News Center newsletter

Emily Byrnes and Josh Waters of Waukon announce the birth of their daughter, Kaylie Louise Waters, born October 30, 2017 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She weighed 8 lbs. 11 ozs. and measured 23-1/2 inches in length at the time of her birth. She joins siblings, James Waters (3) and Jorden Funk (4).

Grandparents are Breigha Funk of Colesburg, Loran Waters of Waukon and the late Kelly Deeney. Great-grandparents are the late Earl Waters, Iris Waters and Sandy and Bob McCoy, all of Waukon.

Gretta (Mohwinkle) Fiet, 73, of Rockford, IL passed away November 1, 2017 after a long battle with dementia. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 11 at Riverside Community Church with Pastor Bobby Sheets officiating. Visitation will be prior to the service from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at the church.

Gretta loved flowers, but should you choose to leave a charitable gift, memorials may be made to Anam Care, 8104 Sayer Road, Rockford, IL 61108 or Northern Illinois Hospice, 4215 Newburg Road, Rockford, IL 61108.

Gretta was born September 13, 1944 in Waukon, the daughter of Delton and Helen (Beardmore) Mohwinkle.  She graduated from Waukon High School and married David Fiet June 8, 1963.  Gretta did administrative and clerical work for Sears Optical, and worked in the office with her husband at P&L Auto Body.

Eugene Leonard Cahoon, 89, of Monona died Thursday, November 2, 2017 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Graveside Service with Military Honors was held Monday, November 6 at Sixteen Cemetery, rural Linton Township.

Eugene was born January 9, 1928 in Allamakee County, the fourth of four children to Elbert and Esther (VanCura) Cahoon. He served in the United States Army from May 1951 to April 1953. Eugene served as a P.F.C. Wire Chief in Germany and was honorably discharged.

Eugene farmed all of his adult life. He loved bowling, playing cards, spending time at local casinos, traveling and family gatherings. He moved to his hobby farm in 1984 and retired from farming in 1987. Eugene spent the last years of his life at Garden View Assisted Care in Monona and Good Samaritan Society in Postville.

John Roger O’Hara, 84, passed away at his home in Decorah Sunday, October 29, 2017. Mass of Christian Burial was held Thursday, November 2 at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Decorah with Rev. Phillip Gibbs officiating. Interment was at St. Benedict’s Cemetery, Decorah.

John was born September 23, 1933, the son of Joseph and Catherine (Ryan) O’Hara, in rural Allamakee County. He graduated from St Patrick’s Catholic School in Waukon in 1952. John married Kathleen Ryan May 14, 1960 and to this union five children were born. The couple later divorced.

John always wanted to be a farmer and to that end he worked for various farmers until he was given the opportunity to operate his own farm in the Frankville area. In 1968, John realized his dream and bought a farm in Glenwood Township. On this farm he raised dairy cows, hogs and horses as well as the crops to feed them. For a number of years he was also a Funk’s seed corn dealer.

Marvin "Bud" Strike enjoys Honor Flight experience

by Lissa Blake

It was a long day, but it was well worth it. That’s what Korean War veteran Marvin “Bud” Strike of Waukon had to say about his opportunity to take part in a recent Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

Strike, accompanied by his son, Rich, took the flight out of Waterloo October 10. A native of Nashua, Strike said he had heard about the Honor Flight opportunity years ago, but had never pursued it, primarily because the flights were out of Waterloo and he had been drafted out of Chickasaw County.

But when his son and daughter-in-law suggested he fill out an application and send it in, he decided to do it and was approved. “We had a meeting in Waterloo September 28. It was a nice dinner and informational meeting,” he said.

Article featuring Waukon native and WWI POW George Goeke shared by family

Editor's Note: George Goeke was a lifetime resident of Allamakee County and a local businessman who ran Goeke’s Sport Shop on West Main Street in Waukon in the late 1920s.  He was the father of Wesley, Allen and Ronald Goeke, all of whom still live in Waukon. His three daughters were Karen Delatte of Madison, MS, and the late Lorna Miller of Postville and Ruth Dotseth of Waukon. George’s grandchildren who are in the Waukon area include Jerry Goeke (Allen’s son), Randy Goeke and Wendy Ebner (Ronald’s son and daughter), Julie Alden and Nancy Welper (Ruth’s daughters), and Lisa Moose and David Miller (Lorna’s daughter and son).

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors and Administration will be hosting a public forum Monday, November 13 regarding the future of Waterville Elementary School. The forum is open to all members of the public and will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Waukon High School auditorium.

The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation’s Christmas Fantasy 2017 will be held this Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, November 10, 11, 12 and 13 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. The theme for this year's event will be “A Christmas to Remember."

This year's Fantasy schedule of events includes the following:

“Tingle ‘N Mingle” Happy Hour is a special opportunity to meet socially with friends and co-workers. Over a dozen tables of hearty hors d’oeuvres, desserts, candies, breads and spirits will be served among the trees from 5-8 p.m. Friday night. The event is sponsored by Four County Ag Services and Four County Crop Services. Tickets are available at Veterans Memorial Hospital and local banks, as well as at the door.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, November 6 to address a full agenda of items, including an update of Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission's (UERPC) activities, an update from the Robey Memorial Library in Waukon and a tour of the Reel Core manufacturing facility in Waukon.

The meeting was held at Robey Memorial Library in Waukon, the final library visited within Allamakee County during 2017. During Public Comment, Coordinator Ardie Kuhse with Waukon Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) discussed that the recent forum for the Waukon Mayor and City Council candidates was well attended.

A Waukon area native has returned to her hometown and is now working to try and turn a hobby of hers into a profitable business. Lucy (Barrett) Harwood recently opened up Muddy Water Restoration, Inc., a boat restoration business that specializes in using marine grade products to make custom covers, upholstery and flooring unique to the design needs of the customers she serves.

Born and raised in the Waukon area, the former Lucy Barrett graduated from Waukon High School in 2001 and then moved to New Mexico for 12 years. Shortly after her son was born in 2006, she moved back to her native Waukon. The year 2017 has been a busy one for her, as she not only started the process toward opening her own business in May of this year, traveled to Ohio for training in her newfound specialty this summer and opened the doors to Muddy Water Restoration, Inc. August 1, but she also got married to Trevor Harwood in September of this year.