News Center newsletter

Jean Corrigan, age 87, of Decorah died Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at the Barthell O.E.S Home in Decorah. Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Benedict Catholic Church, Decorah Tuesday, January 26 with Rev. Donald Hertges officiating. Interment was at St. Benedict Cemetery, Decorah.

Jean was born August 30, 1933 to Leo and Frieda (Wendler) Mathis in Lansing. Jean went to country school in first grade with only two students in the class. She then went to Waterville School where she graduated in 1951.

Jean married Cyril Corrigan in 1953. They moved to Decorah to start their married life together. In 1956, Jean started working for Wapsi Produce for Carl Nichols. In 1967, she got her first electric typewriter and in 1985 she got her first computer, learning it all from the book, no training. In 1998, she got her first fax machine.

Joseph C. Stammeyer, Sr., 80, of Waukon passed away Sunday, February 7, 2021 at his home, surrounded by his children. Memorial services will be held Wednesday, February 10 at 1 p.m. at Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon. Burial of ashes will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 11:30 a.m. until the time of services Wednesday at the funeral home. In consideration of concerns regarding COVID-19, social distancing and wearing of masks is encouraged.

Joseph Carl Stammeyer, Sr. was born October 24, 1940 to Peter and Magdalena (Klemmer) Stammeyer. Joe grew up on a farm in St. Lucas, attending school at the St. Lucas grade school. Joe joined the Army as a young man, serving abroad as a mechanic in Germany and Turkey. Upon returning home, Joe took up work at Deco Products Co., where he met the love of his life, Carol Ehde.

Roger T. Russell, 73, of Waukon died Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. A private family graveside service will be held at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements. Condolences may be sent to Vicky Easton at P.O. Box 203, Waukon, IA 52172.

Roger Thomas Russell was born October 21, 1947 in Waukon, the son of Milton and Ethel (Haerer) Russell. He graduated from Waukon High School. Roger mowed lawn for several years at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon. He enjoyed working on lawnmowers and cars, watching Star Trek, NASCAR and football, and was an avid Minnesota Vikings fan.

Richard “Dick” C. Bloxham, 84, of Waukon died suddenly Saturday, February 6, 2021 at his home in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Thursday, February 11 at 1 p.m. at Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon, with Pastor Kim Gates and Chuck Bloxham officiating. Friends may call from 11 a.m. until time of services Thursday at the funeral home. In consideration of concerns regarding COVID-19, social distancing and wearing of a mask is required.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Veterans Memorial Hospital in support of the new clinic. Condolences may be sent to Edith Bloxham, 505 Taylor Street, Waukon, IA 52172.

Christopher James Molitor, age 64, of Gilman died at his home Thursday, February 4, 2021. A private family funeral service was held Tuesday, February 9 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Grinnell. Burial was in St. Patrick Cemetery, Waukon.

Chris was born the son of Eldon and Carol (Stubbe) Molitor January 10, 1957 in Waukon. He was raised in Waukon and graduated from Waukon High School with the class of 1975. Growing up on a farm, Chris spent many seasons balancing school and farm work with his dad and siblings. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture in 1980. He completed graduate work at all three major Iowa universities.

March 22, 1986, Chris was united in marriage to Deborah (Deb) Barker at St. Michael Catholic Church in Columbus, NE. Their marriage was blessed with a daughter, Amanda, and a son, Stephen. They lived in Columbus, NE for a short while and later, Melbourne. In 1991 they moved to Gilman and raised the children.

February is Heart Month.  Veterans Memorial Hospital continues to encourage the public to learn the American Heart Association’s “Hands Only CPR.” This simple way of performing CPR is very easy to do and effective for the victim.

According to the American Heart Association, sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death with nearly 400,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occurring annually in the United States. On average, 89% of people who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest die because they don’t receive immediate CPR from someone on the scene.

The American Heart Association has found Hands Only CPR to be as effective as conventional CPR for sudden cardiac arrest at home, at work, or in the public - doubling or even tripling a victim’s chance of survival.

Since 80% of cardiac arrests happen in private or residential settings, learn these simple steps for performing Hands Only CPR to help save the life of someone you love:

The local Grief Support Group will again begin holding monthly meetings at Veterans Memorial Hospital Tuesday, February 9 at 5 p.m. in the Meditation Chapel Room, located just inside the main entrance of the hospital.

This informal meeting is open to anyone suffering from any type of loss, whether it be death, divorce, illness or some other grief.

Feel free to attend and bring a friend, and be sure to wear a mask. All attendees will be able to physically distance during the meeting. This grief support group meets the second Tuesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon.
 

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Delores Schellhammer by Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Dave and Laurie Martin, Darlena Herman, Les and Ada Marie Kerndt, Dorothy Sandry, Terry and Laurie Welch, Gil and Sherry Hunstad, Marilyn Bulman, Jann Henkes, Harold and Shirley Marti, Glen and Eloise Reed, Dean “Beanzy” Schellhammer, David Winnes, Lois Shindoll, Brent and Denise Beyer and Sherry Halvorson.

Memorials were also received in memory of Doris Berns by Nan Grangaard and Mary Ann Burke; in memory of Dennis Rogers by Chuck and Lois Votsmier, and in memory of Orville Bratrud by Marlys Leiran, Donnalee and Ernie Osland and Jean Huffey.

In addition, memorials were received from Dennis and Sandy Deal, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Don and Dianne Haler and Brad and Erin Berns in memory of David Myers.

A general donation was also received by the Foundation from Ken and Jill Lampman.

Helping Services for Youth & Families’ Domestic Abuse Resource Center has implemented a Domestic Abuse survivor chat line, which can be reached at HelpingServices.org/chat. There is also the option to call a 24/7 resource phone line at 800-383-2988. Whether chatting or calling, a trained Advocate will respond 24 hours a day.

Dorothy Gelo of Waukon will be celebrating her 99th birthday February 4. In honor of the occasion, cards and well wishes may be sent to 941 Countryside Estates SW, Waukon, IA 52172.