Obituaries

Duane “Dewey” DeWalle, 78, of Waukon died Friday, January 5, 2024 at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, WI. A celebration of life with a light meal will be held Saturday, January 13 from 12-2 p.m. at the Waukon Golf & Country Club in Waukon.

Dewey was an avid sports fan; in his honor, we would like you to wear your favorite sports team attire. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Duane Lyola DeWalle was born September 29, 1945 in Cresco, the son of Lyola “Bud” and Bessie (Bilek) DeWalle. He attended elementary school and Cresco High School.

While at a gas station one day, Dewey met the woman who would end up being the love of his life, Maggie Johansen. The two were married July 8, 1970 at the Winneshiek County Courthouse.

Patricia Ann (Sweeney) Bannon passed away peacefully and surrounded by her family and dear friends December 28, 2023 at the age of 83. She was born April 2, 1940 in Waukon to Ralph and Ileen (Birdsell) Sweeney. “Patsy Ann” was the second of eleven children in her family. She loved and was loved by many. Pat’s favorite saying was, “Let go, let God”, which she unquestionably lived.

After graduating St. Patrick’s High School in Waukon, Pat entered the religious life with the Sisters of the Presentation in Dubuque. During her time in religious life, she trained as a teacher and served as a missionary in Bolivia. Pat talked about this time in her life often and the lifelong friends, faith, and lessons she experienced. She was very grateful for this time in her life and the generosity of the Sisters of the Presentation. After returning from Bolivia her next calling was to be a mother and she moved to Southern California where she raised a family.

Our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Victor “Vic” Leo Daman, age 77, of Marion passed away surrounded by family Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics. His death was sudden and unexpected, yet ultimately a consequence of his long-term illness. Vic fought the good fight and we were lucky to have four years with him following his diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia.

In agreement with his wishes, cremation has taken place. A celebration of Vic’s life will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, January 14 in the “Hickory Room” at Lowe Park Arts and Environmental Center, located at 4500 North 10th Street in Marion. A private family committal service will take place at a later date.

Vic was born November 3, 1946 in Waukon, one of four children, to Leo and Ruth (Cahalan) Daman. He was raised in Harpers Ferry.

Oswald (Ozzie) William Goettler was born November 29, 1927 at Andrew to Henry and Magdalena Goettler, very poor, but very religious parents, for this he was thankful. He became a Christian at a very young age and being poor, it taught him to get along with only the things he needed. Ozzie, age 96, passed away January 3, 2024 at Veterans Memorial Hospital, Waukon after a brief stay.

Funeral Service was held Saturday, January 6 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Luana with Vicar Jeremy Wolfe and Pastor Judy Heinrich as the officiants. Inurnment will be held at Smithfield Cemetery, Volney at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to your favorite charity.

He attended Andrew High School for 12 years.  He walked two miles to and from school each day, equaling 720 miles a year, times 12, equaling 8,640 miles to get an education.

Tim G. Gress, 52, of Waukon died Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services were held Monday, January 8 at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon with Pastor Grant VanderVelden officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the family are preferred.

Timothy Gene Gress was born June 19, 1971 in Waukon, the son of Gary and Dorothy (Johnson) Gress. He was baptized and confirmed at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon. Tim graduated from Waukon High School in 1990.

November 11, 1995, he married Brandie Oliver at First Presbyterian Church. The two later divorced. Tim worked as a head start associate and as an associate at Waukon schools. He also worked at the Park and Rec Department during the summers. Tim was a hard worker and loved what he did; one of Tim’s most valued aspects of his life was working with the kids at school. He also was a respite care worker.

Charlotte Louise (Hartley) Gerdes, 90, departed peacefully December 30, 2023 in Lyngblomsten Care Center, St. Paul, MN, surrounded by family.

Charlotte was born July 17, 1933 in Caledonia, MN to Allen and Ella Hartley. She was raised on the Mt. Hope Farm near New Albin and is one of four siblings. One of her earliest memories was attending and listening to her mother play the organ at Mt. Hope Church where we lay her to rest.

Visitation and funeral services were held at rural Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church, New Albin, Saturday January 6. Rev. Ben Hartley officiated. A later memorial service will also be held at Lyngblomsten Care Center Chapel at 1415 Almond Avenue, St. Paul, MN February 15 at 4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Send International. Online condolences may be offered at www.FredricksonFuneralHomes.com.

LaVon A. Renne, 92, passed away December 25, 2023 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

LaVon was born April 14, 1931 in Postville and is the daughter of Leonard and Viola (Koehring) Opfer. She was united in marriage to Ralph Rueben Renne September 12, 1950 at the Bethlehem Church in rural Postville.

Survivors include her daughter Violet (Dave) Anderson of Postville, son Ronald (Tami) Renne of Postville and grandchildren Brett (Cindy) of Turney, MO, Cory (Lorena) Anderson of Postville, Jeremy (Laura) Renne of Postville, Nick Renne of Postville, Jamie (Jess) Parker of Prairie du Chien, WI and Ciarra (Matt) Heiderscheit of Chatfield, MN, 14 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great-grandchildren and her brother Virgil Opfer of Waukon.

Preceding her in death were her parents and her husband Ralph in 2004. 

Michael T. Zeimet, 71, of New Albin, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, November 27, 2023, at his home. A sharing time will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 6, at the New Albin Community Center. Friends may greet the family from 10 a.m. until time of services at the community center. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon, is handling arrangements.

Charles “Chuck” Sever Kolsrud was born in Waukon, October 23, 1935. His parents were Harris and Lucille (Greiser) Kolsrud. His grandparents were Sever and Selma Kolsrud of Waterville and Charles and Emma Greiser of New Albin.

A memorial service for Chuck will be held Saturday, January 13, 2024, at Tanque Verde Lutheran Church (8625 E Tanque Verde Rd, Tucson, AZ 85749) at 1 p.m. A coffee reception will follow the service at the church. The inurnment will take place at the Old East Paint Creek Church Cemetery near Waterville in the late spring or summer. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Tucson Youth On Their Own (yoto.org) are appreciated.

Leo James Delaney, 84, of Tomball, TX, formerly of Lansing, died Monday, December 18, 2023 at HCA Houston Healthcare in Tomball. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, December 27 at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Wexford Catholic Church in rural Lansing with Fr. Joseph Sevcik officiating. Burial will be at the church cemetery. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, December 26 at Thornburg - Grau Funeral Home in Lansing, where there will be a 6:30 p.m. scripture service, and will continue one hour before services at the church Wednesday.

Leo James Delaney was born July 12, 1939 at home in Lansing, the son of Patrick and Evelyn (Mullarkey) Delaney. He was baptized and confirmed at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Wexford, rural Lansing and graduated from Lansing High School in 1957. Following high school, he proudly served in the U.S. Air Force, eventually moving to Oklahoma, where he graduated from Oklahoma State Technical College with a drafting degree.