Obituaries

Lawrence O. Murphy, age 72, of Belton, MO passed away Wednesday, January 2, 2019 surrounded by his loving family. A Celebration of Life Service will be held from 3-5 p.m. Saturday, February 23 at Cullen Funeral Home, 612 W. Foxwood Drive, Raymore, MO. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to HELP Humane Society, 17122 Bel-Ray Pl, Belton, MO 64012.

Lawrence was born September 2, 1946 in Easton, MD. He was the son of Charles Murphy and Anita Byrnes. Lawrence was one of five children, including Chuck, Dolly, Brian and Cindy.

After high school, Lawrence served his country in the United States Marine Corps for four years. Lawrence was a proud veteran and a lifetime member of the Shawnee, KS Post 10552 VFW. Lawrence was joined in marriage with his late wife, Alice Murphy, June 7, 1968. They were blessed with three sons, Martin, Michael and Patrick. Lawrence was an avid golfer and a loving family man who left an incredible impression on everyone he met.

Evelyn Reuter, age 86, of Monticello died Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at Mercy Hospital, Cedar Rapids due to complications of Diabetes. Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, January 19 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Monticello with interment in the Oakwood Cemetery, Monticello.

Gary Herman Helgerson, 72, of Elkader died Tuesday, January 15, 2019 at Patty Elwood Center, Country Winds Manor in Cresco following a brief illness due to dementia. A Memorial Service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 23 at Elgin Lutheran Church, Elgin, with inurnment in the Elgin Cemetery.

Visitation is scheduled from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, January 22 at Leonard-Grau Funeral Home in Elkader and after 10 a.m. until time of service Wednesday at the church. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.

Caleb Ryan Colsch, 15, of New Albin passed away Thursday, January 17, 2019 near Brownsville, MN from injuries sustained in a car accident. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 23 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, New Albin with Rev. John Moser as the Celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, New Albin. Visitation will be Tuesday, January 22 from 3-8 p.m. at the New Albin Community Center, New Albin and one hour before Mass at the church Wednesday.

Dorothy Looney, 75, of Postville died Saturday, January 19, 2019 at her home in Postville. Funeral Service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 23 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Postville with Rev. Lynn Noel as the officiant. Burial will follow the luncheon at New Oregon Cemetery in Cresco. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, January 22 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville. There will also be a one-hour visitation before services at the church Wednesday.

Dorothy was born April 17, 1943 to Leon and Elsie (Timmerman) Creger in Cresco. She was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cresco. She attended country schools through the eighth grade and graduated from Crestwood High School in 1961. Dorothy moved to Postville in 1964 and worked at Northern Engraving in Waukon for 30 years until it closed in 2008. She then worked in the kitchen at Postville Community School for the last seven years, retiring just recently.

Marie Lou Johnson, 83, of Lansing died Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at Thornton Manor, Lansing. Funeral Services were held Tuesday, January 22 at Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Lansing. Burial followed at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lansing.

Marie Lou was born August 15, 1935 to Melvin and Selma (Tollefson) Ellefson in Lansing. She attended Lansing Public School.

Marie was united in marriage with Donald Johnson March 21, 1956 in Lansing. Three children were born to this union. Marie was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church and of the Ladies Aid. She enjoyed collecting cookbooks and was an avid baker. Marie loved her pets. Throughout the years, Marie had worked at the Lansing Button Factory, the movie theatre in Lansing and as a custodian and cook for 20 years at Eastern Allamakee Community Schools.

Ruth E. Hanson, 81, of Waukon died Friday, January 18, 2019 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Memorial services were held Monday, January 21 at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in her honor to Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon or Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville.

Ruth Esther Hanson was born April 8, 1937 at the Hall Hospital in Waukon, the daughter of Arthur and Esther (Winkie) Kruger. She was baptized at Zalmona Presbyterian Church and confirmed at First Presbyterian Church, both located in Waukon. In 1955, Ruth graduated from Waukon High School and then went to work for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company and as a nurse’s aide at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon.

Gene Klinge, age 82, of Harpers Ferry died Wednesday, January 16 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Bring your best memories and stories to share as the family of Gene Klinge celebrates his life Saturday, January 26 at 1:30 p.m. in a place very special to him, the gymnasium which bears his name at West Central Community School in Maynard. The family is looking forward to visiting with everyone prior to the service from 12:30-1:30 p.m.

In spirit of the occasion, the family requests those attending wear their favorite school apparel, be it Blue Devil blue, Indian orange, Hawkeye black and gold or even Minnesota Viking purple, or camouflage would be appropriate. If you’d rather, feel free to wear his signature red or orange socks in his honor.

Gary C. Hirth, 78, of Waukon died Monday, January 14, 2019 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI. Funeral services were held Friday, January 18 at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon with Pastor Samantha Houser and Pastor Kate Rupert officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon or the Allamakee Scholarship Foundation at Waukon High School; memorials can be sent to Lollie Hirth, 204 Eighth Avenue NW, Waukon, IA 52172.

Gary Charles Hirth was born April 17, 1940 in Waukon, the son of Alfred and Helen (Layer) Hirth. He grew up in the Churchtown area, was baptized and confirmed at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon, and graduated from Waukon High School.

Eli C. (Big Eli) Martin, 77, of Ashland, KY passed away peacefully at his home Saturday, January 12, 2019. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 19 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville with Reverend Lynn Noel as the officiant. Visitation will be for one hour before services at the church. Interment will follow in Postville Cemetery, Postville.

In lieu in flowers, donations may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, ATTN: Office of Development, 2900 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607 or www.shrinershospitalforchildren.org/shc/donate.

From an early age, Eli worked hard in whatever job he worked whether it was farming and/or regular employment. He worked for and retired in 2007 after 41 years as a Federal Food Inspector with the USDA. He was also a member of the Mailhandlers Union.