Obituaries

Patricia J. Dotseth, 82, of rural Decorah died Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at her home. Funeral services were held Saturday, May 21 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon, with Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.

Patricia Jane Dotseth was born January 23, 1934 on the family farm near Luana. She was the daughter of Fred and Frances (Gilson) Miene. Pat was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Postville and graduated from Luana High School in 1952. While in school, she won the state speech contest in Mason City, which she traveled to by train with her coach. After graduation, Pat worked on her family’s farm, raising hogs and chickens. Then at Dreamland Ballroom in Postville, she met Robert Dotseth and the couple later married April 21, 1957 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. The couple farmed together on Bob’s family farm, where they have lived ever since.

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 was held at the Marina Village in San Diego, CA Tuesday, May 10, with a Mass of Christian Burial and interment at Immaculate Conception Church-Wexford, rural Lansing at a later date.

Nick was the son of Pat and Shari Curran of Lansing and was born at St. Francis Hospital in La Crosse, WI  November 7, 1976. After graduation from Kee High School, Nick attended Wyoming Technical School in Laramie, WY studying Auto Body Repair. He worked for a time in Madison, WI, then Minneapolis, MN, where he met the love of his life, Angela Baker. He then moved to San Diego, CA.

Nick and Angela were united in marriage March 8, 2003. They were blessed with two wonderful boys, Macallister, age eight, and Kingston, age four. Nick was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ocean Beach, CA.

Marilyn A. Winter, 82, of Waukon died Friday, May 13, 2016 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 19 at 11 a.m. at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon with Pastor Samantha Houser officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 18 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, where there will be a 5:30 p.m. VFW Auxiliary service.

Marilyn Ann Winter was born May 24, 1933 in Waukon, the daughter of Clarence Theodore and Helen Charlotte (Amundson) Flage. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon, and graduated from Waukon High School in 1952. May 22, 1955, she married Edwin Alfred Winter at Zion United Church of Christ. They farmed together for 10 years in the Churchtown area before moving to an acreage west of town.

Harold E. Coughlin, 88, of Hokah, MN died Sunday, May 8, 2016 in his home. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, May 14 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Hokah, MN, with Rev. Pratap Reddy Salabindla officiating. Burial with Military Honors was in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Hokah, MN.

Harold was born May 24, 1927 in New Albin to William F. and Mary Agnes (Kelly) Coughlin. Harold was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII, serving on the USS Bon Homme Richard. He married Marian C. Murray April 29, 1950 in St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Hokah, MN. She preceded him in death January 10, 2010. He had worked at Trane Company in La Crosse, WI from 1951 until his retirement in 1989.

Harold enjoyed collecting old dial phones and ash trays, garage sales, and traveling by train. He enjoyed day trips to area small towns and church dinners, and co-piloting on trips with his daughter, Fritz.

Jesse Young, age 97, of Waukon died Tuesday night, May 10, 2016 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Friday, May 20, 2016 at the Scheie Lutheran Church, Mabel, MN, with Pastor Mary Waudby officiating. Music will be provided by Kathryn Thompson and Linda Gjerdrum. Burial will be at the Locust Cemetery. Visitation will be two hours prior to services at the church.

Jesse Willet Alfred Young was born August 29, 1918 on his parents' farm in rural Hesper Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa. He was the son of Alfred and Emma (Grindeland) Young. Jesse was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Locust, and attended the rural schools.

February 14, 1942 he married LaVonne Safford at the Lutheran Parsonage in Cresco. Together they raised their four children, Robert, Emma, Phillip and Willet, on the family farm.

Darwin Melcher, age 66, of Decorah died Saturday, May 14, 2016 at his home in his sleep of natural causes. Visitation was held Thursday, May 19 at the Schluter-Balik Funeral Home in Decorah. Burial of Darwin’s cremains will be held at a later date in the Evergreen Cemetery, Rossville.

Darwin Duane Melcher was born May 10, 1950, the son of Vernon D. and Madonna (Wilkins) Melcher. He was baptized and confirmed in the United Methodist Church in McGregor. He received his education in the Waterville Elementary School and graduated from Waukon High School in 1968. He then attended Upper Iowa University in Fayette.

In June of 1969, he was united in marriage to Janann Zapf. They were later divorced. From this union, two children were born, Shane and Shana.

George W. Huffey, 91, of rural Waterville died Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at his home. Memorial services were held Friday, May 20 at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Waukon, with Pastor Kim Gates and Pastor Laura Gentry officiating. Burial will take place at a later date.

George Waymer Huffey was born November 24, 1924 near Dalby, rural Waterville, the son of Walter Angus and Tilda Boletta (Olson) Huffey. He was baptized and confirmed at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville. George attended school at Center #7 (Dalby Country School), Decorah Elementary School and graduated from Waterville High School in 1942. When he was in school he participated in baseball and basketball.

George was a lifetime farmer who started his farming career at the age of eight years old with his grandparents, George and Inger Olson, and Uncle Hjalmar Olson on the Century Farm in Center Township during the Depression.

Richard “Dick” Gaunitz, 77, of Lansing died Saturday, May 14, 2016 at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, WI. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, May 18 at 11 a.m. at United Methodist Church in Lansing, with Pastor Kevin Smith officiating. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lansing. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 17 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.

Richard William “Dick” Gaunitz was born in Lansing December 8, 1938, the son of Emmet Elmer and Martha (Johnson) Gaunitz. He was baptized and confirmed at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Lansing.

Dick attended grade school at Waterville and Lansing Elementary Schools and graduated from Lansing High School in 1957. From there he went to Upper Iowa University in Fayette on an athletic scholarship. In the summer he played baseball with the Harpers Ferry Jr. Legion team and was picked by a scout to try out for the Milwaukee Braves.

Dorothy A. Sheridan Terhune, 89, of Grand Rapids, MI, formerly of Waukon, passed peacefully, entering her eternal home Tuesday, May 3, 2016. Memorial services will be held Monday, May 23 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Fr. Jim Weighner and Msgr. Rev. Cletus Hawes officiating. Burial of ashes will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon.

In lieu of flowers please consider memorials to the Terhune-Sheridan Endowed Scholarship at Aquinas College. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon assisted the family with arrangements.

Dorothy Ann Sheridan Terhune was born in Waukon September 20, 1926, the daughter of Arthur and Cecilia Sheridan. She graduated high school from St. Patrick’s Catholic School and followed her sister to Marquette University for her BA degree and then on to the University of Michigan for her Masters. Dorothy met and married the love of her life, her rock of Gibraltar, John E. Terhune, and they have enjoyed over 52 years together.

Doris Arlene Flesch, 79, of Great Falls, MT passed away May 1, 2016 at Benefis Healthcare. A memorial service was held Saturday, May 7 in the Rose Room Chapel at Croxford Funeral Home in Great Falls, MT. Her burial followed Saturday, May 7 at the Central Montana Memorial Gardens in Lewistown, MT.

Doris was born in Waukon to Charles and Jeannette (Cavers) Brooks November 8, 1936. She attended a one room schoolhouse in Iowa and worked with her siblings on the farm during her childhood.

Doris married Nile Flesch. They had three daughters, Bonnie, LouAnn and Debbie, and two sons, Dennis and Billy. Doris and Nile ended up parting ways after many years together.

Doris loved to crochet, knit and go to TOPS in her free time. She often donated her time at Treasure Depot. Doris loved spending time with her family, going fishing, camping and playing with her dog, Missy. Doris also enjoyed spending time visiting with friends.