Obituaries

Patricia A. Bruns, 66, of Waukon died Monday, March 21, 2022 at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, WI. Memorial services will be held Friday, April 1 at 11 a.m. at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 9:30 a.m. until time of services at the funeral home Friday.

Patricia Ann Bruns was born June 2, 1955 in Waukon, the daughter of Herbert Theodore and Helen Verna (Johnson) Bruns. She attended school in Lansing and Waukon. Patricia had many challenges in her life due to a disability that stemmed from having spinal meningitis before her first birthday, which she spent in the hospital in Rochester, MN. This left her with paralysis on her right side and mental challenges.

Allan E. “Tommy” Palmer, 90, of rural Monona died Friday, March 25, 2022 at Elkader Care Center. Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 29 at Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon with Pastor Steve Oden officiating. Burial with military honors was at IOOF Cemetery, Rossville.

Allan “Tommy” Eugene Palmer was born August 26, 1931 in rural Waterville, Allamakee County, the son of Everett and Laura (Flage) Palmer. He was baptized July 4, 1948 and graduated from Waterville High School in 1950.

Allan then entered into the U.S. Air Force in June of 1950, serving for four years. He attended aeronautics school at Hunter AFB in Savannah, GA and Amarillo, TX; Allan was a crew chief on a B47 bomber in Africa and at Lockbourne AFB in Columbus, OH. After being discharged, Allan enrolled at the University of Tulsa in the Spartan School of Aeronautics and worked for American Airlines as a crew chief, flying all around the country as a mechanic troubleshooting airplanes.

Robert L. Lewey, 91, of Sumner died Tuesday evening, March 22, 2022 at Community Memorial Hospital in Sumner. Funeral services for both Bob Lewey (Judy Lewey’s husband) and Neva Nerge (Judy Lewey’s mother who passed away Thursday evening, March 24) were held Tuesday, March 29 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Sumner with Rev. Tanner Post officiating. Burial was at Lutheran Cemetery of Sumner Township, rural Sumner. Memorials may be made to the family for later designation.

Becker & Son Funeral Home in Sumner assisted the family. Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com.

Marlene Dismore, age 81, of Cassville, MO passed away Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at Roaring River Health and Rehabilitation in Cassville, MO. A Celebration of Life will be held from 12:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 11, 2022 at Brandon Area Community Center in Brandon. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville, MO.

Marlene was born March 9, 1941 in Sibley, the daughter of Earl and Marie (Norman) Lauber. October 24, 1959 in Cedar Falls, she was united in marriage to Manford “Butch” Dismore, who survives. Also surviving are two sons, Tony Dismore and his wife Brenda of Rio Rancho, NM and Daniel “Doc” Dismore and his wife Shelley of Vinton; one daughter, Angela Wygle and her husband Lonnie of Cedar Rapids; 10 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her parents and one brother, Vern Lauber.

Greg Lonning, 60, went to his Heavenly home March 8, 2022, surrounded by his loving wife and children. He had suffered an unexpected brain aneurysm at his home in New Jersey. A Memorial Mass will be held Saturday, April 23 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. John Moser officiating. A visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the church. The Mass will be streamed on the Martin-Grau Funeral Home Facebook page.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Luther College Regents Center in Decorah Sunday, April 24 at 1 p.m. There will also be a New Jersey memorial, with details to come later.

Gregory Charles Lonning was born March 15, 1961 in Waukon to Charles “Chuck” and Karen (Simon) Lonning. Greg grew up in Waukon, and was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick Catholic Church. The oldest of five boys, he was an awesome big brother and son. Greg loved sports, friends, being outdoors, and was a faithful altar boy.

Iris M. Waters, 84, of Waukon died Sunday, March 20, 2022 at Community Memorial Hospital in Sumner. Graveside services will be held Saturday, March 26 at 2:30 p.m. at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon with Fr. John Moser officiating. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Iris Mae Waters was born November 30, 1937 in Volney, the daughter of Leonard and Margeretta (Darling) Steele. She attended Waukon schools and later received her GED. January 25, 1955, Iris married Earl Waters at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon. They moved to Texas for a year and she worked as a CNA; Iris and Earl returned to Iowa, residing in Lansing, where they ran the laundromat.

In 1960, they moved to Waukon and farmed for several years; Iris worked briefly at Quillin’s Food Ranch and the turkey plant. For over 40 years, Iris worked for Good Samaritan Society, starting out as a CNA, then the activities director, before becoming the head of housekeeping.

Ilene M. Dougherty, 81, of Waukon, formerly of Dorchester, died Sunday, March 20, 2022 at her home in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Friday, March 25 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Fr. John Moser officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 9:30 a.m. until time of services at the church Friday. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

Ilene Marie Dougherty was born December 7, 1940 in Spring Grove, MN, the daughter of Charles and Margie (Byrnes) Cavanaugh. She attended Lorette High School in Caledonia, MN. September 23, 1961, she married Raymond “Jim” Dougherty at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Caledonia, MN; they farmed together for 50 years in the Dorchester area. Eileen also worked at St. Francis Hospital in La Crosse, WI and Aase-Haugen Home in Decorah.

Jane Marie Hill, 56, of Olathe, KS passed away March 16, 2022 after a long battle with cancer. Mass services were held at St. Paul Catholic Church in Olathe, KS Tuesday, March 22. Burial followed at Leavenworth National Cemetery, Leavenworth, KS.

Jane was born in Spring Grove, MN April 22, 1965 to Cletus and Phyllis Schulte of rural Dorchester. After Jane graduated from Waukon High School, she attended college in Kirksville, MO. She went on to study business and accounting at University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) where she earned her bachelor’s degree.

She worked at U.S. General Services Administration in Kansas City, MO, St. Paul Catholic Church in Olathe, KS, and for the USDA in Kansas City, MO. She enjoyed working and made great friends during those years. Jane married James Hill January 16, 2021 at St. Paul Catholic Church in Olathe, KS.

Gerald “Jerry” J. Schroedel, 82, of Waukon died Monday, March 14, 2022 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Friday, March 18 at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Waukon with Pastor Kim Gates officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon.

Gerald John Schroedel was born July 25, 1939 in Sherburn, MN, the son of Mathias James Paul and Velma Minerva (Mowery) Schroedel. He grew up in Sherburn, where he attended grade school and graduated from Sherburn High School in 1957. During his high school years, Jerry was active in sports, playing basketball, and he especially enjoyed summer adult baseball league. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing with his dad and uncles; this continued into his adulthood.

LeOtia “Lee” E. Flage, 88, of rural Waukon died Saturday, March 12, 2022 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Saturday, March 19 at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon with Pastor Grant VanderVelden officiating. Friends may greet the family from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services Saturday at the church.

Burial will be held at a later date at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon. Memorials may be directed to Good Samaritan Society or Veterans Memorial Hospital, both in Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

LeOtia “Lee” Edna Flage was born January 31, 1934 in French Creek Township, rural Lansing, the daughter of Walter and Selma (Ashbacher) Ebner. She was baptized, confirmed and later married at French Creek Methodist Church. After graduating from Waukon High School, LeOtia was the school secretary before moving to the big city of Chicago, IL with some friends for a year to work.