Obituaries

John H. Simmons, 84, of Waukon died Sunday, June 21, 2026, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon following a short illness. Memorial services will be held Tuesday, July 7 at 11 a.m. at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon with Pastor Grant VanderVelden officiating. Burial with military honors will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.

Friends may greet the family from 10 a.m. until time of services at the funeral home Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Veterans Memorial Hospital, Robey Memorial Library, or the Allamakee County Veterans Museum, all in Waukon.

John Hagen Simmons was born October 26, 1941, the son of Mabel (Hagen) and Karl Simmons in Waukon. He grew up on the family dairy farm in southwest Waukon. John was baptized and confirmed at Zion United Church of Christ, graduated from Waukon High School in 1960, where he was active in plays and band, and attended the University of Iowa.

Ruby R. Herman, 91, of Waukon passed away Friday, June 19, 2026, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, surrounded by her family. Funeral services were held Monday, June 29 at Zalmona Presbyterian Church in rural Waukon with Pastor Tom Buresh officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Memorials can be made to Zalmona Presbyterian Church, Mt. Hope Cemetery Fund, or the Veterans Memorial Hospital Healthcare Foundation.

Ruby Rose Herman was born November 21, 1934, in Waukon, the daughter of Earl and Myrtle (Sadler) Beardmore. She was baptized and confirmed at Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church in rural New Albin, attended English Bench grade school in rural Dorchester, and graduated from Waukon High School in 1952.

Tim O’Malley of Lansing, who was born June 27, 1951 and passed away May 6, 2026, will be honored with a Celebration of Life this Saturday, June 27. That Celebration of Life will take place from 1-5 p.m. at TJ Hunters Banquet Hall in Lansing. Food will be provided, and a cash bar will be available.
 

Norma J. Troendle, 79, of Lansing died Sunday, June 14, 2026, at Thornton Manor in Lansing. Funeral services were held Monday, June 22 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lansing with Fr. Philip Agyei officiating. Burial was in Gethsemane Catholic Cemetery, Lansing.

Norma Jean Troendle was born September 27, 1946, in Waukon, the daughter of Reuben and Frances (Neiderkorn) Schorg. Norma lived in Allamakee County throughout her entire life. She eventually met the love of her life, Gerald Troendle, and the two were married September 21, 1963, at St. Mary’s Lycurgus Catholic Church in rural Waukon.

Norma was a hardworking woman, and during her life she helped farm alongside her husband. She loved gardening, cooking, baking, playing cards, and enjoyed being a 4-H leader. More than anything, she loved spending time with her family.

Louise E. Ellingson, 79, of Waukon passed away peacefully at 8:45 a.m. Monday, April 13, 2026, at Thornton Manor in Lansing, surrounded by her loving family. Visitation and funeral services will be held Friday, July 3, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon, with Pastor Mark Oehlert officiating.

Visitation will be from 12-2 p.m., with funeral services following at 2 p.m. After the service, burial of her ashes will be held at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon, with a lunch to follow in the fellowship hall at St. John’s. Urn bearers will be her two grandsons, EJ Runice and Zachary Smith. Cremation services were provided by Iowa Cremation of Cedar Rapids.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Veterans Memorial Hospital Foundation of Waukon, Growing Hope Globally (Corner of Hope) Growing Project, or Oakland Cemetery of Waukon.

Richard “Dick” J. Christianson, 80, of Waterville died Friday, June 12, 2026, at his home in Waterville. Memorial services will be held at a later date. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

Richard “Dick” Joseph Christianson was born September 15, 1945, in Waterville, the son of Edwin and Loretta (Weipert) Christianson. He attended Waterville School and graduated from Waukon High School.

Dick joined the U.S. Navy and attended various engineering schools. He spent the first year and a half aboard the same ship with his brother Carl, operating in the Far East. Dick served a total of seven years in the Navy including combat duty on Swift Boats in the Mekong Delta of South Vietnam. He married Jean Thornton and they had two daughters, Tina and Tracy. They later divorced.

Anita Theresa Clauson, age 72, of Spring Grove, MN, passed away Friday, June 12, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. Funeral services will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Caledonia, MN Friday, June 26, at 11 a.m. A luncheon will follow in the church hall. Interment of Anita’s ashes will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Dorchester, and will follow the luncheon.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Mary’s Catholic Church or to the family, with a designation to be decided. McCormick Funeral Home, Caledonia, MN is assisting the family.

Anita was born to Lawrence and Monica Schulte August 1, 1953, and graduated from Waukon High School in 1971. She worked at Northern Engraving until her retirement.

Gary L. Johanningmeier, 82, of rural Waukon died peacefully, surrounded by many members of his family, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. He died of a brain hemorrhage after a recent stroke.

Funeral services will be held Friday, June 26 at 11 a.m. at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church with Pastor Abraham Faugstad officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery, both in rural Waterville. Friends may greet the family from 9 a.m. until time of services at the church Friday.

Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church.

Gary Lee Johanningmeier was born June 12, 1943, in Monona, the son of Lloyd and Ulina (Thein) Johanningmeier. He was baptized at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Monona, and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Elkport.

Daniel J. Severson, 83, of Lansing passed away Friday, June 12, 2026, at Thornton Manor in Lansing. Funeral services will be held Friday, June 19 at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lansing with Fr. Joseph Sevcik officiating. Burial will be at Gethsemane Cemetery, Lansing. Friends may greet the family from 9 a.m. until the time of services Friday at the church. Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home in Lansing is handling arrangements.

Daniel Joseph Severson was born April 3, 1943, to Harold “Fish” and Lucille (Schwartzhoff) Severson. He graduated from St. George High School in Lansing in 1961, and later attended Western Wisconsin Technical College in La Crosse, WI, where he studied welding.

November 29, 1963, Dan married the love of his life, Mary Sandry, in Lansing. Together, they built a life centered on family, hard work, and service to their community. They were blessed with two children: Mari Beth Severson Valley and Mark Severson.

Roger C. Kruger, 83, of Waukon passed away June 8, 2026, at Ossian Care Center in Ossian. Funeral services were held Friday, June 12 at Zalmona Presbyterian Church in rural Waukon with Pastor Duane Smith and Chaplin Doug Bryce officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled the arrangements.

Roger Conrad Kruger was born October 17, 1942, in Decorah, the son of Willard and Agnes (Fossum) Kruger. He was baptized and confirmed at Zalmona Presbyterian Church in rural Waukon. Roger attended Bell country school from kindergarten through 8th grade, and graduated from Waukon High School in 1960.

Roger met Janet Bechtel at a dance one evening at Rainbow Gardens in Waterville, and later they were married, April 3, 1965, at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church. They were blessed with three children: Barb, Bev, and Brenda.