Obituaries

Irma M. Ashbacher, 100, of Caledonia, MN passed away Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at Caledonia Care and Rehab. Funeral services were held Saturday, August 1 at St. Luke’s United Church of Christ in Eitzen, MN, with Pastor Michael McCann officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Irma was born June 10, 1915 in Union City Township in Allamakee County to Henry and Caroline (Koenig) Beneke and grew up in Sleepy Hollow. March 4, 1935, Irma married Milton Ashbacher at the Wheatland Church, Union City Township, Allamakee County. She was employed as a nurse’s aide and worked at the hospitals in both Waukon and Caledonia.
Irma and Milton farmed in Union City Township for many years. He preceded her in death December 21, 1965. Irma enjoyed flowers and gardening.

James “Jim” Edward Byrnes, 70, of Waukon died Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at his home from complications of cancer. Funeral Services were held Friday, July 31 at Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Lansing, with Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg as the Officiant. Burial followed at Gethsemane Cemetery, Lansing with Military Honors.
Jim was born October 31, 1944 to Cyril and Lucille (Mauss) Byrnes in Hanover. He attended Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Lansing.
Jim joined the Army in 1966. He was part of the Big Red 1 Infantry and fought with them in the Vietnam War. After the war he moved back to Iowa, where he married Kathleen Schnuelle October 31, 1969. They later divorced in 1977.

Wendy L. (Kruger) Northcutt, 61, passed away peacefully July 18, 2015 at her home in Cle Elum, WA following a lengthy illness. Wendy was a member of the Church of the Resurrection (Episcopal) in Rosyln, WA, where a memorial celebration of life service was held Saturday, July 25.
Wendy was born July 2, 1954 to Benjamin and Joan (Helming) Kruger in Waukon. She married Gregory A. Northcutt in Waukon December 10, 1977, and he survives. She was preceded in death by her parents. Also surviving are her brothers, Ken of DeWitt and Dave of Waukon, as well as five nieces and two nephews.

Ethel M. Easton, 89, of Waukon died Friday, July 24, 2015 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Tuesday, July 28 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, with Pastor Josh Miller officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.
Ethel Marie Easton was born September 13, 1925 in Lansing, the daughter of Theodore Henry and Mayme Elizabeth (Waters) Haerer. She was baptized and confirmed in Lansing and attended Lansing area country schools, which she rode to on horseback.
September 9, 1943, Ethel married Milton Osro Russell in Lansing. The couple moved to Waukon and Ethel spent many years as a nurse’s aide, including 25 years at Good Samaritan Center and five years at Makee Manor. Milton died in 1961, and October 6, 1962, Ethel married Edward LeRoy “Tuck” Easton at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. Tuck died in 1993.

Austyn Roger Seitz, age seven, of Lansing died Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at Gundersen Lutheran Health System in La Crosse, WI. Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday, July 28 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Lansing, with Rev. John Moser as the Celebrant. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lansing.
Austyn Roger Seitz was born December 14, 2007 to Tony and Rebecca Seitz in La Crosse, WI. He had just finished first grade at New Albin Elementary School.
Austyn was a sweet, loving and colorful little boy whose smile could light up a room. He adored his big sister, Ashlyn. He loved fishing, hunting, being outdoors and being on the river. He was also very passionate about his tractors and could often be found “playing farm.” Austyn played T-ball with the Lansing Mudcats and enjoyed all sports. Austyn's smile and the twinkle in his eye captured the heart of everyone he met.

Gordon Lee “Gordy” Johnson, 77, of Lansing passed away peacefully at his home Wednesday, July 22, 2015. Funeral services were held Monday, July 27 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Lansing, with Rev. John Moser and Rev. Rick Halvorson as Celebrants. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.
Gordon was born June 19, 1938 in Makee Township, Allamakee County. He graduated from Waukon High School in 1956. Gordon was united in marriage with Madonna Walleser June 9, 1962 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in De Soto, WI and together they enjoyed 53 years of marriage.
Over the years, Gordon worked for Star Dairy and Lansing Garage. He started his career at Interstate/Alliant Energy Power Company in 1976 and retired in 2000. He was a member of the Lansing Volunteer Fire Department for many years. He was also a member of the Jaycees and was an Auxiliary Police Officer.

Dorothy E. Brown Wuennecke, 91, of Ankeny, formerly of Waukon, died Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. Funeral services were held Monday, July 27 at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon with Pastor Paul Burgess officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.
Dorothy Elizabeth Brown Wuennecke was born January 3, 1924 in rural New Albin, the daughter of Henry and Caroline (Koenig) Beneke. She grew up in the Sleepy Hollow area of rural New Albin, was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Wheatland United Church of Christ, and attended the rural New Albin Wheatland School. Later in 1976, along with two of her sisters, Dorothy received her GED.

John G. McDowell, age 78, of Oak Brook, IL passed away peacefully at home June 12, 2015. A private memorial gathering will be held at a later date.
John was the son of Emma and Tom McDowell and a long-time resident of Waukon. He was an active life member of Basset Hound Club of America, Fort Dearborn Basset Hound Club and of Lyons Township Dog Training Club. He worked for Lamination Specialties in Chicago, IL.
John was the beloved husband of Elaine K. McDowell; the loving father of Lisa (Jim) DePatie, AJ (Theresa) McDowell, Jessica McDowell and the late Laury McDowell Cowell; and a fond brother to Charlotte Stefanich and Paul McDowell.
Contributions may be made to the American Lung Association or the American Cancer Society on John's behalf.
 

Neil Elmer Meyer, 84, of Monona died Thursday, July 16, 2015 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN. Funeral Services were held Monday, July 20 at Living Faith United Methodist Parish in Monona, with Rev. Dennis Hopes as the Officiant. Burial will follow at the Monona Cemetery, Monona.
Neil was born May 29, 1931 in Postville to Eldo and Beatrice (Backhaus) Meyer.  He graduated from Elkader High School in 1949.
March 14, 1953, Neil was united in marriage to Virginia Eilers in Dubuque at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, with Reverend Swarbrick officiating. To this union five children were born. He was a devoted husband and father.

An amazing man left us Father’s Day, June 21, 2015. Cliff English, age 77, passed away at Hock Family Pavilion Hospice in Durham, NC after a very brief encounter with cancer.
A memorial service is planned for Sunday, August 2 at 2:30 p.m. in Peace Dining Room on the Luther College Campus in Decorah. A family mass at Grace Episcopal Church will precede this.
His family requests no flowers. Memorials may be directed to Luther College Department of Sociology, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Hock Family Pavilion Hospice, or Friends of Pool No. 9 (Lansing).
Although he was born in Silver Creek, NY July 25, 1937 to John W. and Ruth (Joshua) English, he always claimed Detroit, MI as his hometown. Many of his formative years included adventures that probably led him to the field of sociology. Graduating from Inkster High School in 1955, being the free spirit he was, he attempted college and a few occupations before becoming an insurance claims adjuster.