Obituaries

Russell P. Loven died at home in Guttenberg after a long struggle with cancer December 27, 2022. The family will receive friends from 10-11 a.m. Saturday, January 21, 2023 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Guttenberg. Funeral service will be at St. John’s Lutheran Church at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 21, 2023 with Rev. Michael Ashman officiating.

Russ was born March 9, 1934 in Decorah, the son of Roy and Ruth (Onsager) Loven. Russ spent his formative years in Waukon where he attended first through 12th grades in Waukon; graduating high school in 1952. He then attended Luther College in Decorah two years, where he met his future wife, Juanita Zeman.

William “Bill” J. Byrnes, 89, of Waukon, passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus Tuesday, December 27, 2022 at Good Samaritan Society in Waukon surrounded by family. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 4 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. John Moser officiating. Burial with military honors will be at St. Mary’s Hanover Cemetery in rural Waukon. Friends may greet the family from 10 a.m. until time of services at the church Wednesday. Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

Debbie Doyle passed away Friday, December 16, 2022 surrounded by family at her Des Moines home. A funeral Mass will be celebrated January 13, 2023 at 11 a.m. at St. Augustin Catholic Church, 545 42nd Street, Des Moines. Visitation will be an hour before the Mass. A reception will follow Mass in the church parish hall. Memorial contributions may be made to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.

Debbie was born February 7, 1954 in Waukon to Robert Emmet and Mary Evelyn (Gavin) Cahalan. She was raised with her five siblings on the family farm near Harpers Ferry in Allamakee County. After graduating from Waukon High School, she moved to Des Moines to begin her career as a legal secretary. There she met Drake University law student Richard Doyle. After their love blossomed, Debbie and Rick were married in 1975.

Janeth R. Fish, 80, of Waukon entered Heaven Christmas Day 2022, and was reunited with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and her loving husband of 40 years, Harold. She passed away at home due to a cardiac event. She requested no funeral services and will be buried at Rossville Cemetery at a later date. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Janeth Rae (Cook) Fish was born January 18, 1942 in Mullens, WV, the second child of Edna (Tickle) and John Enoch Cook. She graduated from Mullens High School in 1959, after which she attended Little French Beauty School in Bluefield.

Sandra Roys, age 88, of Ames, formerly of Volga and Waukon, passed away December 8, 2022. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at a later date at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Volga.

Sandra Lucille Martin Roys was born October 4, 1934 to Michael and Vera (Hesner) Martin in Volga. Sandra’s childhood was carefree enjoying time on the farm. She graduated from Volga High School and went to Iowa State Teachers College (now known as the University of Northern Iowa) in Cedar Falls. She then was an elementary teacher until she married John Roys. John and Sandra had been high school sweethearts and tied the knot August 11, 1956.

Saturday, December 10, 2022, Kiara L. Moser (Moore), a beloved daughter, sister, aunt and granddaughter, passed away at the age of 34. A celebration of life will be held in remembrance of Kiara in Lansing March 4, 2023.

Kiara loved spending time with family and friends, and always had a beautiful smile. She welcomed any chance to play a friendly game at gatherings. She was an avid baker and enjoyed treating family and friends to her culinary delicacies.

Kiara loved writing and enjoyed reading books across a wide variety of genres. Her favorite holiday was Halloween, and you could always count on her elaborate and detailed costumes.

Kiara is survived by her mother, Melody Meyers (Delaney) of Lacon, IL; her siblings, Jessica Bull (Dorney) of Watertown, WI and Matthew Dorney of Oconomowoc, WI; and her grandmother, Ann Delaney (Troendle) of Lansing. Kiara was preceded in death by her grandfather, Francis (Frank) Delaney.
 

Lorraine C. Johnson, 79, of Waukon died Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at Good Samaritan Society - Waukon. Funeral services were held Tuesday, December 20 at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial was at Lansing Ridge Cemetery in rural Lansing.

Lorraine Carrol Johnson was born January 5, 1943 in La Crosse, WI, the daughter of John E. and Ermina (Nelson) Boyd. March 7, 1943, she was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon, and she was then confirmed at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Lansing July 1, 1956. Lorraine attended Three Corners country school in rural Lansing and graduated in 1961 from Kee High School in Lansing. Following graduation, Lorraine was a secretary for the superintendent at the Lansing school.

Raymond “Ed” Gress, 79, of Blue Springs, MO, formerly of Waukon, died Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Blue Springs, MO. Funeral services were held Monday, December 19 at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon with Pastor Duane Smith officiating. Burial with military honors was at Salem Cemetery in rural Waukon.

Raymond Edward Gress II was born October 10, 1943 in Des Moines, the son of Raymond Edward Sr. and Laura Mae (Hamann) Gress. He grew up in Waukon and attended Ludlow school. From 1966-1968, Ed was active duty in the U.S. Army, stationed in Fort Polk, LA with the rank of SP5; he was honorably discharged to the Army Reserves, serving there until 1972.

June 16, 1968, Ed married Virginia “Susie” Lea Brooks in Anacoco, LA. They lived in Shreveport, LA, where Ed worked and retired from Brooks Heating and Air Conditioning in Bossier City, LA. They then came back to Waukon before moving to Blue Springs, MO to live with their daughter.

Richard Duane Hagensick passed away peacefully at Good Samaritan Society - Waukon December 6, 2022 due to living a long and rewarding life. There will be a celebration of life service at a later date.

Richard was born August 19, 1929 to Richard F and Augusta Hagensick. He was married to Madeline (Achenbach), who was the love of his life and “there was no one better than her”. He was a farmer and raised his five children on the farm.

Richard enjoyed watching the Iowa Hawkeyes no matter what the sport, and watching the Chicago Cubs and Minnesota Twins play baseball. He was active in his church and enjoyed going every Sunday when he could.

Anna Mary (Sunstrom) Gearhart, 89, of Waukon passed away into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior Sunday, December 11, 2022 at the Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Monday, December 19 at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon with Pastor Bryan Robertson officiating. Burial will be at Linwood Cemetery in Boone.

Friends may greet the family from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services Monday at the church. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements. With heartfelt love and appreciation for all the compassion, care and spiritual guidance for Anna, memorials may be designated to Good Samaritan Society, Veterans Memorial Hospital or St. John’s Lutheran Church, all in Waukon.