Obituaries

Jeanette “Jenny” O’Hara, age 88, of Decorah died Thursday morning, August 31, 2017 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI. Funeral Services were held Tuesday, September 5 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah with Rev. Stacey Nalean-Carlson officiating. Burial was in Lutheran Cemetery.

Sylvia Jeanette was born March 15, 1929, the daughter of Ernest and Esther (Egge) Anderson at home on her Grandpa Egge’s farm. She was baptized April 7, 1929 and confirmed October 29, 1942. She received her education in both Iowa and Minnesota schools and graduated from Decorah High School with the Class of 1946. She received her LPN from the Chicago School of Nursing.

Jenny married Selmer Larson June 14, 1947 at First Lutheran Church. They became the parents of six children.

Philip James Haefner, 83, of Lansing died Sunday, September 3, 2017 of natural causes associated with a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease at his home, with his loving wife and one of his daughters by his side. Graveside services with military honors were held September 7 at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lansing.

Philip was born August 7, 1934 in Marshalltown, the son of John W. and Amy Florence (nee Gilson) Haefner. He attended Marshalltown High School and graduated from Iowa State University in Ames in 1956 with a major in Civil Engineering, and was a certified Civil Engineer/Professional Land Surveyor.  He participated in the ROTC program in college and started working for Chicago Bridge and Iron immediately after college while he waited for his orders. During this time, he worked in Louisiana and in Gallup, NM.

Dianne K. (Straate) Blankenship, 66, of La Crosse, WI, formerly of Waukon, died peacefully with her family by her side Monday, September 4, 2017 at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse, WI. Memorial services were held Friday, September 8 at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon, with Pastor Samantha Houser officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.

Dianne Kay (Straate) Blankenship was born September 28, 1950 to Herbert Fredrick and Marian Bernice (Hesse) Straate in Waukon. She grew up on the family farm and graduated from high school in 1968. She loved her childhood years and family life, and often talked about the virtues and joys of growing up in a rural environment. From her parents she developed a strong work ethic and self-discipline.

Paulette Bonwell, 74, of Lansing passed away Saturday, September 9, 2017 at the Thornton Manor Nursing Center in Lansing. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, September 14 at the Nashua United Methodist Church in Nashua with Pastor John Tunnicliff officiating. Burial will be at Sunnyside Memory Gardens in rural Charles City. Visitation will be at Hauser Funeral Home in Charles City Wednesday, September 13 from 5-8 p.m. and will continue one hour prior to the service Thursday at the church.

Paulette Kae (Rausch) Bonwell, the daughter of Paul and Evelyn (Miller) Rausch, was born December 28, 1942 in Charles City. She attended school in Nashua and was united in marriage to Lynn Bonwell August 26, 1960 at the Nashua United Methodist Church. The couple made their home in Nashua, where they raised their family.

Janice Elaine (Grahlman) Kurth, 77, of Waukon died Tuesday, September 5, 2017 at the Gundersen Hospital in La Crosse, WI. In accordance with Janice's wishes, there will be no formal services. A Celebration of Life is being planned for Sunday, September 17 from 2-4 p.m. at the Farm Bureau building in Waukon, located at 14 First Avenue NE. Lunch will be provided.

Janice was born in Sumner to Clayton and Emerald (Sires) Grahlman. She attended New Albin and Waukon schools. Janice was united in marriage to Walter Kurth, Jr. September 15, 1956 at the First Presbyterian Church in Waukon and together they raised two children on the family farm south of Waukon.

Clara R. Rogers, age 87, of Prairie du Chien, WI passed away Friday, September 8, 2017 at Crossing Rivers Health in Prairie du Chien, WI following a short illness. Funeral services were held Tuesday, September 12 at the United Methodist Church in Prairie du Chien, WI with Pastor Barb Cook officiating.  Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery in Hanover, IL.

Clara was born December 9, 1929 in New Boston, IL, the daughter of Merle and Lema (Jackson) Kallenberger. She married William Rogers December 19, 1947 in Savanna, IL. They were married for 56 years before he passed December 19, 2003.

She is survived by her children, Ann (Monte) Steiber of Prairie du Chien, WI and Ben (Ellen) Rogers of Sharon, WI; six grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; 12 step-great-grandchildren; her sister, Kathy Sue Mangler of Savanna, IL; and a brother, Danny Joe Mangler of Onalaska, WI.

Roger Allen Chensvold, 67, of West Union died Tuesday, August 29, 2017 at Evans Memorial Home for the Aged in Cresco. Funeral Services were held Friday, September 1 at Bethany Lutheran Church, Ossian with Rev. Marshall Nessa as the officiant. Graveside Services were also held Friday, September 1 at West Union Cemetery, West Union.

Roger Allen was born January 5, 1950 to Curtis and Delores (Cowles) Chensvold in West Union. He was baptized and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church, Ossian. Roger graduated from North High School in 1968 and earned his electrician degree from NICC.

Roger was united in marriage with Vicki Mannion November 11, 1972. Three children were born to this union. Roger worked as a parts manager for NAPA Auto Parts for 43 years, retiring in 2015.

Marleen Marie Moritz, 71, of Monona passed away peacefully with family at her side early Saturday, August 26, 2017, following a long illness at Crossing Rivers Health, Prairie du Chien, WI. Mass of Christian Burial was held Thursday, August 31 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Monona with Rev. Nils de Jesus Hernandez as the Celebrant. Burial followed at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery, McGregor.

Marleen Blietz was born December 6, 1945 to parents Giles W. and Dorothy M. (Jarms) Blietz in Monona. She was baptized December 23, 1945 and received her first Holy Communion May 10, 1953, both at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Garnavillo. Marleen was confirmed March 2, 1958 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Monona.

Bradford J. Krambeer, 67, of Waukon passed away peacefully at his home in Waukon with his family by his side Saturday, September 2, 2017. Funeral services will be held Thursday, September 7 at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon, with Pastor Grant VanderVelden officiating. Burial with military honors will be at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon. Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, September 6 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.

Bradford John Krambeer was born February 6, 1950 at Postville Community Hospital in Postville, the son of Burnell and Carol (Gilson) Krambeer. He was baptized at the Lutheran Church in Monona and confirmed at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon. In 1968, Bradford graduated from Waukon High School. He then enlisted in the Marine Corps and served for three years. Following his honorable discharge, he attended and graduated from Marshalltown Community College and then went on to study biology at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.

Fred L. Hogan, 76, of Lansing died Thursday, August 31, 2017 at Mayo Health Systems in La Crosse, WI. Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday, September 5 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lansing with the Rev. John Moser as the Celebrant. Interment was at Gethsemane Cemetery in Lansing.

Fred was born November 9, 1940 in La Crosse, WI to Floyd and Elizabeth (Livingston) Hogan. Fred graduated in 1960 from Eastern Allamakee Community School in Lansing and then attended Barber College in Waterloo. He began barbering in 1961, opening his own shop in 1963, from which he retired in 2009.