Obituaries

Shirley Ann Kuennen, 89, of Ossian died Sunday, September 21, 2014 at the Aase Haugen Home in Decorah. Mass of Christian Burial was held Thursday, September 25 at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Ossian, with Msgr. Cletus Hawes as the Celebrant. Burial followed at the St. Francis de Sales Catholic Cemetery, Ossian.
Shirley was born April 22, 1925 to Leo and Mathilda (Einck) Huinker in Monona and raised on the family farm outside Festina. She attended St. Mary's School in Festina.
Shirley was united in marriage to Al Kuennen August 9, 1948 at Our Lady of Seven Dolors in Festina. They had nine children. Al and Shirley owned and operated the Wagon Wheel Supper Club where they served Al’s Famous Chicken. She also cooked at the Ossian Senior Hospice for 17 years before retirement. In her final years, she was well cared for by her Aase Haugen family in Decorah.

Merton A. Iverson, age 92, of Decorah died Wednesday morning, September 3, 2014 at Aase Haugen Home in Decorah. Funeral Services were held Sunday, September 7 at Decorah Lutheran Church, with Rev. David Sorensen and Rev. Bryan Robertson officiating. Burial was in Iowa River Cemetery in rural Dorchester with full military honors.
Merton Arvid Iverson was born May 29, 1922 in Pleasant Township, Winneshiek County to Olaf and Elma (Tweet) Iverson. He was baptized and confirmed at Iowa River Lutheran Church. Merton attended country school in Pleasant Township and graduated from Waukon High School with the Class of 1940.
He served in the Navy from December of 1940 to December of 1946 in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters.  He attended Junior College in Waukon for one year and Rankin Trade School in St. Louis for three years, where he was certified in plumbing and welding.

Ivan Earl Torkelson, 84, of Elgin died Saturday, September 13, 2014. Visitation will be Tuesday, September 16 from 4-8 p.m. at Elgin Lutheran Church, Elgin and one hour before services at the church Wednesday. Funeral Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, September 17 at Elgin Lutheran Church, Elgin, with Rev. Jerome Godson as the Officiant. Burial will follow at Elgin Cemetery, Elgin with Military Honors.
Ivan was born December 25, 1929 to Clarence and Adelia (Benson) Torkelson in Elgin. He graduated from Elgin High School in 1947, and also attended Luther College.
Ivan enlisted in the United States Army in 1952, serving during the Korean War. He spent one year in Germany, and was honorably discharged in 1954. He has been very active in the American Legion at local, state and national levels. Ivan was State Legion commander in 1997, and served on many national committees throughout his life.

Grace Bechtel, 91, of Lansing passed away Monday, September 8, 2014 at Thornton Manor in Lansing. Funeral Services were held Saturday, September 13 at the United Methodist Church in Lansing, with Rev. Kevin Smith as the officiant. Interment was at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lansing.
Grace, the daughter of John and Bertha (Cole) Hill, was born June 14, 1923 in Allamakee County. She attended grade school at Oil Springs School in Harpers Ferry and high school through the tenth grade in Lansing.  She then helped her parents raise her nine brothers and sisters.
She was united in marriage with Harold Lang in August of 1940. To this union two children were born, Richard and Marge. Harold and Grace later divorced. Grace was then united in marriage with Merlin Bechtel August 28, 1946. To this union two children were born, Marla and Karen. Merlin passed away in June of 1996.

Jack LaVern Mitchell, 79, of Lake Jackson, TX passed away peacefully Saturday morning, August 30, 2014 at home surrounded by his family. He fought a long and courageous battle with cancer and its effects.
A Memorial Service to celebrate and honor Jack was held Wednesday, September 3 at Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Lake Jackson, TX. A private burial service was held Friday, September 5 at Mission Park Funeral Chapels North in San Antonio, TX.

