Obituaries

"Gentle woman, quiet light, morning star, so strong and bright, gentle Mother, peaceful dove, teach us wisdom; teach us love."
Karen Anne Sweet (nee Gallagher), age 75, of Apple Valley, MN passed away suddenly March 7, 2016. Services were held at Incarnation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, MN with interment at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery.
Karen was born in Waukon May 20, 1940 to Maurice and Estella Dahlen Gallagher of Hanover. The youngest of nine, Karen was the only one of her siblings born in a hospital. Upon graduation from Waukon St. Patrick's High School in 1958, Karen became a novice with the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary (PBVM). After taking her final vows, she became known as Sr. Judith Gallagher.

Robyn Joy Collins Meredith, 55, of Caledonia, MN died Saturday, March 12, 2016 following injuries suffered in an auto accident near Ft. Atkinson. Memorial services were held Monday, March 21 at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville, with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial of ashes was in the church cemetery.
Robyn Joy Collins Meredith was born March 22, 1960 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She was the daughter of Carlton Horace and Sonya Karleen (Liddle) Christianson. She was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon and confirmed at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing.

Nicholas "Nick" John Manning, age 25, of Mabel, MN died unexpectedly Sunday, March 13, 2016 at his home. Funeral Mass was held Saturday, March 19 at the Mabel-Canton High School in Mabel, MN, with Father Joe Hennen and Msgr. Donald P. Schmitz co-officiating.  Burial was in the Mabel Public Cemetery in Mabel, MN.
Nick was born February 11, 1991 in La Crosse, WI to Kevin and Joan (Sweeney) Manning. He was baptized at St. Olaf Catholic Church in Mabel, MN and confirmed at Assumption Catholic Church in Canton, MN. In 2009, he graduated from Mabel-Canton High School and in 2010 graduated from the Carpentry Program at Minnesota State College Southeast Technical. He worked with his parents at Village Farm and Home in Mabel, MN.

CDR. (Ret.) Charles Robert "Bob" Hinrichs, age 90, formerly of Waukon, passed away in Jacksonville, FL January 20, 2016. A celebration of life for Bob and his wife, Chris, will be held Friday, March 18 at Ashland Place United Methodist Church at 10 a.m. in Mobile, AL. Interment of cremains will take place at the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spanish Fort, AL at 2:30 p.m.
Bob was born in 1925 in French Creek Township, Allamakee County, Iowa to Carl John and Anna Marie Wild Hinrichs. He was educated in local schools and graduated from Waukon High School. He was married to Christine I. "Chris" McArthur of Darien, GA for 61 years. Chris passed away in Mobile, AL January 9, 2012.

Jeff M. Fern, 63, of rural Waukon was a loving, caring and compassionate son, brother and uncle. He unexpectedly passed away March 7, 2016 at his hunting cabin. Visitation for friends and family is scheduled from 4-6 p.m. Friday, March 18 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon. A Memorial service to honor Jeff will follow at 6 p.m. with Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating at the funeral home.
Jeff was an accomplished archer and active sportsman in many outdoors activities. Jeff was intensely passionate about nature, and his love for the outdoors was evident through activities he participated in throughout his life. At his cabin, he enjoyed his bird dogs and capturing impressive white-tailed deer on video and in still photography.

John Manning passed away Saturday, March 5, 2016 in Lansing. Visitation will be at Maresh-Meredith Funeral Home, located at 803 Main Street in Racine, WI, Friday, March 18 from 5-7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, March 19 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Richard’s Catholic Church, located at 1503 Grand Avenue in Racine, WI, with Reverend Ron Gramza officiating. Burial will immediately follow at Calvary Cemetery in Racine, WI. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to be directed to the Lansing Fire Department and Ambulance Service, Lansing, IA 52151.
John was the son of Cyril Manning and Viola (Augedahl) Manning-Strub. He was born December 3, 1953 in Waukon and attended Immaculate Conception Grade School and St. George High School (Class of 1972) in Lansing and Gateway Technical College in Kenosha, WI. He lived in Racine, WI from 1974-2005.

Richard A. Hager, 64, of Elkader, formerly of Waukon, died Thursday, March 10, 2016 at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, WI. Visitation will be held Thursday, March 17 from 4-7 p.m. at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.
Richard Arthur Hager was born November 15, 1951 in Waukon, the son of Arthur Fredrick and Leona Marie (Glaser) Hager. He was baptized at Bethlehem Presbyterian Church in rural Postville and confirmed at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon. He graduated from Waukon High School in 1970. June 30, 2001 he married Aileen Mary Tackitt in a ceremony in rural Harpers Ferry.

Violet G. Long, age 73, died February 23, 2016 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon.
Violet was born June 16, 1942 in rural Monona to Lester Schlitter and DELillia Bollman. She became a child of God through the sacrament of baptism in the Methodist Church of Monona. She graduated in 1960 from Waterville High School, where she was a member of the softball team.
In 1961, she married Ervin Bugenhagen. They are the parents of three children. November 17, 1990, she married James Long.
Violet worked at various factories, restaurants and pubs. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends, bowling, going to toy shows with her husband, Jim, going to dances, and playing cards.
Violet was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jim; her brother, Arno Schlitter; and a step-grandson, Brent Blietz.

Verdine J. Berns, 79, of Waukon died Thursday, March 10, 2016 at his home in rural Waukon surrounded by his loving family. Funeral services were held Monday, March 14 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Rev. Msgr. Cletus Hawes, Fr. Donald Hawes, Rev. Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg, Fr. Gary Mayer and Deacon Mike Ward officiating. Burial with military graveside rites was at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Patrick Catholic School or Veterans Memorial Hospital, both in Waukon.

Eleanor C. Ryan, 94, of Waukon died Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 15 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Rev. Msgr. Cletus Hawes, Fr. Donald Hawes, Rev. Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg and Deacon Mike Ward officiating. Burial was at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon.
Eleanor Clemence Ryan was born April 29, 1921 on her grandparents’ Jefferson Township farm near Rossville. She was the daughter of John Charles and Miranda Helen (Link) Larkin. Eleanor was baptized and confirmed at St. Pius Catholic Church, Cherry Mound. She attended the Jefferson #7 country school and in 1941 graduated from St. Patrick High School in Waukon.