Obituaries

Loretta Marie Balekos, 82, of Monona died Wednesday, March 23, 2016 at the Strawberry Point Lutheran Home in Strawberry Point. Funeral Services were held Tuesday, March 29 at Living Faith United Methodist Parish in Monona, with Rev. Dennis Hopes as the Officiant. Burial followed at Monona Cemetery, Monona. Loretta was born December 20, 1933 to Carl and Selina (Leiran) Busness. She graduated from Luana High School. Loretta worked at HJ Smithy in Washington, D.C. and at Union State Bank in Monona and Luana Savings Bank in Luana, and she also served as the City Clerk in Monona. Loretta was united in marriage with George Balekos June 19, 1952 in Waterville. Four Children were born to this union, Terri, Todd, Jill and Kristy. Loretta enjoyed teaching and making ceramics, and most of all she loved spending time with her children and grandchildren; traveling to their out-of-state homes, as well as spending many summers at the cabin in Harpers Ferry on the Mississippi River.

Oliver “Ollie” J. Emerson, 96, of Waukon died Friday, March 25, 2016 at his home in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 30 at 11 a.m. at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon, with Pastor Samantha Houser officiating. Burial with military graveside rites will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 29 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.

Joan M. Dahlstrom, 64, of Waukon died Wednesday, March 23, 2016 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Memorial services were held Tuesday, March 29 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Rev. Msgr. Cletus Hawes, Fr. Donald Hawes and Deacon Mike Ward officiating. Burial was at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon.

Joan Marie Dahlstrom was born February 21, 1952 in Waukon, the daughter of Ralph and Wanda (Neverman) Anderson. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick Catholic Church and graduated from St. Patrick Catholic High School in 1970, both in Waukon. Joan worked at the Good Samaritan Center as a nurse's aide.

Troy D. Thompson, 46, of Waukon died Saturday, March 19, 2016 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 24 at 10:30 a.m. at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville, with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial will be at the church cemetery.
Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 23 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon. Memorials can be made to Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church, Veterans Memorial Hospital, or to the University of Iowa Dance Marathon.
Troy Donald Thompson was born April 2, 1969 in Des Moines, the son of Robert and Linda (Klocke) Thompson. Troy was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in West Union and confirmed at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville. When he was three years old, his family moved to Waukon, where Troy attended school.

Helen L. Plein, 80, of Waukon died Monday, March 21, 2016 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 23 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Rev. Msgr. Cletus Hawes, Fr. Donald Hawes and Deacon Mike Ward officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services Wednesday at the church. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.
Helen Louise Plein was born February 18, 1936 in Nashua, the daughter of Bae and Louise (Bemer) Van Note. She grew up in the Winthrop area and graduated from Lamont High School in 1954. Helen graduated from St. Luke's School of Nursing in Cedar Rapids in 1956.

Gladys Troendle, 96, of Lansing passed away March 16, 2016. Services pending.
 

Delores Marie Rober, 74, of rural Dorchester passed away Friday, March 18, 2016 at Mayo Clinic Health System in LaCrosse, WI. Memorial services will be held at noon Wednesday, March 23 at St. Luke’s United Church of Christ, Eitzen, MN. Pastor Michael McCann will officiate. Burial will follow for Delores and her husband, Ronald Rober, in the church cemetery. A visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of service Wednesday at the church.
Delores was born July 15, 1941 to Ervin A. and Evelyn (Kleppe) Johnson at their home in rural Ossian. Delores was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in rural Ossian. She attended country school at Dover No 8. Delores graduated from North Fayette High School, West Union in 1959. After graduation, she worked in the office at the Fayette Co. Union Newspaper.

Edna Mae Wiethorn, 83, of Monona died Thursday, March 17, 2016 at Garden View Senior Community in Monona. Funeral Services were held Tuesday, March 22 at Living Faith United Methodist Parish in Monona, with Rev. Dennis Hopes as the Officiant. Burial followed at Monona Cemetery in Monona.
Edna Mae was born January 19, 1933 to Milburn and Grace (Jacobia) Moose in Postville. She was baptized Presbyterian, at an early age. She joined the Methodist Church in Monona in 1950. Ednah attended Fairview No. 5 country school on Irish Ridge in Allamakee County. In 1946, she graduated from the eighth grade in Waukon and from Monona High School in 1950.

Beth Ann Otting, age 51, formerly of Albuquerque, NM and Waukon, died Friday, January 29, 2016 in Fishtown, Liberia, Africa. A memorial mass and dinner will be held in her honor Saturday, April 2 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Waukon. The rosary will be said at 9:30 a.m. and mass will take place at 11 a.m., with the dinner and her funeral video to follow in the church basement.
A memorial fund has been established at Farmers and Merchants Savings Bank, 201 W. Main Street, Waukon, IA 52172. Donations in Beth's memory will be given to St. Patrick's School music department and the Waukon swimming pool.
 

Signe Lea (Schroeder) Noth, age 69, of Wheaton, IL died peacefully at home March 15, 2016 with family members at her side. A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 2 at 11:30 a.m. at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church, Waterville, where Signe’s final resting place will be with her husband, John, and near her parents, grandparents and many other family members.
Signe was an inspired and gifted educator who spent her entire career instilling a love of learning in both her junior high students and her fellow teachers. She was also a gracious and welcoming host, entertaining family and friends in the beautiful home that she loved.
The greatest joy of her life during the past 19 months was her delightful grandson, John Patrick, who introduced her to the incomparable role of “nana” and brought her endless joy throughout her illness.