Obituaries

Don O. Bakke, 89, of Waukon died Friday, October 31, 2025, at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Tuesday, November 4 at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waukon with Pastor Marshall Hahn officiating. Burial with military honors was in the church cemetery.

Donald Ordell Bakke was born July 12, 1936, in La Crosse, WI, the son of Theodore and Gladys (Fossum) Bakke. He was baptized and confirmed at West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waukon and graduated from Waukon High School in 1954. Don lived for farming and spent his whole life on the family dairy farm until moving into Waukon in the 1980s. After retiring, he’d still go out and find something to tinker with or fix. His last trip to the farm was a special one with granddaughter Breanna taking him out Labor Day, 2025. Don also worked at Northern Engraving after retiring from the farm.

Joyce M. Regan, 78, of Waukon died Friday, October 24, 2025, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 30 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Joseph Sevcik officiating. Burial will be in Lycurgus Cemetery, rural Waukon.

Friends may greet the family from 9 a.m. until the time of services Thursday at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either St. Patrick Catholic School, Veterans Memorial Hospital, or St. Mary’s Lycurgus Cemetery Fund.

Joyce Marie (Troendle) Regan was born Sunday, December 8, 1946, in Waukon. She was the seventh of eight children born to George Francis Silas “Cy” and Loretta Ann Ellen (McLaughlin) Troendle. She received all her sacraments at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon.

Frank L. Sivesind, 83, of Waukon passed away peacefully at his lifelong home Friday, October 24, 2025. Funeral services were held Monday, October 27 at Zalmona Presbyterian Church in rural Waukon with burial following at the church cemetery. Memorials can be made to Veterans Memorial Hospital or Zalmona Presbyterian Church cemetery fund, both in Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled the arrangements.

Frank Leroy Sivesind was born November 2, 1941, in Waukon to John and Olive (Tolander) Sivesind. Frank grew up and worked on the family farm while attending area country school. He graduated from Waukon High School in 1959, and was actively involved in basketball, baseball, 4-H, and FFA.

Frank took pride in his work as a county Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA) supervisor through which he made many lifelong friends and memories.

Dean J. Barber, 59, of Lansing died surrounded with love Thursday, October 16, 2025, at Aase Haugen Home in Decorah. Graveside services will be held at a later date in Evergreen Cemetery in Anita. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon assisted the family.

Dean J. Barber was born March 16, 1966, in Atlantic, the son of Rex and Janell (Claussen) Barber. He grew up on a farm in Anita. While attending Anita High School, Dean was involved in FFA, Speech, school plays, and in his junior year, he joined the National Guard. When he was younger, Dean was a farm hand with his older brothers for the family farm and they took many camping trips to Colorado as a family.

Mary Ann Pladsen, 82, of Vinton passed away Friday, October 17, 2025. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 22 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Vinton, with Father Jim Brokman as Celebrant.

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, October 21 at Van Steenhuyse-Teahen Funeral Home, with a Rosary at 3:30 p.m. Visitation will continue at the church Wednesday morning from 9:30-10:15 a.m. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Vinton.
 

Audrey M. Ricker, age 93, passed away October 13, 2025. Services will be held in late summer of 2026 in Payson, AZ at Mt. Cross Lutheran Church. Contributions to the programs at Mt. Cross Lutheran Church are appreciated.

Audrey was born to Carl E. and Cora O. (Engrav) Christensen in Waukon March 24, 1932. She grew up on the family farm and met her husband, Clayton Ricker, in high school when the principal said, “Hey Clayton, Audrey is sick and you’ve got a car, you need to give her a ride home.” They were married July 27, 1952, and spent 71 years together.

Thomas Ralph Barthell, age 97, of International Falls, MN passed away September 20, 2025. A memorial service will be held Friday, October 24 at 11 a.m. at Faith United Church of Christ in International Falls. A luncheon will follow the service. A graveside service will take place in Oak Hill Cemetery in Lansing in the spring. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Faith United Church of Christ, Backus Community Center or Habitat for Humanity are appreciated.

Thomas Ralph Barthell was born to Leonard and Martha Boeckh Barthell July 25, 1928, in Waukon. Tom grew up in Lansing, a Mississippi river town close to his heart.

Marjorie L. Kruger, 101, of Waukon, formerly of Postville, went to live with her eternal Lord and Savior Friday, October 17, 2025, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services were held Monday, October 20 at Salem United Church of Christ in rural Waukon with Pastor Sue Klimstra officiating. Burial was in Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.

Marjorie Lena Rolfs White Kruger was born April 11, 1924, to Walter and Emma (Kostman) Rolfs in rural Ludlow Township. Marjorie was baptized and graduated from one of the first classes of Waukon High School.

She was a woman of great faith. She regularly attended Sunday services and was a longstanding member of the Salem United Church of Christ; her faith was exemplified in her life. Only second to her faith, her many grandchildren, great- and great-great-grandchildren were her most-cherished blessings; she shared a close and loving bond with each one.

Funeral services for 73-year-old William John Larkin of Jacksonville. FL will be held Tuesday, October 21 at St. Mary’s Hanover Church, rural Waukon at 11 a.m., with visitation beginning at 9 a.m. until the time of the funeral. The burial with military honors will take place in Hanover cemetery immediately following the funeral mass.

William (Bill) Larkin, born September 26, 1951, in Dubuque, was the eldest of nine children of John and Rose Larkin from Dorchester. Bill passed away August 20, 2025, in Jacksonville, FL. His full obituary was published in the September 3, 2025 edition of The Standard.
 

Betty Decker, 84, of Waukon passed away Thursday, October 9, 2025, at Good Samaritan Society in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 25 at 11 a.m. at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon with Rev. Cathy Jurgens officiating. Burial will be held in Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may greet the family from 4-7 p.m. Friday, October 24 at Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon.

Betty had a generous spirit; to continue her giving, the family requests in lieu of flowers please make donations to the Waukon Fire Department, Veterans Memorial Hospital, Oakland Cemetery, Zion United Church of Christ, all in Waukon, or a charity of your choice.

Betty Jane (Brinker) Decker, was born May 25, 1941, to Elmer and Ruby (Renk) Brinker. Betty was baptized and confirmed at St. Luke’s Church in Eitzen, MN. She received her early education in Eitzen and Dorchester and graduated from Waukon High School in the Class of 1959.