Obituaries

Floyd Thomas Gettman passed away in death September 13, 2024 in Waukon at 89 years of age. There is going to be a Memorial Service for Floyd Sunday, September 29 at 3 p.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Elkader.

He is preceded in death by his older sisters, LaVonne Grover and Mildred Allen. He is survived by his younger brother, Art and his wife Donna, of Columbia, MO; his sister-in-law, Mary Clarke of Mocksville, NC; his brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Ruth Allen of Hickory, NC; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Floyd was born March 19, 1935 in Mason City. His parents were John and Blanche Gettman. The family moved from Mason City to an 80-acre farm in Garner when Floyd was 10 years old. He grew up working hard with the family and came to be a kind, caring, and friendly adult who made many friends. He graduated from Garner High School in 1953.

Kenneth Milton Perry, age 85, of Waukon, sadly, went home to join his wife, Norma, in Heaven September 13, 2024. They were married 58 years before she passed away in 2022.

Funeral Service was held Friday, September 20 at Community Presbyterian Church in Postville with Pastor Karla Johnson as the officiant. Inurnment took place at Pleasant View Cemetery in Castalia.

Kenneth, the son of Chester and Bessie (McIntosh) Perry, was born October 21, 1938. He grew up on a farm near Castalia. Kenneth graduated from Postville High School where he was a wrestler and still talked about how he would have gone to State had he listened to his coach.

Kenneth was united in marriage to the love of his life, Norma Jean Weston, June 7, 1964. They moved to the family farm when Ken’s dad became ill. They later moved to Cedar Rapids as they both started jobs at Rockwell Collins. He was a proud member of the IBEW 1362. Ken later retired from Rockwell Collins.

Sharon Goeke Sharon K. Goeke, 80, of Waukon died Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Graveside services will be held Saturday, October 19 at 11 a.m. at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon. A celebration of life will be held Sunday, October 6 from 1-4 p.m. in the Freedom Bank basement hall in Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements. Sharon Kay Goeke was born October 7, 1943, in Chatfield, MN, the daughter of Leonard and Agatha (Goltz) Rubendall. She attended school through the eighth grade. Sharon was married three times: first to Clarence Brainard Jr., with whom she had five children; and then to Willard Goeke, and then James Klemp. Throughout her life, Sharon worked as a farmer, a nurse’s aide at Good Samaritan Society in Waukon, and at the turkey plant in Postville. She enjoyed puzzles, the San Franciso 49ers, going to the casino, reading books, and keeping up with the news.

Rose Genevieve (Stoltz) Brickl, age 98, died peacefully August 23, 2024, enveloped in the love, presence, and prayers of her family. Visitation will be held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, located at 1031 Main Street in Onalaska, WI at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, September 21. The Requiem Mass will follow the visitation, beginning at 11 a.m.
Memorials may be made in Rose’s honor to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Onalaska, WI.
A full obituary and online condolences can be found at www.schumacher-kish.com.

Gordon Wayne Hanson, 74, of Lancaster, CA passed away August 30, 2024 in Lancaster, CA. A celebration service of Gordon’s life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 26 at Stephen’s of the Valley Lutheran Church in Palmdale, CA. A luncheon at the church will follow the service. In lieu of fl owers, the family invites donations to be made in Gordon’s memory to the American Heart Association.

The son of Dorothy Jeanette Shekleton (Hove) and Harris Gordon Hanson, he was born July 9, 1950, in Waukon. He grew up with his older brother, Duane, and his parents on a small farm on the western edge of Allamakee County, near the Upper Iowa River. Gordon graduated Waukon High School in 1968 and attended the University of Northern Iowa. In 1972 he joined his brother in Palmdale, CA, where he began a 42-plus year career in the aerospace industry. Gordon retired from the Lockheed-Martin Aeronautics Company in 2015.

Dr. Bill R. Withers, age 90, of Waukon died peacefully, surrounded by family Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services were held Tuesday, September 17 at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon with Rev. Grant VanderVelden officiating.

Pallbearers were Bill’s grandsons. A private family burial was held at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements. Memorials may be directed to First Presbyterian Church or the Veterans Memorial Hospital Foundation.

Michael “Mike” Edward Quillin, 74, of Waterville died Monday, September 9, 2024, at his home after a long battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at a later date.

Mike was born April 25, 1950, in Prairie du Chien, WI to Ben and Marcella Quillin. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Ann - St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Harpers Ferry.

Mike attended St. George High School in Lansing and graduated from Waukon High School in 1968. Mike married Diane Margaret Hill January 3, 1972, at St. Patrick’s Church in Waukon. They were blessed with a daughter Kerry.

Wilma F. Verthein, 93, of Waukon died Friday, September 6, 2024, at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is assisting the family. Wilma Frieda Verthein was born June 2, 1931, the daughter of Julius and Sophie (Vieth) Rissman. She grew up on the Rissman farm and attended country school of Lycurgus through the eighth grade, eventually receiving her GED.

Throughout her life she lived in rural Lansing and Waukon. Wilma met the love of her life, Willard Verthein, and the two were married December 1, 1949, at Little Brown Church in Nashua. She worked as a nurse’s aide at Veterans Memorial Hospital and Northern Engraving in Waukon. Wilma had a strong work ethic, but also enjoyed having fun in life. She enjoyed being outdoors fishing, gardening, and going for rides around the countryside. Wilma also loved playing cards, crocheting and quilting, going bowling, and was an avid lover of music and dancing with a talent for playing the accordion!

Jerry Clarence Hilgerson, 65, of Waukon passed away July 21, 2024, peacefully in his home with his wife and family by his side. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, October 12 from 2-5 p.m. at the Waukon Event Center on Rossville Road, Waukon.

Jerry was born September 13, 1958, to Clarence and Bernice (Sampson) of Winneshiek County. September 25, 1976, Jerry married the love of his life, a woman that just adored him, Debra Ehde. They had two sons, Jeremy and Ryan. Jerry worked for the Postville Co-op for at least 23 years or more before he retired from the Waukon Feed Ranch.

Jerry really enjoyed riding horses through the trails of Yellow River Forest and stopping at Indian Kitchen for a beer with his friends and family as much as possible. He loved being around people, especially the people he cherished the most like his devoted wife, grandkids, extended family, and his friends. He always greeted people with a smile and was proud to shake your hand.

Charles N. Langland, 70, of Decorah died Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at Accura Healthcare in Cresco. Graveside services will be held at Iowa River Cemetery in rural Dorchester this Saturday, September 14 at 11:30 a.m. Martin-Grau Funeral Home is Waukon is handling arrangements.