Obituaries

Judy M. Dee, 74, of Waukon died Thursday, May 11, 2023 at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, WI. Memorial services will be held Friday, May 19 at 11 a.m. at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon with Pastor Cathy Jurgens officiating. Friends may greet the family from 9 a.m. until time of services Friday at the church. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

Judy Mae Dee was born December 6, 1948 in Fairfield, the daughter of Earl and Bernita (Rose) Siverly. She attended grade school and junior high in Bonaparte and Harmony High School in Farmington.

Judy was married to Roger Lee Cole, and together they had a daughter, Lisa, and then later divorced. Judy and Lisa then moved to Waukon in 1970, where she first worked at Northern Engraving Factory.

Beverly Jane (Grosskoph) Thiele, 92, of Caledonia and Eitzen, MN found her peace May 10, 2023 at Gundersen Tweeten Care Center in Spring Grove, MN. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 18 at St. Luke’s Church in Eitzen, MN. Pastor Michael McCann will officiate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The service will also be live streamed on https://www.facebook.com/michael.d.mccann.7?mibextid=LQQJ4d.

A visitation will be held from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 17 and also from 10 a.m. until the time of service Thursday, both at St. Luke’s Church.

Beverly was born January 13, 1931 at Grandview Hospital in La Crosse, WI to Walter and Elsie (Siedel) Grosskoph. She was baptized February 8, 1931 and confirmed March 25, 1945 at Mount Calvary Ev. Lutheran Church in La Crosse.

Doris Guese, 98, of Postville died Saturday, May 13, 2023 at Stoney Brook Village Assisted Living, West Union. Funeral Services were held Tuesday, May 16 at Salem United Church of Christ, Waukon. Burial followed at Bethlehem Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Postville.

Doris Rose (Hager) Guese was born March 13, 1925 to Henry and Rose (Stock) Hager. She graduated from Waukon High School.

Trisha L. Jones, 57, of Harpers Ferry died Tuesday, May 9, 2023 from injuries sustained in a workplace accident at 3M in Prairie du Chien, WI. Memorial services were held Tuesday, May 16 at Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon with Pastor Rusty Phillips officiating. Burial was in Rossville Cemetery.

Trisha Louise Jones was born September 12, 1965 in Waukon, the daughter of Thomas Sr. and Velma (Merchant) Weipert. She was baptized in the Catholic church and attended Waukon High School.

When Trisha first met her husband, Howard, it was love at first sight. Together they had two sons, Ben and Levi, and finally married May 27, 1989 at Sweet Ridge Lutheran Church in McGregor, but were together 42 years in total.

Donald H. Ewing, 84, of Lansing died peacefully at his home in rural Lansing Thursday, May 4, 2023 with his loving wife by his side. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, June 3 from 2-5 p.m. at Shep’s Riverside Bar & Grill in Lansing. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

Donald Harry Ewing was born March 17, 1939, the son of Harry and Charlene (Webster) Ewing. He was baptized and confirmed at Forrest Mills Methodist Church in rural Postville and graduated from Waukon High School in 1959.

July 11, 1959, he married Karen Kruger at Forrest Mills United Methodist Church; they had three children: Steven, Dawn and Deneen. They started out farming in Ludlow Township and then moved to Waterloo. Don worked for a Ford dealership where he did alignment on semi trucks and body work on cars, spending his free time working on stock cars and attending the races.

Mary Kathleen “Katie” Melde-Donnelly Reninger, age 46, passed away April 18, 2023 in Heath, TX. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 27 at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lansing with Fr. Daniel Knipper officiating. Visitation will take place May 27 from 10 a.m. until the time of services at the church.

Katie was born May 29, 1976 in La Crosse, WI to Michael Melde and Helen Boland Melde. She graduated from Edgewood College in Madison, WI with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology.

Katie is survived by her husband, George Reninger; her son, Kylan Donnelly; her daughter, Keelee Donnelly, her son, Micah Reninger; her son, Noah Reninger; her parents, Michael and Helen Melde; her sister, Ann Melde-Rahe; her brothers, Steven (Sherry), Andrew, Christopher (Erin), Mark and Robert Melde; 17 nieces and nephews; and many friends.

James Lynn Halverson, 77, of rural Monona died Saturday, May 6, 2023 at his home surrounded by his family. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, May 13 from 1-3 p.m. at the Zion United Church of Christ fellowship hall in Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is assisting the family.

Jim Halverson (also known as Gramps) was born December 26, 1945 at the Hall House in Waukon, the son of Lynn Charles and Virginia Maxine (Winter) Halverson. Jim was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville and graduated from Postville High School in 1963. In 1965, he moved to Cedar Rapids and worked as the night supervisor at Weyerhauser Company.

Lynn Ordell Bjerke, age 68, of West Union, formerly of Waukon, died January 19, 2023 after suffering a stroke. A Celebration of Life is scheduled to take place Saturday, May 13 at the Elgin Golf Club from 1-4 p.m. Refreshments will be served and all are invited to share memories.

Gerry V. DeBuhr, 74, of Waukon died Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at his home. Private family graveside services were held at Salem Cemetery in rural Waukon with Pastor Sue Klimstra and Pastor Jeanyne Slettom officiating. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled the arrangements.

Gerald “Gerry” Victor DeBuhr was born November 27, 1948 in Waukon, the son of Victor and Betty (Selberg) DeBuhr. He was baptized and confirmed at Salem United Church of Christ in rural Waukon and graduated from Waukon High School in 1967, where he played football, basketball and golf.

Elaine E. Knuppe, 76, of Waukon died Monday, May 1, 2023 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon surrounded by her family. Funeral services were held Friday, May 5 at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waukon with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating and burial was in the church cemetery.

Elaine Esther Knuppe was born September 28, 1946 in Waukon, the daughter of Emil and Bernita Ruth (Kloke) Hanson. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon and graduated from Waukon High School in 1964. January 9, 1965, Elaine married Edward Charles Knuppe at St. John’s and they farmed together in Paint Creek Township.