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To the Editor:

“Thank you for your service” is spoken with heartfelt sincerity by Iowans. We honor those who serve and fought to protect us, freedom, liberty and democracy.

Finally, with the passage of the PACT Act last year, veterans are getting the care they deserve. The PACT Act was the biggest increase in veterans benefits in a generation expanding benefits and health care for those exposed to toxic substances during their military service. Surely, supporting our veterans is a commitment all Americans could unite around. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

Newly-elected Speaker of the House Mike Johnson voted against the PACT Act.  Ashley Hinson also voted against the PACT Act when it was introduced. Johnson looked first at dollars, not at the health of our heroes. Speaker Johnson is a far-right MAGA extremist Republican and every Republican in Congress voted for him, including Ashley Hinson.

To the Editor:

Marriage has been an institution culturally protected, a designated, legal union of individuals. One in which, today, is a desired place for many, bringing equality into a relationship.

Historically, marriage wasn’t all so equal among its partners. In today’s world, the central focus of the union tends to be support for one another and creating an environment in which both succeed as an equal unit.

Waukon, let’s be a supporter of equality in relationships. We have unions with equal dual income families, stay at home partners, both of which are supportive and contributing to career and financial equality. When one contributes to a cause, they both do. When a check is written to a non-profit, both partners deserve recognition. When one donates towards a brick, bench, ball diamond, livestock at the fair, they both do. A singular thank you to only one partner is far from appropriate.

Lloyd A. Oakland, 80, of Castalia passed away Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at his home surrounded by his loving family. A celebration of life service will be held at 11:30 a.m., with a visitation beginning at 9 a.m., Saturday, November 18 at Zion Lutheran Church in Castalia. A full obituary can be found at www.iowacremation.com.
 

Jerre Jean Henthorn, 80, of Waukon died Saturday, October 21, 2023 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Tuesday, November 14 at 11 a.m. at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon with burial at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon.
 

Diane Jean Robertson, 80, of Red Wing, MN, and formerly of Elkader and Waukon, died Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at the Benedictine Living Community. There will be a Celebration of Life to be announced soon.

Diane was born February 19, 1943 in Volney to Leonard and Margaretta (Darling) Steele. She grew up helping her parents run the local store in Volney while attending school. Later, as a young woman, Diane had three boys who she raised by herself, until she met her husband, Richard Robertson.

They were married in 1965 and lived in Waukon, where she helped her husband on the farm and was a homemaker and mother, caring for her four children. They later moved to Elkader where she worked at the wire plant and then retired from working at Central Community Hospital.

Diane Jean Robertson, 80, of Red Wing, MN, and formerly of Elkader and Waukon, died Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at the Benedictine Living Community. There will be a Celebration of Life to be announced soon. Arrangements are being handled by Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.

A full obituary will appear in the November 8 edition of The Standard. You can subscribe to The Standard's print edition or e-edition by clicking here.

Ronald Jahnke, 89, of Waukon died Thursday, November 2, 2023 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Memorial services were held Monday, November 6 at St.  John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon with Pastor Bryan Robertson officiating. Burial with military honors was at Waterloo Ridge Cemetery, Dorchester. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements.

Ronald Alvin Jahnke was born September 10, 1934 to Gertrude (Luebka) and Lester Jahnke in Postville. He grew up in the Frankville area and was baptized and confirmed at St.  Paul Lutheran Church in Postville. He attended a one-room schoolhouse until the eighth grade, after which Ron helped farm.

Nancy Ilene Welper (i.e., Nana Nancy), 65, of Laramie, WY passed away peacefully in her home Monday, October 30, 2023. Funeral services will be held Friday, November 10 at 11 a.m. with the viewing starting at 10 a.m. The funeral will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 1065 North 15th Street, Laramie, WY 82072. A graveside service for family and friends in Gillette, WY will be held Monday, November 13 at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery at 1 p.m.

The seventh of 11 children, Nancy was born into a loving family September 15, 1958 in Waukon to Robert and Andree Burrett. With six older siblings and another four little ones to follow her birth, there was never a dull moment in the house of Nancy’s childhood. As one of the later children to come along, Nancy learned to speak up or forever hold her peace - and she chose the former.

Caryn C. Weymiller, 88, of Waukon died Monday, October 30, 2023 at Benedictine Manor in La Crosse, WI. Visitation will be held Friday, November 10 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. with a time of memory sharing to follow at Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon.

Caryn Coy Weymiller was born September 7, 1935 to Mildred (Layland) and Verner Chapman in La Crosse, WI. After graduating from Central High School in 1953, she worked at a bank as an accountant.

She met Louis Weymiller and they married March 21, 1970 in La Crosse, WI. They built a new house on the Weymiller farm outside of New Albin and lived there for many years, farming with their nephew, David Weymiller, and his wife, Laure.

Carma J. Harris, 84, of Waukon died Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Per her wishes, no services will be held. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Carma Joyce Harris was born May 7, 1939 in Waukon, the daughter of Ernest and Carlotta (Lier) White. She graduated from Waukon High School in 1957.

December 7, 1958, she married Dale Harris; they later divorced. Carma worked at Northgate Care Center in Waukon from 1973 until retiring in 1998. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Waukon.