Obituaries

Bruce L. Kuehn, 52, a native of New Hampton, passed away Saturday, May 21, 2016. Per Bruce’s final wishes, no funeral or memorial service is planned.

Bruce Lee Kuehn was born in New Hampton September 6, 1962. He was the youngest child of Clarence John and Arlene Madeline (Boehmer) Kuehn. Bruce graduated from New Hampton High School in 1980. He received his Associate of Applied Science Degree in Tool and Die Making at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo in 1993. He was a dedicated employee at the TriMark Corporation in New Hampton for over 30 years.

Bruce was no ordinary man. He was a unique and caring individual who touched the lives of all who knew him. The most generous person to everyone he met, when someone asked for his help, he would never turn them down. The kind of man who ordered pizza and baked chocolate chip cookies for his sister and her children whenever they drove four hours to visit him.

Thelma A. Kolsrud Reetz, 92, of Waukon died Sunday, May 15, 2016 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Memorial services were held Wednesday, May 18 at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville, with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial of ashes will be held at a later date at the church cemetery.

Thelma Andrea Normann Kolsrud Reetz was born July 15, 1923 in Waukon to Birger and Ethel (Gilbertson) Normann. Following graduation from Waukon High School in the spring of 1941, Thelma went to Washington, D.C. where she worked for the FBI. She was there from November 1941 to May 1946, when she returned to Iowa. She and Alton Kolsrud were married in February 1948 and farmed in the Elon area until Alton’s death in October 1979. Thelma and Ronald Reetz of Dubuque were married in August 1985. They lived in Waukon. Ronald died in September 2003.

Warren C.  Goeke, 58, of Santa Monica, CA died Friday, May 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, CA following a brief illness. The family is planning a private gathering to celebrate Warren’s life.

Warren Craig Goeke was born January 28, 1958 in Decorah, the son of Wesley Samuel and Ruth Carole Goeke. He attended St John’s Lutheran Church and graduated from Waukon High School in 1976. From there he went on to Iowa State University in Ames and majored in Civil Engineering. Following his college graduation in 1980, he moved to Santa Monica, CA, where he worked at various engineering jobs until starting his own consulting business.

Warren enjoyed watching sports and following current events. Much of his time was devoted to raising his daughter following the death of her mother, Adelene.

Clyde Curtis Kolsrud, age 86, of Mesa, AZ passed away April 1, 2016. A memorial service was held Saturday, May 21 at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mesa, AZ.

Clyde as born in Waterville in 1929 and moved his family to Mesa, AZ in 1962. He was in the construction field his entire life, until his retirement. He was an avid hunter, loved fishing, camping and was a sports enthusiast. He truly loved his Arizona teams, both college and professional. He also had a special place in his heart for his Iowa Hawkeyes. He was one that loved getting together with family and friends, he will be dearly missed by everyone.

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.