Obituaries

Leonette “Lee” K. Thornton, age 78, of Arlington, formerly of Waukon, passed away peacefully at her home Friday, April 14, 2023 with her family by her side. Memorial services will be held Saturday, April 22 at 12 Noon at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon. Burial will be at Postville Cemetery, Postville. Friends may greet the family from one hour before services Saturday at the funeral home.

Leonette Kay Smith Thornton was born September 23, 1944 at her parents’ home in Waterville, the daughter of Leonard and Myrtle (Dahly) Hastings. Lee graduated from Waukon High School in 1961. She was united in marriage to Elmer Lee Smith February 8, 1964 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon. After his passing, she reconnected with a high school sweetheart and was united in marriage to Ronald “Butch” Thornton May 8, 2004 in a private ceremony at their home in Rochester, MN.

John Hyler Jennings, age 92, of Chippewa Falls, WI passed away peacefully Friday, April 7, 2023 of congestive heart failure at Mayo Clinic Health Systems – Eau Claire with family by his side. He was born at home June 11, 1930 in the township of Garden Valley, Jackson County, Wisconsin to Paul and Myrtle (Larson) Jennings.

A funeral service was held Monday, April 17 at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel, Chippewa Falls with Rev. Brad Thomas officiating. Interment with Military Honors was held at Forest Hill Cemetery, Chippewa Falls.

John married Betty (Plunkett) Jennings July 26, 1975, and was a wonderful husband and the best ‘dad’ Betty’s six kids could have asked for. Betty and John moved to Waukon following their marriage. John had previously married Dorothy Storlie September 26, 1955. He lovingly adopted Dorothy’s son, Terry. Dorothy passed away after 19 years of marriage.

Debra S. Burke, 68, of Waukon passed away Saturday, April 8, 2023 surrounded by her loving family at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN. A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, April 15 at 11:30 a.m. at Zion United Church of Christ (UCC) in Waukon with Rev. Cathy Jurgens officiating. Friends may greet the family from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services Saturday at the church. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Debra Sue Burke was born March 2, 1955 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, the daughter of Clinton Dale and Lorna Jean (Hermeier) Winters. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon and grew up on her family’s farm in Waterville. She attended Waterville Elementary School, graduated from Waukon High School in 1973, and received her degree from Western Technical College in La Crosse, WI.

Constance “Connie” A. (Wild) Gallagher, 83, of Waukon passed away peacefully July 23, 2022 after a courageous battle. A Celebration of Life for Connie is scheduled to take place Saturday, April 22 at the Waukon Golf & Country Club from 2-5 p.m. Refreshments will be served and all are invited to share their memories of Connie and the life she lived.
 

Reverend Monsignor Cletus J. Hawes, 96, of Wexford, rural Lansing died Saturday, April 1, 2023 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. A funeral mass will be held Wednesday, April 5 at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Wexford (eight miles south of Lansing on the Great River Road) with Archbishop Michael O. Jackels officiating and burial in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held at Immaculate Conception Church in Lansing Tuesday, April 4 from 4-8 p.m., where there will be a 3:30 p.m. scripture service, and will also be held one hour before the service at Wexford. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Francis J. O’Regan, 88, of Waukon died Friday, March 31, 2023 at Green Lea Care Center in Mabel, MN. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 11 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. John Moser officiating. Burial with military honors will be held at St. Mary’s Hanover Cemetery, rural Waukon.

Friends may greet the family from 4-8 p.m. Monday, April 10 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, where there will be a 3:15 p.m. rosary and scripture service. Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

Francis James O’Regan was born May 12, 1934 in Waukon, the son of Maurice James and Mary (Bresnahan) O’Regan. He graduated from St. Patrick Catholic High School in Waukon. Francis served in the U.S Army from 1956-1958.

Doris M. Ripp, 93, of De Soto, WI died Sunday, March 26, 2023 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Friday, April 14 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Charles Church in Genoa, WI, with Father Sedlacek officiating. Burial will be at a later date. Friends may greet the family from 9:30 a.m. until time of services Friday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her name to the charity of your choosing. Thornburg - Grau Funeral Home in Lansing is handling the arrangements.

Doris Mae Wermuth Ripp was born in Madison, WI February 9, 1930, the daughter of Frances (Vassen) and Raymond Wermuth. She was the eldest of three daughters including Phyllis (deceased 1940) and Shirley (William) Beyer. She attended Wisconsin High School and secondary school in Madison as well.

Nancy Louise Schorg, 81, of Lansing died Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at her home in rural Lansing with her family by her side. Per her request there will be no funeral or memorial service held.

Should family or friends desire to send a memorial, they can be sent to Rueben Schorg, P.O. Box 279, Lansing, IA 52151. Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.

Charles W. Matlock Sr., 80, of Lansing, formerly of Eastman, WI, died Monday, March 20, 2023 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI. A celebration of life will be held from 12-3 p.m. Sunday, April 2 at Thornburg - Grau Funeral Home in Lansing. Burial will take place at a later date at Edgewood Cemetery in Edgewood, IL.

Charles Wesley Matlock, Sr. was born March 23, 1942 in Effingham, IL, the son of Roy and Ruth (Allen) Matlock. After graduating from Effingham High School, Charlie worked at J and L Plastic, making model cars for one year.

Charlie then spent four years in the U.S. Navy and was sent to France, Cuba, Spain, Italy and Ireland during his service. In 1962, he served on the USS Stribling when it rescued Col. John Glenn after his Apollo mission.

Isabelle Dorothy (Walleser) Hawes, 89, of Lansing died peacefully Monday, March 20, 2023 at Thornton Manor in Lansing, surrounded by her family. Visitation will be held at Immaculate Conception Church in Lansing Friday, March 31 from 4-7 p.m. Funeral services will be Saturday, April 1 at 11 a.m. with visitation from 9:45-10:45 a.m. Burial inurnment will follow the mass at Gethsemane Cemetery, Lansing.

Isabelle Dorothy Walleser was born June 2, 1933 in Guttenberg. She was the eleventh child born to Joe and Etta (Berns) Walleser. She married Leo (Bud) Hawes September 6, 1954. They purchased the family farm in rural Wexford, where they lived for over 40 years and raised their eight children. They milked cows for a few years but she spent many of those years raising chickens, farrowing pigs and working the land, alongside Bud and her children.