Obituaries

James Morgan Driscoll, 90, of Harpers Ferry passed away peacefully at home with his loving family by his side May 4, 2024. Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 15 at St. Ann-St. Joseph Catholic Church in Harpers Ferry with Father Joseph Sevcik officiating.

Visitation will be in the parish hall from 9:30 a.m. until the start of services. Interment will be at a later date in Williamsburg. Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home in Lansing is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to VMH Home Care in Waukon, WinnMed Hospice in Decorah, and Coe College in Cedar Rapids.

James Morgan Driscoll was born in the family home in Williamsburg February 12, 1934. He graduated from Williamsburg High School in 1952, where he lettered in football, basketball, track, and baseball. He also participated in band and choir. Jim enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1953, and served in Japan and Korea until 1955.

Larry James Larson, 62, of Harpers Ferry passed away May 20, 2024 in Lusk, WY. A celebration of life will be held June 30 from 2-5 p.m. at Portside, located at 125 Jefferson Avenue, Harpers Ferry. Military honors will be held at 3 p.m. Memorials may be sent to the Larson family at 548 State Hwy. 76, Harpers Ferry, IA 52146.

Larry was born April 20, 1962 in Waukon to Lawrence I. Larson and Joanne A. (Iverson) Larson. He was baptized, and later confirmed May 29, 1977, at the Old West Paint Creek Church in Waterville. He graduated from Waukon Senior High School, Class of 1980, and went on to serve five years in the U.S. Navy aboard one of the Navy’s top destroyer tenders, the USS Sierra. Larry wore the title of Boatswain’s Mate.

Clayton Garwood Ricker, age 92, of Arizona passed away May 13, 2024. Memorial Services were held Tuesday, May 21 at Avista Living in Payson, AZ.

Clayton was born to Lawrence and Kathryn (Wiedenmann) Ricker in Rossville June 30, 1931. In fourth grade, Clayton began working at the Feuerhelm Truck Body Shop. His first job was to paint the new wood on the hay/grain wagon wheel spokes with red lead paint, since metal for wheels was prioritized to support the war effort in WWII. Years later, Clay pulled a new wagon behind his Studebaker to the Iowa State Fair as a sales promotion.

He graduated from Waukon High School in 1949, where he earned letters in baseball, basketball, and was the ping pong champ. He met his wife in high school when the principal said, “Hey Clayton, Audrey is sick and you’ve got a car, you need to give her a ride home.”

Nicky A. O’Neill, 67, of Waukon died Saturday, October 28, 2023, at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Saturday, June 1 at 11 a.m. with a lunch to follow at St. John’s The Baptist Catholic Church - West Ridge, 178 West Ridge Drive in rural Waukon.

Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.
 

Robert (Bob) P. Maxson, age 75, was born December 14, 1948, to Marian and Paul Maxson in Richfield, MN. He graduated from Richfield High School in 1967 and began his college career at Eastern Illinois University where he received a Masters in Business Administration (MBA). He enjoyed being involved in many sports,  playing football in both high school and college. In college, he found his niche in  student government.

After college, he worked for a time as a bank examiner, but because he wanted to be closer to family, he moved back to Richfield, where he met Paulette Brutger. They were married and had two children, Erin was born in 1983 and Michael was born in 1988.

Ronald Wayne Ashbacher, age 76, formerly of Waukon, went home to be with the Lord Monday, December 5, 2022. His interment service will be held at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon Saturday, June 8 at 11 a.m. All are invited to attend.

Ronald was born May 15, 1946 in the French Creek area of rural Waukon, the son of Harold and Louise (Scharping) Ashbacher. He was the youngest of the children. His sisters were Arlene and Dorothy, and his brothers were John A. and Richard.

They lived on a farm between Waukon and Lansing. He attended Waukon High School, after which he was a student at the University of Iowa.

Ronald was a veteran of the Vietnam War and served in the U.S. Army in Germany. Following the war he worked for the Goodyear Company in Topeka, KS. He retired to Lead Hill, AR where he enjoyed fishing and boating. He was also dedicated to visiting family across the country.

Patricia A. Powell, 90, of Luana died Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. A private burial will be held at a later date in Smithfield Cemetery, rural Luana. A celebration of life will also be held at a later date. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Patricia Ann Powell was born November, 24, 1933, to Emeroy and Garnet (Lockwood) Bowen. She graduated from Anamosa High School and received her Bachelors in Education for teaching from the University of Northern Iowa. While on a blind date, Pat met the love of her life, Lawrence Powell.

The two were married May 30, 1954, in Monona.

Throughout her life, Pat loved teaching. She taught for a few years at Waukon High School before teaching first and second grade in Monona for eight years. She later substitute taught before becoming a full-time farm wife.

Garvin Keene Larson, 90, of Ankeny passed away May 16, 2024. He was born May 26, 1933, the son of Floyd and Helen (McClintock) Larson, in Waukon. A private graveside service will be held at Ankeny Memorial Gardens. In lieu of a funeral, a celebration of life will be held on Garvin’s birthday, May 26, at his daughter, Shelly Larson’s, house from 2-5 p.m.

Full obituary can be found online at www.MemorialServicesOfIowa.com.

Sarah Christine Welsh, 91, of Waukon joined eternity surrounded by her family Monday, May 13, 2024. Funeral services were held Tuesday, May 21 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. John Moser officiating. Burial was at St. Mary’s Lycurgus Cemetery, rural Waukon. Memorials may be directed to St. Patrick Catholic School ini Waukon, Veterans Memorial Hospital, and Good Samaritan Society - Waukon.

Sarah was born June 1, 1932, in Globe, AZ, the daughter of Frank and Christine (Tovey) Teeling. She was baptized in Tucson, AZ, and when she was 18 months old, her family moved to Waukon, where she was confirmed at St. Patrick Catholic Church. In 1950, she graduated from St. Patrick High School and in 1953 she received her nursing degree from St. Francis School of Nursing in La Crosse, WI.

Virgil L. Opfer, 91, of Waukon died Monday, May 6, 2024, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 25 at 11 a.m. at Salem United Church of Christ in rural Waukon with Pastor Sue Klimstra officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Friends may greet the family from 9 a.m. until the time of services Saturday, May 25 at the church. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Virgil Leonard Opfer was born in Postville May 11, 1932, the son of Leonard and Viola (Koehring) Opfer. He was baptized and confirmed at Zalmona Presbyterian Church in rural Waukon, and graduated from Waukon High School in 1950. June 25, 1951, he married Betty Henning at Salem United Church of Christ in rural Waukon.

Throughout his life, Virgil farmed and drove bus, which he enjoyed very much. He enjoyed playing baseball, bowling, playing cards, and dancing.