Obituaries

Dennis P. Hesse, 70, of rural Postville died Sunday, September 12, 2021 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon after a long battle with cancer. Memorial services were held Saturday, September 18 at Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon with Pastor Sue Klimstra officiating. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Dennis Paul Hesse was born July 7, 1951 at the Waukon hospital, the son of Ronald and Shirley (Adney) Hesse. He was baptized and confirmed at Salem United Church of Christ in rural Waukon and in 1969, Dennis graduated from Waukon High School.

Growing up on the family farm in Ludlow Township, Dennis often helped his dad put in crops and with chores. He helped build Norplex in Postville, where he worked since its opening. Until developing cancer a few years ago, Dennis never missed a day of work. He loved hunting, playing cards and softball, and was a great joke teller.

Rodney Duane Bloxham, age 81, passed away September 9, 2021 in Lansing. Visitation will be Sunday, September 19 from 1-4 p.m. at Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Monday, September 20 at 11 a.m. at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waukon with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Masks are encouraged. Burial will be at a later date.

Rodney “Rod” Duane Bloxham was born December 20, 1939 to Robert V. and Elvera J. (Svebakken) Bloxham. Rod spent most of his youth living with his grandfather, Peter S. Svebakken, on his farm near Waterville. Rod was baptized and confirmed at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church, where he remained a lifelong member.

Richard “Lee” Hinkel passed away Wednesday, September 8, 2021 at Good Samaritan Society in Waukon, surrounded by his wife, Kymm, and his daughters, Sarah and Brooke. Visitation will be held Tuesday, September 21 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon from 9:30-11 a.m. Funeral mass will be at 11 a.m. following the visitation, with Fr. John Moser officiating. There will be a celebration of life at Green Valley Getaway in Waukon following the service.

Lee was born April 8, 1949 to Richard and Kathryn Hinkel of Marquette. After graduating from MarMac High School in 1967, he joined the Navy. He then attended Upper Iowa University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree and taught at MarMac Schools in McGregor. He also coached girls varsity basketball and softball and was named Upper Mississippi Valley Conference Coach of the Year his last two years of coaching.

Emmett A. Kruger, 90, of Postville died Monday, September 6, 2021 at Good Samaritan Society in Postville. Funeral services were held Saturday, September 11 at Salem United Church of Christ in rural Waukon with Pastor Sue Klimstra officiating. Burial was at the church cemetery. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements.

Emmett August Kruger was born December 31, 1930 at home in Frankville Township, Winneshiek County, the son of William Henry and Lydia (Hesse) Kruger. He was baptized and confirmed at Salem Reformed Church (now Salem United Church of Christ [UCC]) in rural Waukon.

Amber Lee Mary Regan, 38, of West Des Moines passed from this world Wednesday, September 1, 2021. Friends and family were received September 12 at Ankeny Funeral Home & Crematory in Ankeny. A funeral service and Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, October 9 at 9:30 a.m at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Lycurgus in rural Waukon.

Amber was born May 18, 1983 in Waukon, the daughter of Ron and Mary Regan. Amber had the most beautiful smile that brought joy to everyone who experienced it. She loved her family and friends fiercely and always took the extra time and effort to ensure they knew how important they were to her, with a phone call to stay in touch, a text, a beautifully crafted letter, or a gift she took the time to create herself.

Amber loved to write poetry, paint and knit blankets, scarves and hats. Her timeless beauty and personal style and taste could not be matched as her life-long goal was to make the world a beautiful place for everyone.

Elsa M. Hager, 90, of Waukon died Monday, August 30, 2021 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Thursday, September 2 at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon with Rev. Cathy Jurgens officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Memorials can be made to Oakland Cemetery for fence repair, c/o Diane Oesterle, 1031 Maud Road, Waukon, IA 52172.

Elsa Mae Hager was born December 30, 1930 in Waukon, the daughter of Albert and Margaret (Helming) Bahr. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon and graduated from Waukon High School in 1948.

September 2, 1951, she married Keith Hager at Zion United Church of Christ. In 1948, Elsa went to work at the Allamakee County Courthouse and held various positions including Allamakee County Treasurer from 1972 until she retired in 1994.

Diane Kay (Grotegut) Brown, age 76, beloved mother, grandmother, sister and aunt, passed away August 25, 2021 in Albuquerque, NM. A memorial service will be held Sunday, September 12 at 2 p.m. at Covenant United Methodist Church, 8510 Wyoming Blvd. NE in Albuquerque.

Diane was born in Decorah September 28, 1944 to Willard and Esther Grotegut. She grew up on the family farm near Waukon and graduated from Waukon High School in 1962. She graduated with an Executive Secretarial degree from the American Institute of Business in Des Moines in 1964.

Terri I. Palmer, 65, of Harpers Ferry died Tuesday, August 24, 2021 at Methodist Hospital in Rochester, MN after a long illness. A celebration of life will be held from 4-7 p.m. Friday, September 3 at Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon, where friends can greet the family. Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.

Terri Irene Palmer was born August 21, 1956 in Waukon, the daughter of Clayton “Neal” and Shirley (Brooks) Palmer. She graduated from Waukon High School in 1975 and attended NICC in Calmar where she received a degree in cosmetology. Terri owned and operated Terri’s Salon for several years. She also worked at Northern Engraving, Regal Boats in Orlando, FL and at Cabela’s in Prairie du Chien, WI.

Robert J. Anderson, 96, of Waukon died Wednesday, April 1, 2020 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Memorial services will be Saturday, September 4 at 12:30 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon. Friends may greet the family one hour before services Saturday at church. Military honors will be at Old West Paint Creek Cemetery in rural Waukon, where burial was previously held.

If you are comfortable wearing a mask, please do so. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements. Memorials may be given to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon, the Allamakee Food Shelf or any charity of choice. Condolences can be sent to Agnes Anderson at 110 12th Avenue NW, Waukon, IA 52172.

Karlton A. Gruel, 86, of Waukon died Monday, August 23, 2021 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Graveside services will be held Saturday, September 25 at 10:30 a.m. at the Postville Cemetery in Postville with Pastor Bryan Robertson officiating. A celebration of life and a lunch will follow at the Farm Bureau building in Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Karlton Albert Gruel was born March 8, 1935 in Hardin, near Postville, the son of Alvin and Amanda (Luebke) Gruel and the second of three sons, Darwin, Karlton and Larry. Darwin and Karlton both contracted polio and, as a result, Darwin passed away.

Karlton was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church, where he continued his faith throughout his entire life and was a faithful usher at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon for many years.