Olivia Grace and twin brother, Matthew Charles Welper, children of Aaron S. and Stephanie M. (Freed) Welper of Gettysburg, PA were born and passed Monday, September 8, 2014 at York Hospital in York, PA. Funeral Services were held Saturday, September 13 at Grace United Church of Christ, 100 Fourth Street, Hanover with Rev. Bruce Bouchard officiating. Interment will be in Biglerville Cemetery, Biglerville, PA.
In addition to their parents, they are survived by a sister, Kathleen L. Welper, at home; maternal grandparents, Betty and Terry Freed of Aspers, PA; paternal grandparents, Becky and Steve Welper of Waukon; paternal great-grandmother, Evelyn Welper of Waukon; two aunts, Kimberly (Scott) Oder and Emily Welper, all of Waukon; an uncle, Dennis Freed of Aspers, PA; and many cousins.
Professional services are being handled by Dugan Funeral Home, Inc., 111 South Main Street in Bendersville, PA. Friends may express online condolences at DuganFH.com.
 

Martin James Delaney, 80, of Harpers Ferry died Tuesday, September 9, 2014 at Thornton Manor, Lansing. Mass of Christian Burial was held Friday, September 12 at St. Ann - St. Joseph Catholic Church in Harpers Ferry, with Rev. John Moser as the Celebrant. Burial followed at Paint Rock Cemetery, rural Harpers Ferry with Military Honors.
Martin was born June 23, 1934 to John Joseph and Cecelia (Conway) Delaney in Harpers Ferry. Martin was baptized by Father O’Sullivan at Immaculate Conception Church, Wexford. He attended country school through the eighth grade and earned his GED while in the Army. He also attended Greer Diesel School in Chicago, IL.
Martin joined the United States Army in 1955 and was honorably discharged in 1956. November 3, 1962, Martin was united in marriage with Helen Ann Martelle at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Harpers Ferry. Three children were born to this union, Julie, Steven and Joanne.

The Allamakee County Sheriff's Office reports that a motorcycle accident Sunday morning, September 7 at 2096 State Hwy. 76 has claimed the life of the female driver of the motorcycle. A call was received by the Sheriff's Office at approximately 10:55 a.m. Sunday and the ensuing report states that Julia Ann Dohrer, age 54, of Iowa City was traveling southbound on State Hwy. 76 north of Waukon and attempted a turn into a private driveway at 2096 State Hwy. 76, the address for St. Mary's Catholic Church, Hanover.
The motorcycle failed to negotiate the turn, entered the ditch and rolled over. Dohrer was the lone occupant of the motorcycle and was pronounced dead at the scene as a result of injuries sustained in the accident.
The accident remains under investigation by the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office. Assisting at the scene of the accident was the Waukon Police Department, Iowa State Patrol and Veterans Memorial Hospital Ambulance Service.
 

Robert Glenn Kious, 82, of Lansing passed away September 1, 2014. A private gravesite service was held at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lansing Saturday, September 6.
Bob was born in Kahoka, MO February 25, 1932. He worked many years at the Allamakee Journal newspaper for Joe and John Dunlevy. He was also well known for his small engine repair. In his spare time he enjoyed working on lawn mowers, and it became a small business for him for many years. After retirement from the Journal office, he began working alongside his good friend, Charlie Smith, doing electrical work. He later started Bob's Electric, which he enjoyed for many years.

Darold “Buck” D. Ranzenberger, 78, of Dorchester died peacefully from complications of pneumonia, surrounded by his family, Sunday, September 7, 2014 at Veterans Memorial Hospital, Waukon.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 10 at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Eitzen, MN. Rev. Todd Krueger will officiate. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Caledonia, MN. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, September 9 and 10 a.m. until the time of service Wednesday, both at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Eitzen.
Buck was born January 1, 1936 in Caledonia, MN to Leonard, Sr., and Olga (Lund) Ranzenberger. September 24, 1955, Buck married Audrey Senn and they had five children, Cindy (Barry) Zenke, Larry (Janine), Ken (Jen), Terry (Nancy), and Penny (Jeff) Sweeney.