Obituaries

Gary Gilbertson, age 75, of Waukon, formerly of Waterville, died peacefully at his home surrounded by his family January 26, 2025, after a long battle with COPD. Funeral services will be held Monday, February 3 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Father Joseph Sevcik officiating.

Friends may greet the family from 9 a.m. until the time of services Monday at the church. Burial with military honors will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Waukon.

For those wishing to share memories and condolences, please visit iowacremation.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Waterville Community Center.

Gary Gordon Gilbertson was born March 22, 1949, in Waukon, the son of Gordon and Donna (Campbell) Gilbertson. Gary graduated from Allamakee Community High School in 1967. Following high school, he served for four years in the U.S. Navy as a helicopter mechanic and crewman on the USS Iwo Jima.

Ruby F. Rathbun, 91, of Waukon died Saturday, January 25, 2025, at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 1 at 11 a.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing with Pastor Laura Gentry officiating. Inurnment will be held at a later date at Old East Paint Creek Cemetery in rural Waterville.

Friends may greet the family from 10 a.m. until time of services Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Waterville Ambulance or LIFT Food Pantry in Lansing. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

Vernon Le Roy Ronnfeldt, Jr. passed away January 19, 2025 at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT. He will be laid to rest in the Utah Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Bluffdale, UT Friday, February 7. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, February 8 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Starks Funeral Parlor in Salt Lake City, UT.

Vernon was born June 14, 1957 to June (Alexander) and Vernon Ronnfeldt, Sr. He entered the U.S. Air Force in June 1975, right after high school graduation. Vernon was able to travel many places in the Air Force, including Iceland, Italy, England, Germany, and many other states. He also served in Desert Storm.

Vernon moved to Utah to be closer to his daughter. This is also where he met the love of his life, Alene.

James “Jim” E. Christianson, 84, of Waterville died Friday, January 24, 2025, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

James “Jim” Edwin Christianson was born September 6, 1940 in Waterville, the son of Edwin and Loretta (Weipert) Zweibohmer Christianson. He was baptized and confirmed at Waterville Lutheran Church and graduated from Waterville High School in 1958. Jim served in the U.S. Navy from 1966-1968 as a Seabee.

June 22, 1968, he married Wanda Jean Fritz in the First Presbyterian Church chapel in Waukon. Jim started his career logging the bluffs of northeast Iowa. He then went to work at Capco and decided to carry his passion for logging to Effigy Mounds, where he worked as a groundskeeper. He ended his working career with Ashbacher Building Supplies.

Iona C. Farley, 87, of Waukon died Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at the Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Monday, January 27 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Father Daniel Knipper officiating. Burial was in Mt. Olivet Cemetery Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements. Memorials can be sent to Iona Farley Family, P.O. Box 11, Waukon, IA 52172.

Iona Corrinne Farley was born May 18, 1937, in Decorah to Joseph and Cora (Landmeyer) Tangen. She attended Decorah schools and graduated from Decorah High School. She met the love of her life, William “Bill” Farley, while working at Darling Drug Store in Decorah and they spent many nights dancing at Matter’s Ballroom. July 2, l958, they were married at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah. Iona’s greatest happiness in life was taking care of her family and being a wife, mom, grandma, and great-grandma.

Lollie E. Hirth, 82, of Waukon died Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at her home in Waukon. Memorial services were held Monday, January 27 at 11 a.m. at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon with Rev. Cathy Jurgens officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Memorials can be made to Veterans Memorial Hospital or Winn Med Hospice.

Loleta “Lollie” Eloise Hirth was born August 12, 1942, the daughter of Elmer Ehde and Leota (Phipps) Snitker in rural Waukon. She was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church and confirmed at Zion United Church of Christ, both in Waukon, and attended Waukon schools. October 24, 1959, she married Gary Charles Hirth at Zion United Church of Christ. Lollie stayed at home to take care of her children until they were raised. She worked at the Food Ranch Cafe, Gambles Store, and Makee Manor, all in Waukon.

Charles R. Rolfs, 83, of Waukon passed away at his home Saturday, January 18, 2025, surrounded by his family. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, January 22 at 3 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon with Pastor Bryan Robertson officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon. Friends may greet the family from 1 p.m. until the time of services Wednesday at the church. A reception at the church will follow the service and burial. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Charles Richard Rolfs was born May 24, 1941, in the Forest Mills area of rural Waukon to Walter and Emma Rolfs. He graduated from Waukon High School. Four years later, in 1963, he married the love of his life, Lois Halvorson. He spent most of his career working with local farmers and homeowners as an LP and petroleum salesman with Farm Service in Waukon.

Neil M. Krumme, 84, of Waukon died Thursday, January 16, 2025, surrounded by his family at his home in rural Waukon. Funeral services were held Tuesday, January 21 at Salem United Church of Christ with Pastor Sue Klimstra officiating, and burial was in the church cemetery, both in rural Waukon.

Neil Milton Krumme was born April 1, 1940, in Ludlow township in rural Waukon, the son of Milton and Miriam (Straate) Krumme. He was baptized and confirmed at Salem United Church of Christ and graduated high school in 1958. Following high school, Neil proudly served in the National Guard from 1958-1966 where he worked as a combat engineer.

Rose M. Larkin, 94, of Dorchester passed away peacefully Thursday, January 16, 2025, at Thornton Manor in Lansing. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Hanover Catholic Church Wednesday, January 22. Friends may greet the family from 9 a.m. until time of services at the Church Wednesday, with Father Joseph Sevcik officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

Rose Mary Gullo was born May 5, 1930, in LaSalle, IL, the daughter of John and Anna (Puccio) Gullo. She was baptized and confirmed at Holy Ghost Church in Dubuque. Dubuque is where she was raised along with her younger sister, Marie (Piotrowski), and half siblings, Fred, Vi, Joe, and Cindy Brenke.

Ralph J. Bakewell, age 82, of Onalaska, WI passed away Sunday, January 5, 2025 at his home. Funeral service was held Tuesday, January 14 at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home in Onalaska, WI. Burial followed at Gate of Heaven Cemetery located in La Crosse, WI.

Ralph was born October 20, 1942 in Waukon to the late Joseph and Luella (Schulte) Bakewell. He attended St. Patrick Grade and High School in Waukon. Ralph married Kathryn (Netwal) in 1966 and had three children: Debbie, Steve and Diane.

Ralph was an avid race car driver back in the day and you would find him at the La Crosse Interstate Speedway almost every Wednesday night for many years with his family up in the stands watching the red, white and blue #60 car. There are many memories of his children rolling down the hills in the yard inside a stock car tire.