Obituaries

Rodney Hagensick, age 55, of Decorah died Sunday, June 7, 2015 at his home in Decorah. Memorial Services were held at Walden Pond, Castalia Monday, June 15, with Rev. David Lenth of Ossian Lutheran Church officiating. Interment was at Walden Pond Cemetery, Castalia.
Rodney Lowell Hagensick was born December 21, 1959, the son of Jack and Sally (Schultz) Hagensick in Decorah. Rodney was baptized April 24, 1960 at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Castalia and confirmed April 27, 1975 at the Glenwood Lutheran Church, rural Decorah. Rodney attended Waukon Community Schools and helped on the family farm. He worked at Deco Products in Decorah and then also farmed with his dad.
Together, he and Paula Hitchcock had two sons, Shane and Troy. Rodney then was united in marriage to Sharla Fogt and had Elijah “E.J.” and Ethan. They later divorced.

Merlin Lee Boese, 73, of Waukon, formerly of Postville, died Wednesday, June 3, 2015 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral Services were held Saturday, June 6 at Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Postville. Burial followed in the Postville Cemetery, Postville.
Merlin was born November 4, 1941 in Iowa City to William and Mary (Freeman) Boese. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville and attended Postville Schools. Merlin worked at Beucher Lanes and Iowa Turkey Products.
Merlin had been a resident of Makee Manor, north of Waukon, for many years, where he enjoyed many activities offered there. He was recently a resident at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Merlin enjoyed viewing and sharing his collection of movies, especially old westerns. He liked sitting outside and visiting with his friends at the care centers.

Mildred M. Brooks, 98, of Waukon died Friday, May 22, 2015 at Good Samaritan Society in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Saturday, June 13 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Waukon, with Pastor Kim Gates officiating. Burial will be at Smithfield Cemetery, rural Monona.
Friends may call one hour before services Saturday at the church. Memorials may be directed to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Good Samaritan Society or Winneshiek Medical Center Hospice. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is assisting the family with arrangements.
Mildred Margaret Brooks was born September 23, 1916 in Waukon, the daughter of Irvin A. and Anna C. (Nelson) McShane. She attended rural country schools and graduated from Waukon High School in 1934. February 22, 1936 she married Allen Everett Brooks in Castalia.

Joan Grosshuesch, age 90, of Sheboygan, WI died June 7, 2015 at Sharon Richardson Community Hospice in Sheboygan, WI. A Funeral Service will be conducted for Joan Thursday, June 11 at 11 a.m. at Ebenezer U.C.C., located at 3215 Saeman Avenue in Sheboygan, WI, with the Reverend Roger Mealiff, pastor, officiating. Interment will be in Immanuel UCC Cemetery, town of Herman, WI. Friends may call on the family at Ballhorn Chapels in Sheboygan, WI Wednesday, June 10 from 5-7 p.m. and at the church Thursday, June 11 from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.

Tom J. Goltz, 60, of Waukon died Monday, June 1, 2015 at his home in Waukon. Funeral services were held Thursday, June 4 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Rev. Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg and Deacon Mike Ward officiating. Burial was at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon.
Thomas "Tom" James Goltz was born July 19, 1954 in Waukon, the son of Dale and Mary "Sis" (Campbell) Goltz. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, and graduated from Waukon High School in 1972. Tom worked at Northern Engraving in Waukon as a lead man and in 2003 he went to work for KolGol, where he was a foreman.
He was a member of the Red Wing Pottery Association. Tom enjoyed going to auctions, collecting pottery, riding motorcycle, attending rock concerts, traveling the world, and spending time with his family.

Betty L. Howe, 80, of rural Waukon died Sunday, May 31, 2015 at her home surrounded by her loving family. Funeral services will be held Friday, June 5 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Fr. Jim Dubert and Deacon Mike Ward officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary's Hanover Cemetery, rural Waukon. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, June 4 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, where there will be a 3:45 p.m. scripture service. In lieu of flowers, family prefers memorials which will be given to local charities.
Elizabeth Louise Howe was born February 12, 1935 in Garnavillo, the daughter of Bernard “Verni” and Eleanora (Taake) Berns. She was baptized at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Garnavillo. In 1936, her family moved to a farm on West Ridge. She graduated from St. Patrick’s High School in Waukon in 1953, and in 1956 Betty graduated from the Mercy School of Nursing in Dubuque.

Evelyn Elizabeth Wiemerslage, 95, of Dorchester passed away Sunday, May 31, 2015 at the Good Samaritan Society in Waukon. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, June 3 at St. Luke’s United Church of Christ, Eitzen, MN. Pastor Michael McCann will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of service Wednesday, June 3 at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.
Evelyn was born February 15, 1920 in Allamakee County to Alfred and Caroline (Leuhr) Thompson. She graduated from Waukon High School and Normal Training in 1938. After graduating, she taught in one-room country schools, including Washington, Union, Dorchester, Harmony and English Bench Schools. When the Allamakee School District consolidated, Evelyn taught third grade at Dorchester Elementary School until retiring in 1965.

Calvin “Chuck” Wright, 91, of Dorchester died Friday, May 29, 2015 at his home. Memorial services will be held Saturday, June 6 at 11 a.m. at Waterloo Ridge Lutheran Church  in rural Dorchester, with Rev. Allen Hermeier officiating. Burial of ashes will be at Waterloo Ridge Cemetery at a later date.
Friends may greet the family from 10 a.m. until time of service and again following the service at the church Saturday, June 6. Martin Funeral Home of Waukon is assisting the family with arrangements.
Calvin Eugene “Chuck” Wright was born August 20, 1923 in Ossian, the son of George Albert and Lettie Christine (Strand) Wright. He was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Decorah. When he was young, Chuck’s family rented several area farms, so they moved often and he attended several area rural elementary schools and Waukon and Spring Grove, MN High Schools.

Jason William Ferguson, 87, of Monona died Saturday, May 23, 2015 at the Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Friday, May 29 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Monona, with the Rev. Erika Kielstrup officiating. Burial followed in St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Monona with Military Honors.
Jason was born August 31, 1927 to William and Anna (Timmerman) Ferguson in Allamakee County. He attended Walnut Grove Country School, north of Monona, through the eighth grade. December 19, 1945, he joined the United States Navy during World War II and served as an Electrician’s Mate Third Class until October 24, 1947. He was honorably discharged at the U.S. Naval Repair Station in San Diego, CA.

Dorothy Halverson, 87, of McGregor passed away suddenly Tuesday, May 26, 2015. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 3 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in McGregor, with visitation from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, June 2 at Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home in McGregor, as well as one hour before the service at the church. Interment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery, McGregor.
Dorothy Rosemary Pfiffner was born September 10, 1927, the daughter of Edmond and Clara (Miller) Pfiffner of Lansing. Dorothy married Roger Halverson of Waukon and the couple moved to McGregor, where they raised their three daughters. Dorothy was a housewife and businesswoman, operating Dorothy’s Beauty Salon out of her home in downtown McGregor for many years. She was an active member of St. Mary’s Church, and enjoyed crocheting, dancing to big band music and spending time with her family.