Obituaries

Laverne “Butch” L. Peterson, 69, of Waukon died Sunday, August 21, 2016 at his home. Funeral services will be held Thursday, August 25 at 11 a.m. at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, with Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating. Burial with military graveside rites will be held at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, August 24 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.

Laverne Lee Peterson was born November 9, 1946, the son of Clarence Alfred and Ramona Evaline (Wurtzel) Peterson. He graduated from Waukon High School in 1964, and served in the National Guard in 1966. Laverne worked for Feuerhelm Manufacturing in Waukon, where he made truck boxes, and drove truck for R.J. Cooney Quarry and later for Bruening Rock Products. He also worked for the City of Waukon in the street department.

Bernice M. Schrabeck, 75, of Davis, CA passed away peacefully Tuesday, August 16, 2016. A service will be held at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, CA.
Bernice was born September 12, 1940 in Allamakee County, the youngest daughter of Alfred and Ruth Welper. Bernice graduated from Waukon High School in 1958 and a few years later met the love of her life, Joseph Schrabeck. They married August 11, 1962 and started a family in La Crosse, WI.

In 1978, the family moved to Davis, CA. Bernice worked in the health care field for over 50 years and in retirement enjoyed travel, classic cars and family. She will be missed dearly, but never forgotten.

Richard L. Newcomer, 73, of Harpers Ferry died Friday, August 19, 2016 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Dick's family invites his friends to remember him with them at his memorial service Saturday, August 27 at 11 a.m. at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon. Visitation will be one hour before services at the funeral home. There will be opportunity for sharing words of remembrance during the memorial service for those who wish.

Richard “Dick” L. Newcomer was born in 1942 to Lloyd and Eunice Newcomer. He will be missed by his son, Richard; his daughter, Kathy; four grandchildren, Patrick, Megan, Cameron and Grayson; one great-grandson, Patrick; and the local community.

Dick lived in Harpers Ferry for the past nine years and made many friends there. He lived a full life with no regrets. Dick has told many that he was ready to go when he was called, and looked forward to being with his wife, Jackie. again.

Mary Lou Koschmeder, age 88, of Riceville died Thursday, August 18, 2016 at Riceville Family Care and Therapy Center in Riceville. Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, August 22 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Riceville. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery, Riceville.

Mary Louella (Marr) Koschmeder was born January 26, 1928 in Riceville, the oldest of eight children born to Ralph and Lila (Sullivan) Marr. She graduated from Riceville High School in 1946. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Upper Iowa University in 1971. Mary Lou married Harold E. Koschmeder at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Riceville July 2, 1947. Most of their life was lived on the family farm two miles east of Riceville.

Marilyn “Meg” Englehorn, age 79, of Naperville, IL passed away unexpectedly  at her home Friday, August 19, 2016 in Naperville, IL. Visitation will be held Thursday, August 25 from 4-8 p.m. at Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 44 South Mill Street in Naperville, IL. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, August 26 at 10 a.m. at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 1450 Green Trails Drive, Naperville, IL, with inurnment at SS. Peter & Paul Cemetery, Naperville, IL.

Meg was born August 14, 1937 in Lorain, OH, the daughter of the late Michael and Catherine Urda. She was the beloved wife of Gary, whom she married October 11, 1975; the loving mother of Lauren (Jeremy) Rogers; the adored grandmother of Abigail and Zachary; the dear sister of Catherine (Robert) Horak and Helen (William) Eickhoff; the fond aunt of numerous; and the cousin of many.

Wednesday, August 17, 2016, Patricia Ann Reynolds Kerndt, age 92, of Lansing passed away with her family at her bedside. Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, August 22 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Lansing, with Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg as the Celebrant. Burial followed at Gethsemane Cemetery, Lansing.

Patricia Reynolds Kerndt was born in Chicago, IL September 13, 1923 to Lulu Moran Reynolds and Earl Richard Reynolds. She grew up on the north side of Chicago with two older siblings, the late Mary (Haas) and Dick Reynolds. She attended elementary school in Chicago at Our Lady of Peace Elementary School on the south side.

Pamela D. May of Waukon left this world Sunday, August 14, 2016. There will be a private family service.

She leaves behind her son, Ron L. (Teresa) May, and granddaughter, Kaydence; her daughter, Hilery (Tim) Chensvold, and grandchildren, Drew and Samuel; her soulmate of 30 years, Gary Lonning, and his three children, Todd Lonning, Darrin (Marlene) Lonning and Liza (Willy) Frenzel; eight step-grandchildren, Kyle and Seth Christopher, Carson, Raleigh, Kraton and Sloan Lonning, and Charlie and Leona Frenzel; two sisters and three brothers. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ron H. May; her parents; one sister and two brothers.
 

John E. Leschensky, 86, of Waukon died Wednesday, August 10, 2016 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Friday, August 26 at 11 a.m. at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon, with Pastor Samantha Houser officiating. Burial will be at Lansing Ridge Cemetery, rural Lansing.

Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, August 25 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Zion UCC Educational Trust Fund, Robey Memorial Library, Good Samaritan Society-Waukon, Veterans Memorial Hospital Foundation, or a charity of choice.

John Ernest Leschensky was born January 29, 1930 to Emil A. and Clarice (Dillenberg) Leschensky. John graduated from Waukon High School and received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Cornell College in Mt. Vernon in 1951. From 1951-1953, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a First Lieutenant. He returned to Waukon in 1953 to join his father in business at Leschensky Insurance Agency.

Mildred Evelyn "Millie" Bechtel, 92, of Lansing passed away at Thornton Manor Nursing Center in Lansing Saturday, August 13, 2016 after a battle with Alzheimer's. Funeral Services were held Thursday, August 18 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Lansing, with Rev. Laura Gentry as the Officiant. Burial followed at Lansing Ridge Cemetery, rural Lansing.

Millie was born December 16, 1923, the daughter of Berger and Janette (Johnson) Olsen in Lansing. She was the oldest of nine children. Millie attended school in Lansing, but had to quit before graduating to help her mother take care of her siblings.

December 20, 1944, Millie married Harold Bechtel and together they built their home in Church. They had one daughter, Diana.

Jerry Dean Brainard, age 59, of Red Wing, MN passed away at his home, surrounded by his family, Monday, August 15, 2016. A visitation was held Thursday, August 18 at Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson Mahn Chapel in Red Wing, MN. A private family service will be held at a later date.

Jerry grew up in Waukon and graduated from high school there in 1975. July 23, 1977, he married Luann Miller and they lived in the Waukon area, where they began to raise their family. He worked as a meat cutter for several years and in 1993, they moved to Hastings, MN, where he worked as a flooring installer and then as a mechanic for Northwest Airlines. After retiring, he and Luann moved to Red Wing, MN in 2003 and started Backwoods Framing and Engraving.

Jerry was an outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed his “toys” - his  Harley and his Mustang.