Obituaries

Shirley J. Arneson, age 89, of Decorah died Thursday morning, January 14, 2021 at Barthell O.E.S. Home in Decorah. Private Family Services were held at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah with Rev. Kurt Bockoven officiating. Burial was in Big Canoe Lutheran Cemetery.

Shirley June (Albertson) Arneson was born January 22, 1931 to Herman and Ada (Hove) Albertson on a farm in Sumner Twp. Winneshiek County, rural Ridgeway. She was baptized and confirmed at the Lincoln Lutheran Church by Rev. D.C. Jordahl. She attended country school through eighth grade and graduated from Ridgeway High School.

Shirley was united in marriage with Ralph E. Arneson August 15, 1949 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. They were blessed with one daughter, Linda.

Marilyn Jean Moose, 80, of Monona died Monday, January 18, 2021 at the Good Samaritan Society in Postville. A private family funeral was held at Living Faith United Methodist Parish, Monona with Rev. Deb Parkison as the officiant. Burial took place in the Smithfield Cemetery, Monona. Condolences and memorials may be sent to 14023 Dolphin Avenue, Luana, IA 52156.

Marilyn Jean was born July 7, 1940 in Luana to Theodore and Pearl (Wilke) Timmerman. She was baptized May 22, 1942 by the Rev. Harvey W. Radwege at the Pilgrim E.U.B. White Church in Monona. Marilyn attended the Figi Country School through the eighth grade and Monona High School in Monona.

Marilyn was united in marriage to Albert Moose January 19, 1957 by the Rev. A.W. Ebert at the Pilgrim E.U.B. White Church in Monona. Four sons were born to this union. Over the years she took a great amount of pride in preparing home cooked meals for family and friends.

Lorna E. Thune, 87, of Waukon died Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Private family funeral services were held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon with Pastor Bryan Robertson officiating. Burial was at Big Canoe Cemetery in rural Decorah.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. John’s Lutheran Church Radio Ministry at P.O. Box 104, Waukon, IA 52172 or Good Samaritan Society at 21 East Main Street, Waukon, IA 52172. Cards may be sent to Chester Thune at 25 First Street SE, Waukon, IA 52172. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

Lorna Elaine Thune was born May 12, 1933 in Waukon, the daughter of Edgar and Lenora (Tangen) Nelson. She was baptized at the Iowa River Lutheran Church in rural Waukon and was confirmed at Big Canoe Lutheran Church in rural Decorah. Lorna attended country schools in Hanover and Pleasant Townships and graduated from Decorah High School in 1951.

Clifton O. Christianson, 86, of Waukon died Thursday, January 21, 2021 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Private family graveside services along with military honors were held in Bethlehem Cemetery in rural Postville with Karla Johnson officiating. Cards may be sent to Charlotte Christianson at 603 First Street NE, Waukon, IA 52172. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements.

Clifton Ordel Christianson was born December 8, 1934 in Center Township, rural Elon, the son of Andrew and Hilma (Larson) Christianson. He was baptized and confirmed at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville and attended Fan school. When he was 16 years old, his father died and Cliff took over the family operation for his mother. Cliff served in the United States Navy from 1955 to 1957; while in the Navy, he received his GED.

Scott Allen Sharp, age 36, previously from Decorah, passed away suddenly at his home in Des Moines after a short non-COVID related illness. A Celebration of Life Service was held Thursday, January 21 at Iron Ridge Church in Waukon.

Scott was born November 10, 1984 in Decorah to Linda and Larry Sharp. Scott grew up enjoying all the fun things of the era including Ghostbusters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, professional wrestling, video games and Legos. His family believes his love of Legos inspired his lifelong admiration and fascination with architecture and skyscrapers.

Scott worked at Aase Haugen and later Walmart during high school. He graduated from Decorah High School in 2003 and went on to graduate from NICC as an Electrician.  Scott worked in this field for a short time until he relocated to Des Moines. Scott worked in Des Moines at Johnson Brothers, the State of Iowa, and most recently for Ruan.

Dean L. Bechtel, 73, of rural Monona died Saturday, January 9, 2021 at Gundersen Medical Center in La Crosse, WI. Memorial services with military honors were held Friday, January 15 at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon with Rev. Cathy Jurgens officiating. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements.

Dean Lloyd Bechtel was born April 24, 1947 in Waukon, the son of Lloyd and Neva (Deal) Bechtel. He was baptized and confirmed at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon and in 1966 graduated from Waukon High School. Dean was drafted into the U.S. Navy and on the day of his high school graduation, he took the bus to Des Moines for his service physical. He served for four years during the Vietnam War on the USS Sterett DLG-31 and the USS Wainwright as a radioman with Top Secret Clearance.

John Hadley Steffenson, 83, of Plainview, MN and formerly of Rochester, MN passed away at the hospital Tuesday, January 12, 2021. Due to the pandemic and restrictions on gatherings, the January 16 funeral service was private for immediate family members only. A recording of the funeral is available on the Facebook page: Macken Funeral Home, River Park Chapel. Memorials are preferred to Bethel Lutheran Church.

John was born February 20, 1937 in Makee Township, Allamakee County to Nennor and Mildred (Aure) Steffenson. He was baptized April 25, 1937 and confirmed December 9, 1951 at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waukon. John attended country school and then graduated from Waukon High School in 1955. Following graduation, John served in the U.S. Army from 1956 to 1959 and was stationed in France for a while.

Helen C. Quillin, age 92, of Eau Claire, WI passed away peacefully January 10, 2021 at Luther Hospital, Mayo Health System in Eau Claire, WI after several months of declining health, including a bout with COVID-19. Due to COVID-19, a private ceremony will be held for her interment at Calvary Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum in Eau Claire, WI. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Helen’s name to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Eau Claire, WI or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Helen was born August 11, 1928 in Waukon to Fred and Mathilda (Hoffman) Hammell as the youngest of five siblings. After spending her early years on the family farm, she graduated from Lansing High School in 1946. She found work as a nurse’s aide in La Crosse, WI, which she loved and would talk about decades later.

Walter “Wally” H. Johnson, 86, of Waukon died Saturday, January 16, 2021 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. A private graveside service was held at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon in consideration of concerns regarding COVID-19. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements. Condolences may be sent to Cindy Schellhammer at 1274 Highway 9, Lansing, IA 52151.

Walter Harold Johnson, Jr. was born February 21, 1934 in Newell to Walter and Della (Santage) Johnson. He attended Newell Community Schools and graduated from Newell High School in 1951. Wally attended Cornell College in Mt. Vernon for one year before transferring to Drake University in Des Moines to finish his college education. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism in 1955. During his junior year, in 1954, Wally married Carole Melberg (from the Iowa town of Norway). They later divorced in 1981.

William “Billy” R. Amunrud, 66, of Dorchester passed away surrounded by his family Friday, January 15, 2021 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI. Private family memorial services will be held at Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon with Fr. John Moser officiating. Condolences may be sent to Terry Amunrud at 114 Dorchester Drive, Dorchester, IA 52140.

William Robert Amunrud was born December 19, 1954 in Spring Grove, MN, the son of Obert and Doris (Patterson) Amunrud. Bill was raised in Mabel, MN and graduated from Mabel-Canton High School in 1973. After high school, Bill worked for Northern Engraving in Spring Grove for many years before moving on to Croell Incorporated as a truck driver.

While at Northern Engraving, he met Theresa “Terry” Mahr. They married June 4, 1983 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dorchester and had three children, Joshua, Chelsea and Jordan.