Obituaries

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.

Linda Langland, 71, of Decorah passed away Friday, March 17, 2023. The Langland family is planning a graveside service at a later date in Iowa River Cemetery. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Linda Adaline Langland was born February 16, 1952 to Charles Edgar Hille Langland and Adaline Lois Nesheim in Spring Grove, MN. Linda graduated from high school in Waukon in 1970, where she was active in many clubs. She received her bachelor’s degree from Bethel College and her master’s in social work from the University of Iowa.

Joseph F. Johnson, 58, of Waukon died Monday, March 20, 2023 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Memorial services will be held at a later date. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is assisting the family.

Joseph Font Johnson was born July 27, 1964 in Chicago, IL, the son of John Thomas, Sr. and Virginia Jo (Hall) Johnson. In 1983, he graduated from Roberto Clemente High School in Chicago. Joseph worked for Continental Can Company in Chicago before starting his own trucking business “Born Free”.

He moved to southern Illinois, where he met Katherine Carvella Trageser; they later married December 28, 2004. His parents and siblings had moved to Ferryville, WI, and in 1997, Joseph moved to nearby Waukon. He continued driving semi, primarily for Downing Construction in Decorah.

Beverly M. Dresselhaus, 84, of New Albin died Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI surrounded by her family. Graveside services will be held at a later date in St. Peter’s Cemetery in New Albin. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.

Geneva M. Rice, 101, of Waukon died Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Tuesday, April 4 at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon with Pastor Bryan Robertson officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may greet the family from 10 a.m. until the time of services April 4 at the church. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Geneva May Wilke was born May 17, 1921 in Postville, the daughter of Wilbert and Anna (Miller) Wilke. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville. Genny grew up on her parents’ farm north of Postville and attended Woodland Country School. In December of 1935, they moved into Postville and she graduated from Postville High School in 1938. While living in Postville, Genny worked at Rima Café, The Palm Coffee Shop and Bus Station, and Douglass Pharmacy.

Sherri Lewey, age 70, of Waukon passed away Thursday, February 16, 2023 at Mayo Clinic Health System - Franciscan Healthcare in La Crosse, WI, with her family and her lifelong best friend, Penny Herman, by her side. A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Saturday, May 6 at 1 p.m. at Green Valley Getaway, Waukon.

Sherri was born in Waukon November 26, 1952 to Darlene Westerholm (Grandma Betty). She was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon

Although she never learned to swim, she lived by the river and loved to collect artifacts, like fossils, agates and arrowheads. She was an awesome artist and loved to work with clay and feathers. She had a passion for nature and loved animals, especially her dogs, Eddie and Mitzi.

Dorothy J. Gelo, 101, of Waukon died Friday, March 10, 2023 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 15 at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Waukon with Pastor Duane Smith officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may greet the family from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 14 at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon.

Dorothy Jean Gelo was born February 4, 1922 in Allamakee County, the daughter of Guy and Violet (Krousie) Barr. She grew up in the Forest Mills area of Allamakee County and graduated from Waukon High School. After attending stenography school, she worked in Waukegan, IL for a short time and her boyfriend, Walter James Gelo, would ride out on his motorcycle from Waukon to see her.

Curtis R. Gilbertson, 88, of Waterloo died Friday, March 10, 2023 at MercyOne Medical Center in Waterloo. Public visitation will be held Wednesday, March 15 from 5-7 p.m. at Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service, West Ridgeway in Waterloo. Funeral service will take place Thursday, March 16 at 10:30 a.m. at Unity Presbyterian Church, Waterloo with visitation one hour prior.

Graveside service will immediately follow the funeral service at Fairview Cemetery in Waterloo, with full military honors rendered by the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard and AMVETS Post 31. A reception will immediately follow graveside services at Unity Presbyterian Church. Memorial contributions may be made to Unity Presbyterian Church or The Moose Lodge #328.

Verle Eugene Guthrie of Highlands Ranch, CO, age 79, died February 22, 2023. A celebration of life and reception will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 13 at Horan & McConaty, 5303 E. County Line Road, Centennial, CO. Military honors will follow at Fort Logan National Cemetery. Donations may be made to Parkinson Association of the Rockies, 1325 S. Colorado Blvd. #204B, Denver, CO 80222.

Verle was a graduate of East High School (Lee Township Against the World!) in Des Moines. He also earned a BA in history from Simpson College in Indianola.

Verle served four years in the Air Force at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, AZ, achieving the rank of Sergeant E4. He followed Air Force service with a 30-year career in telecommunications beginning with Northwestern Bell in Des Moines until 1994, and then with U.S. West and Qwest in Denver, CO. After retiring in 2000 from Qwest, Verle worked for two companies supporting the telephone industry and retired in 2006.