Obituaries

Grayson Lynn Troendle, 17-day-old infant son of Josh and Laura Troendle of Waukon, died Sunday, December 13, 2015 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN. Visitation will be held Thursday, December 17 from 5-7 p.m. with a memorial service to follow at 7 p.m. at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.
Grayson Lynn Troendle was born November 26, 2015 at Franciscan Mayo Hospital in La Crosse, WI. His short life was spent battling bravely against numerous health issues. During this time he managed to touch the lives of not only his family but the many health care workers who surrounded him. His small, active body and twinkling eyes were a strong indication of his potential creativity and personality as he interacted with those who lovingly cared for him.

Sister Georgia Hammell, Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, 97, died Saturday, December 12, 2015 at Villa St. Joseph, La Crosse, WI. She was in the seventy-third year of her religious profession.
Friends may call after 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, December 16 at St. Rose Convent, La Crosse, WI. A prayer service will be held that evening at 6:30 p.m. in Mary of the Angels Chapel. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, December 17 in Mary of the Angels Chapel, La Crosse, WI. Burial will follow in the family plot at St. Joseph Cemetery in New Albin.
Born September 28, 1918 on a farm near New Albin, Sister Georgia was the second daughter of George and Elizabeth (Wall) Hammell. At baptism she received the name Catherine Elizabeth. She attended the school that her father, uncle and neighbors had built.  When Catherine fell behind in reading, her father tutored her every night until she caught up.

Ralph Ryan, 84, of Savannah, MO, formerly of Waukon, died Friday, December 11, 2015 at La Verna Village Nursing and Rehab in Savannah, MO. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, December 16 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Rev. Msgr. Cletus Hawes and Fr. Donald Hawes officiating. Burial with military graveside rites will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon.
Friends may call one hour before the services at the church Wednesday. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements/
Ralph Joseph Ryan was born August 3, 1931 in Waukon, the son of John and Catherine (Liddiard) Ryan. He attended school through the eighth grade until he had to quit to take care of the family farm. From 1956-1958, Ralph served in the United States Army during the Korean War, holding the rank of Private First Class. Ralph returned home and started farming.

Henry "Hank" J. Sass, 70, of Waukon passed away peacefully Saturday, December 12, 2015 at his home. Memorial services will be held Thursday, December 17 at 10:30 a.m. at Salem United Church of Christ in rural Waukon. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Henry “Hank” Jay Sass was born May 8, 1945 in rural Waterville in the small town of Elon. He was the son of Charles Vincent and Eugenia Grace (Ralston) Sass. Around 1955, Charles and Eugenia moved their family to California, where Hank attended and graduated from Whittier High School in 1959.
After graduation, Hank enlisted in the United States Navy. While living in California, he met and then married Dana Kathleen Merhaut June 10, 1967. Hank and Dana moved to Waukon and were blessed with three children: Daniel, Aron and Jennifer.

William “Bill” J. Ellis, 70, of Harpers Ferry died Saturday, December 12, 2015 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon from a probable heart attack. A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, December 19 from 12-2 p.m. at the Spillway Supper Club in Harpers Ferry. A gathering will also be held Thursday, December 17 from 6-8 p.m. at Dugan’s Restaurant in Floyd. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is assisting the family with arrangements.
William John Ellis was born August 7, 1945 in Charles City, the son of Alice (Draeger) and Ansel Ellis.  He graduated from Charles City High School in 1963. He served in the United State Navy from 1965-1971 as Petty Officer 2nd class including service in the Vietnam War.  After honorable discharge, he returned to farming near Floyd until 1984 when he moved to Harpers Ferry to start The End of the Line marina and bait shop. He later switched to construction, which he never really retired from although he said he did.

Clement W. Larkin, 92, of Waukon died Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Monday, December 14 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.
Clement William Larkin was born December 29, 1922 near Rossville. He was the son of John Charles and Miranda Helen (Link) Larkin. Clem attended Jefferson country schools before graduating from Waukon High School. After high school, Clem went to California to assemble airplanes during WWII. In 1945, he became one of the first milk testers for the Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA).

Francis Gordon Huffman, 99, of Marion died Tuesday, December 8, 2015. Funeral Services were held Monday, December 14 at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories in Cedar Rapids, with the Rev. Josh Hansen officiating. Burial took place at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery in Cedar Rapids.
Francis was born October 26, 1916 in Rossville, the son of Lee and Gladys (Leas) Huffman. He married Orpha (Peg) Buege April 6, 1936 in Missouri.
Francis was a World War II veteran. He retired in 1986 after more than 40 years in the road construction business with B.L. Anderson, Inc. He and Peg enjoyed many years at their cabin in Guttenberg and the winters they were able to spend in Texas. He also enjoyed going to the casino as well as his many friends at Village Ridge in Marion, where he had been a resident for the past nine years.

Paula Marie Keenan, 60, of Cedar Rapids passed away peacefully at the Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Cedar Rapids December 6, 2015, following a long courageous battle with illness. A memorial service was held Friday, December 11 at First Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids, with the Rev. Steve Knudson officiating.
Paula was born September 18, 1955 in Waukon to Ralph and Barbara (Joy) Keenan. She married the love of her life, Connie Splitgerber, May 18, 2015 as the capstone of a 20-year relationship. Paula graduated from Waukon High School in 1973, and earned an Associate of Arts degree from Kirkwood Community College. She worked for the Cedar Rapids Water Department for 27 years.
Paula enjoyed reading, music, and was a rabid Green Bay Packers fan. She was also an award-winning writer.

Ernie Beisker, age 71, of Waukon died Monday, November 16, 2015 in Tomah, WI. A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 12 at 2 p.m. at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Waukon, with Garry Birth officiating. Burial will be in Village Creek Cemetery.
Ernie was born April 29, 1944 in Waukon. He is survived by one daughter, Rebecca Beisker of Kentucky; two sisters, Rosie Mattson and Nancy Wood, both of Wisconsin; and five brothers, Francis, Dennis, John and Earl, all living in Waukon, and Richard, living in California.
 

Shelly L. Fink, 47, of New Albin died Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, WI. A celebration of life was held Sunday, December 13 at the New Albin Community Center in New Albin. A memorial service will also be held Saturday, January 16, 2016 from 2-3 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, located at 803 East Mapleleaf Drive in Mt. Pleasant.
Shelly Lynn Fink was born February 2, 1968 in Mt. Pleasant, the daughter of Dan Goddard and Judith Kae Scarff. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Mt. Pleasant. Shelly grew up in Mt. Pleasant and then moved to Waterloo to attend the University of Northern Iowa, where she graduated with her bachelor degree in nursing. Then in 1992, she moved to New Albin, where she was currently working as a registered nurse in home health care.