Obituaries

Paula Marie Keenan, 60, of Cedar Rapids passed away peacefully at the Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Cedar Rapids December 6, 2015, following a long courageous battle with illness. A memorial service was held Friday, December 11 at First Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids, with the Rev. Steve Knudson officiating.
Paula was born September 18, 1955 in Waukon to Ralph and Barbara (Joy) Keenan. She married the love of her life, Connie Splitgerber, May 18, 2015 as the capstone of a 20-year relationship. Paula graduated from Waukon High School in 1973, and earned an Associate of Arts degree from Kirkwood Community College. She worked for the Cedar Rapids Water Department for 27 years.
Paula enjoyed reading, music, and was a rabid Green Bay Packers fan. She was also an award-winning writer.

Ernie Beisker, age 71, of Waukon died Monday, November 16, 2015 in Tomah, WI. A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 12 at 2 p.m. at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Waukon, with Garry Birth officiating. Burial will be in Village Creek Cemetery.
Ernie was born April 29, 1944 in Waukon. He is survived by one daughter, Rebecca Beisker of Kentucky; two sisters, Rosie Mattson and Nancy Wood, both of Wisconsin; and five brothers, Francis, Dennis, John and Earl, all living in Waukon, and Richard, living in California.
 

Shelly L. Fink, 47, of New Albin died Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, WI. A celebration of life was held Sunday, December 13 at the New Albin Community Center in New Albin. A memorial service will also be held Saturday, January 16, 2016 from 2-3 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, located at 803 East Mapleleaf Drive in Mt. Pleasant.
Shelly Lynn Fink was born February 2, 1968 in Mt. Pleasant, the daughter of Dan Goddard and Judith Kae Scarff. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Mt. Pleasant. Shelly grew up in Mt. Pleasant and then moved to Waterloo to attend the University of Northern Iowa, where she graduated with her bachelor degree in nursing. Then in 1992, she moved to New Albin, where she was currently working as a registered nurse in home health care.

Christy Klees, 62, of Cedar Rapids passed peacefully at her home Sunday, December 6, 2015. Family will greet friends from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, December 9 at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 10 at the funeral home, conducted by Chaplain Mike Slagenweit-Coffman. Burial will be in Linwood Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Betty L. Timmerman, 83, of Lansing died Saturday, December 5, 2015 at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, WI. Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 10 at 11 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, with Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lansing. Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, December 9 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.
Betty Lou Timmerman was born March 13, 1932 in rural Lansing, the daughter of Daniel and Ada (Bolsinger) Spores. She was baptized and confirmed at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lansing and attended Lansing schools. She worked at the Toy Company and Button Factory, both in Lansing.

Kathy A. Langland, 52, of rural Waukon died Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at her home. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, December 9 at 11 a.m. at Glenwood Lutheran Church in rural Decorah, with Pastor Stacey Nalean-Carlson officiating. Burial will be at Glenwood East Cemetery, rural Decorah. Visitation will be held one hour before services at the church Wednesday. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

Delbert James “Delfee” Bulman, 89, of Dorchester died Friday, December 4, 2015 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Tuesday, December 8 at Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church in rural New Albin, with Pastor Paul Burgess officiating. Burial with military honors was at Mt. Hope Cemetery.
Delbert James "Delfee" Bulman was born to Alton John and Helga Mae (Sadler) Bulman January 22, 1926 in Preston, MN. After graduating from Waukon High School, he served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theatre from 1945 to 1946. Following his honorable discharge he returned to northeast Iowa where he began farming with his uncle, Fred.

Curtis L. Gramlich, 82, of Lansing passed peacefully at his son’s home in Hudson, WI Sunday, November 29, 2015, joining his loving wife of 56 years, Betty, in Heaven. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, December 10 at the Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Lansing, with a one-hour visitation before services at the church Friday. Memorial Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, December 11 at the United Methodist Church, Lansing, with Rev. Kevin Smith as the Officiant. A private family burial will be at a later date.

Marie D. Perry, 86, of Stonehill Care Center and formerly of 1843 Adair Street and Applewood Village, all in Dubuque, passed away peacefully Friday, November 30, 2015 at Mercy Medical Center in Dubuque.  Funeral services were held Friday, December 4 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church with the Rev. Steven Rosanke officiating. Burial was in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Key West, south of Dubuque.
Marie was born December 3, 1928 in Waukon, the daughter of James and Celia (Griffin) Collins. She graduated from Waukon High School in 1947. In February 1962, Marie married Robert V. Perry at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church. He preceded her in death February 5, 1995.

Jean A. Monserud, 89, of Waukon passed away peacefully of natural causes Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Saturday, December 5 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon with Rev. Lynn Groe officiating. Burial was held in Monona City Cemetery in Monona.
Jean Ardyce Monserud was born May 12, 1926 to Herbert and Elnora (Jahnke) Schmidt on the family farm near Garnavillo in rural Clayton County. When Jean was seven her parents began farming near Waterville.  Jean graduated from Waukon High School in 1942. She next attended normal training school in Waukon and studied teacher curriculum, which she completed in 1944.
Jean married Wesley Monserud April 2, 1945 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Garnavillo, where she was baptized June 26, 1926 and confirmed March 17, 1940.