over 4,500 visits to date. All gifts to the Foundation are tax deductible. Anyone with any questions about the campaign or Foundation is invited to call the hospital at 563-568-3411. Submitted photo.
 

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care/Allamakee County Public Health will be offering another walk-in clinic for the booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine Friday, December 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the ICN Conference Room located on the southeast side of the hospital. Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be available. Park along the orange cones along the golf course for easy access to the vaccine location.

A booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccination is now available for anyone who wishes to receive it, age five and up. It must also be at least six months from their last dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. These clinics are walk-in clinics. Those attending do not have to call ahead to make an appointment. Everyone should wear a mask and bring their vaccination card with them for updating.

Veterans Memorial Hospital’s Urgent Care is held every Monday-Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and also on holidays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Urgent Care will not be available Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. This holiday season, Urgent Care will be offered at the following times and days:

• December 24, Christmas Eve:  9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• December 25, Christmas Day: Closed - No Urgent Care
• December 31, New Years Eve: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• January 1, New Years Day: Closed - No Urgent Care.

Urgent Care is designed for treating injuries or illnesses requiring immediate care, but not serious enough to require an emergency department visit.

The Joy of Christmas Pageants

At my congregation in Lansing, we’re busy preparing for our annual Sunday school Christmas pageant. The children and youth of Our Savior’s Lutheran have performed in a Christmas pageant for as long as anyone can remember. The same could probably be said of your church.

Every year, the script has a slightly different twist but the story never changes: it proclaims the humble birth of Jesus Christ all those years ago in Bethlehem. It shines brightly with the hope of a new world this baby has come to bring.

Invariably, something goes wrong like the Baby Jesus fusses or a cow forgets his line (even though it’s just “Moo!”) or a little angel toddles around the sanctuary instead of staying in her place. Regardless of these mishaps, the congregation laughs and sings and bursts with enthusiasm. Everyone loves a Christmas pageant!