Obituaries

Brigitte L. Weymiller, 49, of Harpers Ferry died Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Emplify Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, WI. Memorial services will be held Friday, May 15 at 2 p.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon.
The family invites relatives and friends to join them for a Celebration of Life beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, after the service, at Portside Supper Club in Harpers Ferry, where a meal will be served from 5-7 p.m. Please feel free to stay, visit, and share memories into the evening. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.

Timothy “Tim” R. O’Malley, 74, of Lansing passed away Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Lansing. Per Tim’s wishes, he will be cremated. A celebration of life will be held at TJ Hunters Banquet Hall at 377 Main Street, Lansing Saturday, June 27 from 1-5 p.m.

Memorials may be directed to the family at P.O. Box 655, Lansing, IA 52151. Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home in Lansing is assisting the family. Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.

Timothy Raymond O’Malley was born June 27, 1951, in Davenport to Dennis and Kathleen (Spinner) O’Malley. He graduated from St. George High School in 1969. He was a member of the U.S. Army, serving in Vietnam. Tim was also a member of the VFW Post 5981 in Lansing.

Jean Hager, 80, of Cedar Falls died Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at Western Home Communities in Cedar Falls. A private service was held at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements.

Jean Ellyn Hager was born July 8, 1945, the daughter of Robert and Marian (Raisty) Hager. She graduated from Waukon High School and received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa.

Jean kept busy throughout her life and lived in various places such as Washington state, Connecticut, California, Wisconsin, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Iowa where she worked at various jobs. She became a loving caregiver for her mother in her last years and later provided compassionate care for her cousin Virgil in his remaining years.

Sister Mary Lou Cota, PBVM (formerly Sister William Marie), 88, died Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Sisters of the Presentation (Mount Loretto), 2360 Carter Road, Dubuque. Wednesday, May 13, friends may call from 9:30-11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Chapel, Sisters of the Presentation, where there will be a wake service at 9:30 a.m. and funeral service at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Key West.

The Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Sisters of the Presentation, 2360 Carter Road, Dubuque, IA 52001 or online at www.dbqpbvms.org.

Sister Lou, daughter of William and Marie (Hawes), was born June 15, 1937, as Mary Lou Cota, in Harpers Ferry. She entered the Sisters of the Presentation September 8, 1955, and professed her perpetual vows August 21, 1963.

Patrick Loras Byrnes, 88, of Rochester, MN, formerly of Waterloo, passed away May 2, 2026, in Rochester. He was born August 16, 1937, in Waukon, the son of Garland and Mary (Reddy) Byrnes.

Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday, May 12 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waterloo, under the auspices of Queen of Peace Catholic Church. Burial took place in Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery, Waterloo.

Patrick grew up on a farm near Dorchester and graduated from St. Patrick’s High School in Waukon with the Class of 1955. He then served his country in the United States Army from 1956 to 1958 and was stationed in Fort Lewis, WA. Upon his honorable discharge from service, Patrick continued his education as a diesel mechanic.

Patrick was united in marriage to Barbara Jean Hundey. She preceded him in death November 23, 1998. October 20, 2001, he was united in marriage to Carol Wanderscheid Ehler.

Linda Ann Hamadani, age 75, of Waukee, passed away peacefully April 21, 2026. She was born December 2, 1950, to Arden and Gladys (Ludeking) Iverson and raised in Waukon. Online condolences may be left at https://www.reifffamilycenter.com/ under the Obituaries section.

Friday, May 1, 2026, after suffering a sudden stroke, Catherine Josephine Weighner of Grand Rapids, MI entered into eternal life. She was surrounded by her husband Phil and their children and died in the peace of Christ’s promises.

A Mass of Christian Burial took place Friday, May 8 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Grand Rapids, MI. Memorial contributions may be made either to HELP Pregnancy Aid or to Assure Women’s Center of Cedar Springs, MI.

Cathy was the fifth of ten children and grew up in San Gabriel, CA. The lively sense of humor, readiness to serve, and creative imagination for which she was well-known blossomed from childhood. Being raised in an intergenerational household, Cathy learned early on how to care for and befriend people at all stages of their life.

Jean Huffey, 94, of Waterville passed away peacefully May 4, 2026. Jean moved to Wellington Place in Decorah in 2022 and Creamery Creek in Viroqua, WI in October 2025.
Memorial services were held Friday, May 8 at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Waukon with Pastor Kim Gates and Pastor Laura Gentry officiating. Burial will take place at a later date. Memorials can be directed to Agrace Hospice or Veterans Memorial Hospital, Waukon.

Jean was born in rural Hawkeye January 5, 1932, to George and Delia Boess. She attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls (1949-1950). After graduating, Jean taught at Waterville Elementary School. She married George Huffey April 10, 1953 and they were married for 63 years.

Kathryn “Kate” A. Urell, 82, of Waukon died Monday, May 4, 2026, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services were held Friday, May 8 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Joseph Sevcik officiating.

Burial was at St. John The Baptist - West Ridge Cemetery, in rural Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled the arrangements.

Kathryn Ann Urell was born August 14, 1943, in Waukon, the daughter of Floyd and Florence (Wild) Waters. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph Catholic Church in New Albin and attended Clear Creek School in Union City Township until 8th grade. Kate graduated from Waukon High School in 1961.

John Virgil Prohaski, 88, of Mason City passed away May 3, 2026. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 11 at Epiphany Parish - St. Joseph Catholic Church, 302 5th Street SE in Mason City with Rev. Ben Valentine as celebrant. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services at the church.

John was born June 14, 1937, in Mason City, the son of Charlie and Jenny (Olson) Prohaski. He graduated from Mason City High School in May of 1955. He attended Mason City Junior College (now NIACC), graduating in 1957. He received his Bachelors Degree from Iowa State Teacher’s College in 1961 and later his Master’s Degree of Psychology from Winona State University.

After teaching in Missouri Valley and in Marble Rock, his family settled in  Waukon for the remainder of their teaching careers.   John also worked as a volunteer EMT for the Veterans Memorial Hospital for many years.