Obituaries

Beverly S. Johnson, 83, of Waukon passed away peacefully Monday, June 30, 2025, at Thornton Manor in Lansing. Funeral services were held Monday, July 7, at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon with Pastor Grant VanderVelden officiating. Interment followed at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorials are preferred.

Beverly Suzette Johnson was born July 7, 1941, in Postville to Norman and Beulah (Bray) Starkey. She was baptized and confirmed at Forest Mills United Methodist Church and attended Evergreen Country School through the 11th grade before later fulfilling a lifelong goal by earning her GED in 2009.

September 25, 1959, she was united in marriage to Dale Robert Johnson at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. The two shared a marriage of deep love and partnership. Beverly worked at Deco Products in Decorah and then devoted nearly four decades to Northern Engraving in Waukon.

Wendell Albert Watts, age 98, formerly of Waukon, passed away June 23, 2025. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, August 16 at Abounding Joy Lutheran Church, 6000 County Road 120, St. Cloud, MN 56303. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m., with the Service scheduled for 11 a.m.

Wendell was born September 17, 1926 to his parents, Albert and Bertha Watts. He grew up on their dairy farm known as “Watts’ Brothers” close to Preston in southeastern Minnesota. He attended District 67 country school for eight years followed by high school in Preston, MN, graduating at 16 years of age. After graduation, Wendell farmed in partnership with his dad, Albert, and his uncle, George, on their 320-acre diversified dairy farm.

Wendell and Verna Sorum were married June 6, 1948. They set up housekeeping on the home farm.  Their first two children, Kristine and Karen, were born in 1950 and 1951.

Mary Lou Garin, 93, of Lansing passed away Sunday, June 22, 2025, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, surrounded by her loving family. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Thursday, June 26 at Immaculate Conception Church in Lansing with Father Joseph Sevcik officiating. Burial was in Gethsemane Cemetery in Lansing.

Memorials may be directed to Gethsemane Cemetery. Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home in Lansing is handling arrangements.

Mary Lou Garin was born August 31, 1931, to Harold and Leona (O’Donnell) Troendle. She was the eldest of three children and graduated from Immaculate Conception High School in 1948. February 15, 1950, she married the love of her life, Leo Garin, at Immaculate Conception Church in Lansing.

Carol Jane (Klocke) Weiland, 84, of Cedar Rapids passed away peacefully Thursday, February 27, 2025, at the Hiawatha Care Center.  A celebration of life will be held at The Uptown Grill in Waukon Saturday, June 28 from 2-4 p.m.

The family would encourage you to bring favorite photos of Carol to share at the celebration! Donations can be made to your favorite charity in Carol’s name.

Austin Joseph Bennett, age 37, passed away June 21, 2025, in La Crosse, WI. Immediate family will honor Austin with a private Celebration of Life at a later date.

Others wishing to honor Austin’s memory may do so by advocating for mental health reform, helping someone in need and hugging loved ones every chance you get. Condolences may be sent to Sue and Doug Kubitz.

Austin was born April 21, 1988, to Kirk and Sue Bennett. He was known for his quick wit, charm, and genuinely kind heart. He attended St. Patrick’s Catholic Elementary School and graduated from Waukon High School in 2006.

He spent his adult life learning new trades and perfecting old ones. He enjoyed spending time with friends, finding ways to make a quick buck, and introducing everyone he met to the one person he knew loved him unconditionally: his mother.  Austin’s proudest accomplishment was fathering a daughter, Brooklyn Bennett.

Thomas F. Nierling, 85, of Sterling, CO, formerly of Waukon, died Friday, June 13, 2025, at Benefis Peace Hospice in Great Falls, MT. Funeral services were held Friday, June 27 at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon, with Conrad Rosendahl officiating. Burial was at Lycurgus Cemetery, rural Waukon.

Thomas Floyd Nierling was born April 26, 1940, the son of Anton and Lenora (Spores) Nierling. He attended numerous northeast Iowa schools. Throughout his life, Thomas worked as a railroad conductor for Union Pacific Railroad based out of Denver, CO, and traveled all over the western United States.

He was a member of the Moose Lodge. Thomas enjoyed golfing, coming back to Iowa for family gatherings and spending time with his nieces and nephews.

Barbara Ann (Kuehl) Amundson, 86, of Livingston, WI, formerly of Elkader, was surrounded by family when she passed away Sunday, December 15, 2024 at Upland Hills Health in Dodgeville, WI. A Celebration of Life will be held Monday, June 30 at 10:30 a.m. at Highland Lutheran Church, rural Elkader. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until the time of services.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local animal shelter or to Grant County Humane Society, 222 South Roosevelt Street, Lancaster WI, 53813, or online at https://www.grantcountyhumanesociety.com in memory of Barbara.

Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Elkader is assisting the family with arrangements.

Barbara was born July 26, 1938 to Edward V. and Phyllis E. (Wikan) Kuehl in rural Elkader. She was baptized and confirmed at Highland Lutheran Church, rural Elkader.

Sharifah K. Hagen, 58, of Waukon died Sunday, January 5, 2025, at her home in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Saturday, June 28 at 11 a.m. at Decorah Congregational United Church of Christ with Duane Fenstermann officiating.

Family and friends may greet the family at the church  Saturday, from 10 a.m. until time of services. Inurnment will be held at Mabel Lutheran Cemetery in Mabel, MN. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon will be handling the arrangements.
 

“If laughter is the best medicine, then I should live another 20 years.”

Jack McCormick departed this world December 13, 2024 and wrote this before he passed:

“Born during the Great Depression in Marquette, Iowa on July 26th, 1932, I was the 5th of 8 children born to Leslie and Bernice (Ryan) McCormick. Soon after, our family moved to Waukon, IA.

After graduating St. Patrick’s High School in Waukon in 1950, I joined the Navy. I attended Radio School in San Diego and was then assigned to the Amphibious Branch, serving on the USS Andromeda and later the USS Montrose. During the Korean War I had four tours to the far East including Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

After discharge from the Navy, I settled in Spokane with my brothers, Bill and Jim, working at the Kaiser Aluminum plant. In 1956, I proudly helped my brother Bill’s successful campaign for election to the House of Representatives where he served until his death in 1968.

Jeffrey Lee Roggensack entered into the presence of his Lord Jesus Christ June 18, 2025. A time of visitation for friends and family will be held Thursday, June 26, from 4-7 p.m. at Williams Funeral Home in Columbia, TN. The Funeral Mass will be held Friday, June 27, at 11 a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Columbia, TN.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Franciscan University of Steubenville’s Christ the King Chapel Renovation - Jeff Roggensack Memorial. Memorials can be mailed to: Franciscan University of Steubenville, Jeff Roggensack Memorial, 1235 University Boulevard, Steubenville, OH 43952. Or give online at: https://encounter.franciscan.edu/register/roggensack.