Obituaries

Friday, May 1, 2026, after suffering a sudden stroke, Catherine Josephine Weighner of Grand Rapids, MI entered into eternal life. She was surrounded by her husband Phil and their children and died in the peace of Christ’s promises.

A Mass of Christian Burial took place Friday, May 8 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Grand Rapids, MI. Memorial contributions may be made either to HELP Pregnancy Aid or to Assure Women’s Center of Cedar Springs, MI.

Cathy was the fifth of ten children and grew up in San Gabriel, CA. The lively sense of humor, readiness to serve, and creative imagination for which she was well-known blossomed from childhood. Being raised in an intergenerational household, Cathy learned early on how to care for and befriend people at all stages of their life.

Jean Huffey, 94, of Waterville passed away peacefully May 4, 2026. Jean moved to Wellington Place in Decorah in 2022 and Creamery Creek in Viroqua, WI in October 2025.
Memorial services were held Friday, May 8 at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Waukon with Pastor Kim Gates and Pastor Laura Gentry officiating. Burial will take place at a later date. Memorials can be directed to Agrace Hospice or Veterans Memorial Hospital, Waukon.

Jean was born in rural Hawkeye January 5, 1932, to George and Delia Boess. She attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls (1949-1950). After graduating, Jean taught at Waterville Elementary School. She married George Huffey April 10, 1953 and they were married for 63 years.

Kathryn “Kate” A. Urell, 82, of Waukon died Monday, May 4, 2026, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services were held Friday, May 8 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Joseph Sevcik officiating.

Burial was at St. John The Baptist - West Ridge Cemetery, in rural Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled the arrangements.

Kathryn Ann Urell was born August 14, 1943, in Waukon, the daughter of Floyd and Florence (Wild) Waters. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph Catholic Church in New Albin and attended Clear Creek School in Union City Township until 8th grade. Kate graduated from Waukon High School in 1961.

John Virgil Prohaski, 88, of Mason City passed away May 3, 2026. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 11 at Epiphany Parish - St. Joseph Catholic Church, 302 5th Street SE in Mason City with Rev. Ben Valentine as celebrant. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services at the church.

John was born June 14, 1937, in Mason City, the son of Charlie and Jenny (Olson) Prohaski. He graduated from Mason City High School in May of 1955. He attended Mason City Junior College (now NIACC), graduating in 1957. He received his Bachelors Degree from Iowa State Teacher’s College in 1961 and later his Master’s Degree of Psychology from Winona State University.

After teaching in Missouri Valley and in Marble Rock, his family settled in  Waukon for the remainder of their teaching careers.   John also worked as a volunteer EMT for the Veterans Memorial Hospital for many years.

Merrill R. Jacobs, 88, of Waukon died Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, May 6 at 11 a.m. at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon, with Rev. Cathy Jurgens officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon.

Friends may greet the family from 9 a.m. until time of services Wednesday at the church. The services will be livestreamed on the Martin-Grau Facebook page. Memorials can be made to Veterans Memorial Hospital or Oakland Cemetery for perpetual care, both in Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

Janet A. Farley, 88, of Cedar Rapids, formerly of Lansing, passed away Sunday, April 12, 2026, at Maquoketa Care Center in Maquoketa. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 22, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lansing, with Rev. Joseph Sevcik officiating. Burial will follow at Gethsemane Catholic Cemetery, also in Lansing.

Visitation will be held at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of service Wednesday. Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home in Lansing is assisting the family with arrangements.

Janet Anne Farley was born September 4, 1937, in Harpers Ferry to Chester and Anna (Kernan) Farley. She was baptized and confirmed at Immaculate Conception Wexford Catholic Church in rural Lansing and graduated from Harpers Ferry High School. At the age of 14, Janet began corresponding with a pen pal in Ireland, which later led to her traveling to Northern Ireland, where she lived for six months.

Robert (Bob) Raymond Jr., 78, of De Soto, WI, died peacefully at home with his wife, Julie, and his son, Gus, at his side Friday, April 10, 2026. A Celebration of Life will be held alongside the Mississippi River at a later date.
The Roth Family Cremation Center and Funeral Services is serving the family. A full obituary will be posted soon at www.rothfamilycremation.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society or to pbswisconsin.org.

Daniel J. Becker, 64, of New Albin died Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at home surrounded by family. A celebration of life was held Sunday, April 12 at the New Albin Community Center.

Daniel James Becker was born October 17, 1961, in Waukon, the son of Joe and Kathleen (Mauss) Becker. He graduated from Kee High School in 1980, and served in the National Guard for seven years. May 24, 1996, Dan married the love of his life, Keri Shuda, and he continued to show his deep love and devotion to her every day of his life.

Dan worked as an operator for Mathy Construction for 25 years, where his strong work ethic and dedication were evident to all who knew him.

Frederick Staggemeier, 86, of La Crosse, WI, formerly of New Albin, died April 6, 2026, at Mulder Health Care Facility in West Salem, WI. Memorial services will be private.

He was born October 11, 1939, in Caledonia, MN, to Elmer and Erma (Pottratz) Staggemeier. Graduating in 1957 from New Albin High School, his early employment included working and making cheese at the New Albin Cheese Factory.

After leaving this establishment, he attended Coleman Technical Institute for mechanical drafting and, later, Western Wisconsin Technical Institute, entering into the tool and die field. Frederick worked with various businesses in the La Crosse, Viroqua, and Richland Center areas in Wisconsin until retiring in 2005.

Harvey I. Estebo, 90, of Waukon passed away Sunday, April 5, 2026 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon from natural causes after a lengthy illness. Funeral Services were held Monday, April 13 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing followed by graveside service at Lansing Ridge Cemetery.

Harvey Ingham Estebo was born and raised near Rake February 29, 1936. He was the youngest of 11 children of John and Hilda (Erdahl) Estebo. He was named after Harvey Ingham, editor of the Des Moines Register and Tribune and from whom his parents bought the farm near Rake.

Harvey was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Rake. He went to rural country school before attending public school in Rake and graduated from high school in 1954.

After graduation, Harvey attended Luther College in Decorah until the fall of 1956 when he went to San Diego, CA to live with a brother. While living in San Diego, he worked as a timekeeper for the Rohr Air Craft Corporation.