Obituaries

Gwen Carole Wilson Eilers of Luana died Friday, July 23, 2021 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Visitation will be held Sunday, August 8 from 3-5 p.m. at Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Monona. A private burial is scheduled be held Monday, August 9.
 

Marlene Klocke, 86, of Clive, formerly of Postville and Waukon, died Monday, July 19, 2021 in Des Moines. Funeral services were held Saturday, July 24 at Bethlehem Presbyterian Church in rural Postville with Karla Johnson officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Marlene Klocke was born April 22, 1935 in Jefferson Township, Allamakee County, the daughter of Lawrence and Helen (Palas) Mohs. She attended school in Luana and Postville and graduated from Postville High School in 1954. June 4, 1954, she married James Klocke at the Little Brown Church in Nashua; they were married for 66 years.

Delores C. Fetketter, 91, of Caledonia, MN, formerly of Eitzen, MN, went home to be with her Lord, surrounded by her family, Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at Claddagh Senior Living in Caledonia, MN. A celebration of life will be held from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday, July 24 at the Eitzen Community Center, Eitzen, MN.

Delores was born January 12, 1929 in Waukon to Arthur and Adeline “Lena” (Welper) Kasten. She was a 1948 graduate of Waukon High School, a proud moment for her as she was the first child in their family to graduate from high school. She then worked at the La Crosse telephone company, a job she loved.

Robert “Bob” D. Thompson, 77, of rural Waterville passed away Thursday, March 26, 2020 at Gundersen Medical Center in La Crosse, WI. A Celebration of Life is being held Saturday, July 31 at 10:30 a.m. at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church, 1779 Elon Drive, Waterville.

There will be a service with Holy Communion followed by a brunch in the church basement. The family requests no gifts, only your presence is needed.
 

Gary Lee Flage of San Angelo, TX passed November 30, 2020 of complications from COVID-19. He was 78 years old. Due to COVID-19, there will be no service. Gary’s ashes will be scattered on his family’s farm in Iowa.

Born March 8, 1942 in Waukon, Gary grew up on his family’s farm. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and studied Russian linguistics. While at Goodfellow AFB, Gary met Marilyn Treadwell, whom he married March 19, 1966.

Their daughter, Karon, was born when stationed at Elmendorf AFB in Alaska. Being honorably discharged in 1968, the family returned to San Angelo, TX in 1970, where son Bruce was born. Gary graduated from Angelo State University (ASU) in May 1972 and worked at Nathan’s Jewelers for over 20 years.

Robert “Bob” Grover, formerly of Lansing, was celebrated for his love of life, Christian faith and military service by all of his children, grandchildren and their families at Fairview Cemetery in his hometown of Cedar Falls last week following his death in 2020.

Friends can continue to celebrate his love of laughter, music, sports and the great outdoors by honoring all those who serve others in need and those who help preserve nature.
 

James Louis McKee, 76, of Necedah, WI passed away at the Tomah VA Medical Center Friday, July 16, 2021. Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday, July 20 at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Necedah, WI. Burial with full military honors took place Wednesday, July 21 in the Gethsemane Catholic Cemetery in Lansing. The family has asked that memorials be given in memory of James to their charity of choice.

Jim was born August 3, 1944 to Richard James and Evelyn M. (Knopf) McKee in Churchtown. Following high school, Jim enlisted with the United States Army where he served for several years. December 17, 2016, he married Donna Mae (VanHoof) Hirt. Together they made their life in Necedah, WI and were active members of the St. Francis Catholic Church.

Benjamin J. Kerndt, 26, of rural Lansing died Thursday, July 15, 2021 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI. Memorial services will be held Tuesday, July 27 at 11 a.m. at Zalmona Presbyterian Church in rural Waukon with Pastor Tom Buresh officiating. Burial of ashes will be at Lansing Ridge Cemetery, rural Lansing.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Monday, July 26 at Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon. In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorials may be made to the Waukon Fire Department, Zalmona Cemetery or Lansing Ridge Cemetery.

Garland Gale “Bugsy” J. Burroughs Jr., age 83, of Waukon died Friday, July 2, 2021 at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, WI. Funeral services were held Saturday, July 10 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. John Moser officiating. Burial with military honors was at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon assisted the family with arrangements.

Legendary, this is the singular word that comes to everyone’s mind when asked to describe the one and only Bugsy Burroughs. He spent his 83 years on this Earth dancing through not only his life, but each and every one of ours. There are so many stories to be shared to carry on his legacy, but we will keep this brief and everyone can share their own Bugsy stories and laugh with one another over a cup of coffee sometime, as Bugsy would have loved.

Steven John Thorsten of Lansing passed away peacefully at home Sunday, April 5, 2020 at the age of 68.  Services and burial will be held Saturday, July 24 at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church in Lansing with Rev. Sean Smith officiating.

Steven was born in Waukon December 12, 1951, the oldest child of John and Elinor (Luth) Thorsten. He grew up on the family farm just down the road from Churchtown and graduated from Kee High School in 1970. Steve was on the wrestling team and chosen for the All-State wrestling team in his junior year.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1972, serving three deployments on the USS Enterprise. While serving, he transferred from the Enterprise (CVN65) to the Naval Reactor Facility A1W Prototype in Idaho Falls, ID, receiving training as a nuclear propulsion plant operator. This training offered him the opportunity to work in the nuclear power field after being discharged from the Navy in 1978.