Obituaries

Elizabeth A. “Beth” McCormick, age 72, of Harpers Ferry passed away Sunday, December 21, 2025, peacefully at home, surrounded by her family. Beth was born March 1, 1953, in Caledonia, MN, to John and Melba (Meyer) Beneke.

Mass of Christian Burial was Saturday, December 27 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in McGregor with Father Martin Coolidge officiating and Deacon Pat Malanaphy assisting. Those wishing to honor Beth’s memory, may do so with a memorial contribution to St. Croix Hospice, The Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing or Harpers Ferry Fire & Rescue.

Beth will be laid to rest in a private family burial in the Spaulding Cemetery, a quiet cemetery on the McCormick Family Farm. A place where she will keep watch over her husband as he tends the fields, and over her children and grandchildren as they grow, play, and build their own memories on the land she loved.

Brian D. Carstens, 67, of Waterville died Thursday, December 18, 2025, at his home in rural Waterville. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, January 10 at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville.

A full obituary will be printed in a future edition of The Standard with the time of the celebration. Martin -Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is assisting the family with arrangements.
 

Susan “Sue”’ K. Freese, 78, of Waukon died Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services were held Monday, December 22 at Waterville Lutheran Church with Pastor Laura Gentry officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.

Susan Kay Freese was born May 28, 1947, in Waukon, the daughter of Kenneth and Lyla (Solberg) Smith. She grew up and attended school in Waukon. August 24, 1963, Sue married Roger H. Freese. Together they farmed for many years in the Waukon and Waterville areas. Throughout her life she worked at the Good Samaritan Center and the S&D Café, both in Waukon, Deco Products in Decorah, and cared for great-grandchildren.

George Grant Hartley, age 83, of Platteville, WI, passed away Saturday, December 13, 2025, at the University Hospital in Iowa City. A Funeral Service was held Friday, December 19 at Melby Funeral Home in Platteville, WI, and George was laid to rest at Hillside Cemetery in Platteville, WI. Melby Funeral Home assisted the family.

Born October 13, 1942, in Waukon, George was the second born of three boys to Grant and Esther (Beneke) Hartley. George’s education began at the French Creek Number 1 School, a one-room schoolhouse through the 8th grade. He later graduated from Waukon High School and attended the University of Northern Iowa, where he proudly represented the university on the wrestling team.

Wayne C. Leidahl, 89, of Waukon died Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at Good Samaritan Society in Waukon. Funeral services were held Monday, December 15 at Glenwood Lutheran Church in rural Decorah with Pastor Bryan Robertson officiating. Burial with military honors was at Glenwood East Cemetery.

Wayne Charles Leidahl was born February 15, 1936, in Decorah, the son of Guy and Caroline “Minnie” (Pankow) Leidahl. He was baptized and confirmed at Glenwood Lutheran Church in rural Decorah and graduated from Decorah High School in 1954. Wayne served in the U.S. Army from 1955-1957.

May 12, 1957, he married Carol Severson at Big Canoe Lutheran Church in rural Decorah and they had three children: Danny, Brenda, and Dale. Carol passed away in 1999. Wayne was a foreman at H&H Distributing in West Union for 12 years. He farmed in Glenwood Township, rural Waukon, milking cows and raising hogs and crops, retiring in 2000.

Beth Marie Pohlman, age 52, of Caledonia, MN, passed away peacefully December 10, 2025, at Tweeten Care Center, Spring Grove, MN. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 18, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, New Albin. Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. before the service at the church. Burial will take place at a later date. Online condolences may be given at mccormickfuneralhome.net.

Beth was born August 1, 1973, in La Crosse, WI to Lyle and Joan (Hammell) Pohlman. She graduated from Caledonia High School in 1994.

Beth worked at Woodland Industries and ABC Works for over 25 years while residing within the ABLE community. She enjoyed drawing, word searches and spending time with her nieces and nephews. She loved to go to camp and partake in the Special Olympics. Beth made friends wherever she went and she always remembered their names. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Osmund “Ozzie” Quandahl, 99, of Waukon died Sunday, December 7, 2025, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services were held Saturday, December 13 at Waterloo Ridge Church, rural Dorchester with Pastor James Glesne officiating. Burial with military honors was in the church cemetery. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements. Memorials may be sent to the Veterans Memorial Hospital Foundation in Waukon.

Osmund “Ozzie” Quandahl was born at home, November 6, 1926, in Quandahl, Allamakee County, to Sander and Carrie (Osmundson) Quandahl. He was baptized at Big Canoe Lutheran Church in rural Decorah, confirmed at Waterloo Ridge Church, and graduated from Waukon High School.

He enlisted in the Army in 1945, trained in California, and re-enlisted in the Air Force, training in Hawaii. He was stationed in Japan, setting up radar stations until 1949.

Daniel D. Mathis, 80, of Waukon died Monday, December 1, 2025, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Memorial services were held Saturday, December 6 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements. Memorials can be made to the family to be designated later.

Daniel Delbert Mathis, son of Delbert and Anna (Troendle) Mathis, was born January 7, 1945, at the Hall House in Waukon. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph’s Paint Rock Catholic Church in Harpers Ferry. Daniel attended Waterville Elementary School, graduated in 1963, from St. George Catholic School in Lansing, and served in the Wisconsin National Guard from 1965-1971. May 2, 1970, he married Kathy Thies at St. Ann-St. Joseph Catholic Church in Harpers Ferry.

Victor A. Stuckman, 91, of Waukon died Sunday, November 30, 2025, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Friday, December 5 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon. Burial was in Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.

Victor Albert Stuckman was born March 28, 1934 in Waukon, the son of Albert and Mabel Elsie (Flage) Stuckman. He was baptized and confirmed at Salem United Church of Christ in Waukon and graduated from Waukon High School. Vic served in the United States Army from 1953-1955.

June 18, 1972, he married Jean Ann Krumme at Glenwood Lutheran Church in rural Decorah. The two farmed in Ludlow township before moving to Waukon in 1977.

Throughout his life Vic worked at Impro Products in Waukon from 1978-2009. Vic loved spending time outdoors working in the yard and was a talented artist in sketching and painting. He also loved music and singing and was a member of the Waukon Barbershoppers.

Douglas L. Thompson, 72, of Waukon died Friday, November 28, 2025, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is assisting the family.

Douglas Lee Thompson was born June 8, 1953, in Decorah, the son of Harold and Ruth (Rude) Thompson. He attended Decorah High School. Douglas married Shirley (Monson) Thompson and the two had one daughter, Erica. They later separated and he then married Elizabeth (Thornton) Wedo, and the two had one son, Derek. They later separated.

Throughout his life, Douglas worked in distribution for FedEx at the Cabela’s site. He loved his job and the people he met while working there. He loved the outdoors, especially golfing, hunting, fishing, going to the shooting range, and attending auctions. Douglas was also a big Green Bay Packer fan.

More than anything, he loved being with family and he will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him.