Obituaries

Jean A. Meiners, 54, of New Albin passed away Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, WI. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, December 14 from 1-5 p.m. at the New Albin Community Center. A private burial will be held at St. John’s UCC in rural New Albin.

Jean Ann Meiners was born August 22, 1965 in La Crosse, WI to Ronald and Joyce (Staggemeier) Vonderohe. She graduated Waukon High School in 1983 and received an Associates Degree at Northeast Iowa Community College.

John Thomas Keenan, 77, of Lansing passed away unexpectedly at the home of his daughter in Manassas, VA November 30, 2019. A celebration of life will be held at T.J. Hunter’s on Main Street in Lansing Sunday, December 15 at 1 p.m.

Born October 21, 1942, the second child and eldest son of Walter and Margaretta (Smerud) Keenan, he grew up near Dorchester and attended English Bench country school. In 1956, the family moved to Lansing where his father operated the Ford garage, and where he graduated from St. George High School in 1960. From 1961 to 1965, he proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force in the Air Rescue Squadron. John was a skilled mechanic, a body man who loved restoring old cars, pick-ups and Ford Broncos, an excellent welder and a long haul truck driver. He loved watching NASCAR races and had, like his father before him, a great love for all things automotive.

Leon “Lee” A. Hansmeier, 75, of Waukon died Sunday, December 8, 2019 at his home. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, December 14 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon with visitation from 12-3:30 p.m., followed by a prayer service, time for sharing memories of Lee, a luncheon, and music with karaoke following. Burial will take place at a later date in Oakland Cemetery in Waukon. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements for the family.

Leon “Lee” Alfred Hansmeier was born April 4, 1944 in Waukon, the son of Alfred “Red” and Bernice (Zieman) Hansmeier. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick Catholic Church and graduated from St. Patrick High School in 1962 in Waukon. January 2, 1965, he married Sue (Peterson) Hansmeier and the couple made their home in Waukon.

Caryl Ann Leiran, 73, of Frankville passed away peacefully Thursday, December 5, 2019 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN. Funeral services were held Tuesday, December 10 at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon with Karla Johnson officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon.

Caryl Ann Kostman Leiran was born December 21, 1945 to Paul and Dora (Cooper) Kostman of Postville. She attended Ludlow #7 school and graduated from Postville High School. Growing up, Caryl worked hard on the family farm, tending the garden and occasionally snake and squirrel hunting with her brothers.

July 26, 1964, Caryl married her high school sweetheart, Gary Leiran, at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon. They started their life together in Waukon and lived in a few other locations, including Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Hartford, CT, Ridgeway, Decorah, and currently in rural Frankville.

Phyllis M. Lawson Kubitz, 92, died November 27, 2019 at the Good Samaritan Society in Waukon after a brief illness. A private family service will be held at a later date. Iowa Cremation is handling arrangements for the family.

Phyllis Martha Gast was born December 9, 1926 to Walter and Hettie (Baker) Gast. Phyllis’s mother, Hettie, died when Phyllis was a young girl. Subsequently, she was raised on the farm by her father, Walter, and an uncle.

This remarkable woman was educated in the local schools, graduating from Waterville High School in 1943 and Waukon Junior College in 1945. She held a myriad of jobs throughout her life - serving as a rural teacher, working in Rochester, MN at the famed Michaels Restaurant before they realized she was too young to be employed, McGregor Electronics, a cook at the Waterville School, and eventually a mother and homemaker.

Richard “Dick” Gordon Prestemon, 86, of Waukon died Sunday, November 24, 2019 at Keystone Care Center in Keystone. Funeral services will be held Monday, December 9 at 11 a.m. at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon with Pastor Shari Prestemon officiating. Burial with military honors will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, December 8 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.

Richard “Dick” Gordon Prestemon was born July 13, 1933 in Waukon, the son of Arthur and Grace (Sherman) Prestemon. In 1950, Dick graduated from Waukon High School and later went on to receive degrees from Iowa State University and the University of Wisconsin.

Margaret Krambeer, age 69, of rural Decorah died Friday, November 15, 2019 at Good Samaritan Society - Waukon. Funeral Services were held Wednesday, November 20 at Glenwood Lutheran Church, Decorah with Rev. Stacey Nalean-Carlson officiating. Interment was at Glenwood East Cemetery.

Margaret Mina (Gramlich) Krambeer was born February 7, 1950, the daughter of Daniel Emil and Ella Mae (Pratt) Gramlich at the Waukon General Hospital. She was baptized and confirmed at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon. Margaret attended elementary school in Waukon and graduated from Waukon High School. After graduation, she worked various babysitting jobs.

Rae J. Beardmore, 93, of Waukon died Saturday, November 30, 2019 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 5 at 11 a.m. at Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church in rural New Albin with Pastor Paul Burgess officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, December 4 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon. Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.

Rae Joan Holthusen Beardmore was born in Wahpeton, ND September 17, 1926, the daughter of Harriet Gene (Glasgow) and George William Holthusen. She graduated from Wahpeton High School in 1944 where she was a lifeguard at the local swimming pool, a girl scout, a member of a USO support group, and participated in the band. Rae liked music and the band was a logical choice as her father was a member of a WWI service band with John Philip Sousa.

James “Tony” A. Urell, 78, of Waukon died Tuesday, November 26, 2019 at his home in rural Waukon. Funeral services were held Monday, December 2 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Mark Osterhaus officiating. Burial was at St. John the Baptist West Ridge Cemetery in rural Waukon.

James “Tony” Anthony Urell was born September 11, 1941 in Waukon, the son of Thomas and Ethel (Drew) Urell. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick Catholic Church and attended St. Patrick Catholic School, both in Waukon. October 14, 1961, he married Kathryn “Kate” Waters at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in New Albin. Tony worked for Holland Brothers and then for JB Holland, both in Decorah, from 1967 until he retired in 2003; he operated machinery and was a mechanic. He also farmed the family farm in the Patterson Creek area, raising beef cattle and crops.

Betty Steiber, 93, of Lansing died Monday, November 25, 2019 at Thornton Manor, Lansing. Funeral Service was held Monday, December 2 at United Methodist Church, Lansing. Burial followed at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lansing.

Betty was born September 10, 1926 to Dewey and Lula (Brockmeyer) Gramlich. She graduated from Lansing High School in 1943. Following school, she worked at the Lansing Button Factory for three years.

Betty was united in marriage with Bernard Steiber June 8, 1946 at the E.U.B. Church in Lansing. After a honeymoon to Chicago, IL,  they farmed together for 55 years. She was a stay-at-home mom but was always busy with caring for the children, helping with things on the farm and raising a big garden, including strawberry and raspberry patches, which she loved to share with family, neighbors and friends.