Obituaries

Bernice J. Knudtson, 93, of Waukon died Friday, October 3, 2014 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Saturday, October 25 at 11 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, with Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating. Inurnment will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.
Friends may call one hour before services Saturday, October 25 at the church. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is assisting the family with arrangements.
Bernice Johanna Knudtson was born September 11, 1921 in Waukon, the daughter of Hans and Marie (Schager) Johnson. She attended Excelsior and Dalby country schools and Waterville School. March 12, 1940, she married Bernard Peter Knudtson in Waukon.
Bernice worked at the Veterans Memorial Hospital for several years in the 1970s, and later worked at the Good Samaritan Center. She enjoyed dancing, especially square dancing, working in her flower gardens, playing cards, and bingo.

Linda M. Sires, 64, of New Albin died Monday, October 20, 2014 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Friday, October 24 at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon, with Pastor Samantha Houser officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.
Linda Marie Sires was born February 23, 1950 in Waukon, the daughter of Kenneth William and Lyla Vivian (Solberg) Smith. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, and attended Waukon schools and later received her GED.
Linda worked at the New Albin Grocery Store and Post Office for several years. She also worked as a cook at the East Side Cafe in New Albin, and did some catering for many special occasions.

Gerald “Jerry” Clarence Breimon, Sr., 69, of Lansing died Friday, October 17, 2014 at Mayo Clinic Health Systems in La Crosse, WI. There will be a private family service at a later date.
Gerald was born May 30, 1945 to Clarence and Violet (Freih) Breimon in Edgeley, ND. Gerald graduated from Farragut High School in 1961 and earned an accounting degree from the University of Illinois.
June 25, 1966 in Joliet, IL he married Janet Stevenson. They later divorced. He served his country in the United States Army and was stationed in Germany during Vietnam. July 7, 1980 in Las Vegas, NV Gerald married Jody Sickles. They later divorced.
Gerald was a machinist, postal carrier, air traffic controller, warehouse manager and a school bus driver in his lifetime. He enjoyed building and repairing automobiles and watching NASCAR.

Harold L. Severson, 89, of Waukon died Friday, October 17, 2014 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Monday, October 20 at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waukon, with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial with military rites was at Old West Paint Creek Cemetery. Martin Funeral Home of Waukon assisted the family with arrangements.
Harold Leroy Severson was born August 19, 1925 in Woodford, WI, the son of Leroy and Laura (nee Erickson) Severson. At the age of five he moved with his family to the rural Waukon area. Harold was confirmed at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church. He attended rural elementary school and Waukon High School. After helping area farmers for a couple of years, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Korea.

Dean R. Johnson, 82, of Waukon died Thursday, October 16, 2014 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Monday, October 20 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, with Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating. Burial with military honors was at Old West Paint Creek Cemetery, rural Waukon.
Dean Richard Johnson was born August 1, 1932 in rural Waukon, the son of Oscar and Selma (Wilke) Johnson. He was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon and confirmed at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waukon. He attended Jefferson School #8.

Dale C. Schwartzhoff, 75, of Dorchester died Tuesday, October 14, 2014 at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, WI. Funeral services were held Friday, October 17 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dorchester, with Fr. Jim Dubert officiating. Burial was at St. Mary’s Dorchester Cemetery.
Dale Clarence Schwartzhoff was born September 23, 1939 in Spring Grove, MN, the son of Clarence Theodore and Winifred Florentine (Welscher) Schwartzhoff. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dorchester. He attended country school and graduated from Spring Grove High School in 1958. Upon graduation, Dale completed basic training and was in the Army Reserves. Dale pursued his passion for farming, starting with his parents.

Keith M. Smith, 91, of Postville passed away Saturday, October 11, 2014 at his home in Postville. Funeral Services were held Friday, October 17 at the Community Presbyterian Church in Postville with Rev. Gary Catterson as the officiant. Interment was at the Postville Cemetery.
Keith Morgan, the son of Lester and Dora (Harris) Smith, was born October 21, 1922 in Postville. He graduated from Postville High School in 1940. Keith was united in marriage with Rose Marie Brewer June 15, 1944 at the St. Bridget Rectory in Postville. Keith farmed his family’s farm, north of Postville, his entire life. He retired from farming in 2008.

Virginia “Ginny” Ann Luster, 73, of Harpers Ferry, formerly of St. Olaf, passed away Sunday, October 12, 2014 at her home. Funeral services were held at Norway Lutheran Church in St. Olaf Friday, October 17, with Reverend Marshall Hahn as the officiant. Interment was held at Norway Lutheran Cemetery.
Virginia was born December 22, 1940 to Gunnar and Selma (Knudtson) Landsgaard in rural Gunder. She attended St. Olaf Independent Elementary School and graduated from Elkader High School in 1958. Virginia graduated from Luther College, majoring in Music and minoring in English, where she was a four-year member of the Luther College Nordic Cathedral Choir.
She was baptized March 23, 1942 by Reverend S. J. Strandjord at Norway Lutheran Church and confirmed there June 27, 1954, also by Reverend Strandjord. Virginia was united in marriage to James “Pete” Luster August 10, 1974 in St Olaf at Norway Lutheran Church.

Kathryn M. Phillipp, 66, of Waukon, formerly of Waterloo, was gently called home to be with the Lord Sunday morning, September 28, 2014 from her home in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Saturday, October 18 at 3 p.m. at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, with Rev. Matthew Castle officiating. Friends may call from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, October 18 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.
Kathryn Marie Phillipp was born December 22, 1947 in La Crosse, WI, the daughter of William Ellis and Nettie Pearl (Kellison) Sheriff. She was baptized at Forest Mills United Methodist Church in rural Postville and attended Waukon schools. Kathy worked at IBP Beef Packing Company in Waterloo. She lived in Clarksville, Milwaukee, WI, Grafton, WI, Prairie du Chien, WI and Waterloo before moving to Waukon in 2008.

John B. Larkin, 86, of Dorchester died Wednesday, October 8, 2014 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services were held Saturday, October 11 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Fr. Jim Dubert and Deacon Mike Ward officiating. Burial was at St. Mary's Hanover Cemetery, rural Waukon.
John Bertram Larkin was born July 15, 1928 in Jefferson Township in rural Waukon, the son of John C. and Miranda Helen (Link) Larkin. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Pius Cherry Mound in rural Harpers Ferry. John attended elementary school at Jefferson #7 and graduated from St. Patrick’s High School in Waukon in 1946.