Obituaries

Eugene (Gene) Neil Mahr, age 89, of Lime Springs  died Friday, July 29, 2016 in Cresco. Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, August 1 at Notre Dame Parish, Cresco, with Father Dennis Cain officiating. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery, Cresco. The Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home of Cresco assisted the family.

Eugene was born November 1, 1926 in Spring Grove, MN to Walter and Mayme (Schwartzhoff) Mahr. He attended school and was raised on the farm near Dorchester.  There he met the love of his life, Juliet (Judy) Sollien, and they married July 21, 1947 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dorchester. To this union 11 children were born: Michael (Gwen) Mahr, Beverly (Dale) Alstat, Barbara (Bill Tieskotter) Mahr, John (Deby) Mahr, Thomas (Janet) Mahr, Neil (Janelle) Mahr, Gregory (Joyce) Mahr, Donna (Kelly) Thomas, Marlene (Pat) Ollendieck, Sharlene (Don) Hruska and Debra (Kirk) Novak.

Maxine Waldron Howell, age 84, of Fort Worth, TX died peacefully Thursday morning, July 28, 2016 surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, August 1 at St. Andrew Catholic Church with interment at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Her memory may be honored with a gift to St. Andrew's Food Pantry Outreach.

Maxine Waldron was born November 3, 1931 in Waukon to James and Amanda Bodendorfer Waldron. She married Milo Howell February 26, 1952 and they moved to Fort Worth, TX in 1959.

Maxine and Milo were longtime members of St. Andrew Catholic Church. Maxine sang in the choir, and was a eucharistic minister and nursing home minister. She was happiest when feeding people at her table and she carried that ministry on with many years of service at the St. Andrew's food pantry. Anyone who met Maxine was instantly touched by her honest, straightforward, loving nature.

Nicholas James Curran, age 39, of San Diego, CA died peacefully surrounded by family May 7, 2016 at the Kaiser Permanente Hospital in San Diego, CA. A celebration of life will be held Friday, August 26 at the Community Center in Lansing from 4-8 p.m. with a prayer service at 4 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Wexford Saturday, August 27 at 11 a.m. with burial in the church cemetery and dinner to follow in the parish hall.
 

Hazel Ann Flynn, 74, of Lansing died Saturday, August 6, 2016 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. There will be a private family service at a later date. Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Lansing is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Hazel was born October 23, 1941 to Otto John and Verna (Cole) Schobert in Iowa City. She graduated from St. George High School in 1959.

Hazel was united in marriage with James Lyle Flynn November 9, 1963 in Waukon. Three children were born to this union, Mike, Deb and Jason. Hazel worked at the Button Factory in Lansing for over 40 years. She enjoyed watching country westerns and doing puzzle books.

Remington D. Whalen, four-month-old son of Christa Hammel and Paul Whalen of Decorah, was welcomed into the arms of the Lord and his heavenly family Thursday, August 4, 2016. Funeral services were held Tuesday, August 9 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Fr. Mark Osterhaus officiating. Burial was at St. Mary's Hanover Cemetery, rural Waukon.

Remington David Whalen was born March 14, 2016 in Decorah and was baptized June 14 at St. Mary’s Hanover Catholic Church in rural Waukon. He was a precious little boy with the most beautiful eyes who was always smiling. Remington loved people, especially his siblings, and liked watching them play. He also liked being outside, going for lawn mower rides, and watching the leaves blow and rustle. Recently, Remington discovered he loved the taste of watermelon and sweet corn. He was a happy baby and was always very content amid a busy household.

Earl Franklin Sass, age 83, of Portland, OR died July 9, 2016 at home after an almost year-long battle with cancer. A memorial celebration was held Saturday, July 23 at Lynchwood Christian Church in Portland, OR.

Earl was born June 28, 1933 in Waukon to Charles V. and Eugenia (Ralston) Sass; he was the oldest of eight children. Earl graduated from Waukon High School in 1951. He joined the U.S. Air Force and served eight and a half years; he was stationed in Japan, Presque Isle, ME and Mountain Home, ID.

June 20, 1964, he married Evelyn Holderby in Nampa, ID; they recently celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary. They moved to Portland, OR in 1967, where he worked as a truck mechanic for United Parcel Service, a position he held for 28 years. He was a member of Machinists' Union Local #1005 for 48 years.

Frances I. Busness, 89, of Waukon died Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Monday, August 8 at 10:30 a.m. at East Paint Creek Synod Lutheran Church in rural Waterville, with Rev. Ronald Pederson officiating. Burial will be at the church cemetery.

Friends may call from 3-6 p.m. Sunday, August 7 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the East Paint Creek Synod Cemetery fund.
Frances Irene Busness was born May 6, 1927 in Decorah, the daughter of Gust and Amanda (Hanson) Budahl. She was baptized at Hauge Lutheran Church in rural Decorah and confirmed at Decorah Lutheran Church. In 1945, she graduated valedictorian of her class from Decorah High School.

Evelyn H. Wild, 98, of rural Lansing died Wednesday, July 27, 2016 at the Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Monday, August 1 at Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church in rural New Albin, with Pastor Paul Burgess officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Evelyn Hope Wild was born February 12, 1918 in rural New Albin, the daughter of Fred and Ethel Hope (Sadler) Weymiller. She attended the rural “Sand Bank” elementary school and graduated from New Albin High School, where she drove a school bus during her time as a student.

Sharon I. Miene, 77, of Postville died Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services were held Saturday, July 30 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville with Greg Hamm and Pastor Lynn Noel officiating. Burial was at Postville Cemetery.

Sharon Irene Miene was born November 20, 1938 in Winneshiek County, rural Decorah, the daughter of Mervin Julemen and Clara Genette (Flatland) Stegen. She was baptized at the Glenwood Lutheran Church and confirmed at the Madison Lutheran Church. Sharon attended the Bluffton #2 rural school and Decorah High School.

Kurt Rathbun, age 68, of Waterville took his final road trip July 18, 2016. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Kurt was born June 24, 1948 in Waukon, the fifth of nine children born to Lawrence and Hilma (Moe) Rathbun. Growing up he loved to sneak off to Paint Creek to fish or just play in the water. He would trap in the winters to earn spending money and loved to hunt and fish. Kurt had a keen interest in the way things worked and would take apart items to fix or just to see what made them “tick”.

He attended elementary school in Waterville and high school in Waukon, graduating in 1966. He was a member of the Waterville Lutheran Church. As he grew older he enjoyed working on cars he owned or helping friends with theirs. In 1972 he married Diane Leiran in Champagne, IL and raised two sons.