Joe and Jean Kroack of Waukon will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house Sunday, May 28 from 1-3 p.m. at the Farm Bureau building located at 14 First Avenue NE in Waukon.
Deloris (Jean) Topel and Joseph Kroack were married May 27, 1967 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Monona. They are the parents of James (Jimmy Joe) Kroack.
All family and friends are invited to attend. Your presence will be their gift.
Sarah and Cory Ferguson of McGregor announce the birth of their son, Cole Randy Ferguson, born April 28, 2017 at Crossing Rivers Health Medical Center in Prairie du Chien, WI. He weighed 7 lbs. 11 ozs. and measured 20.2 inches in length at the time of his birth. He joins brothers, Gage (2) and Dain (12).
Grandparents are Marie Wadsworth and Randy Schulte of Waukon and Mark and Deb Ferguson of Marquette. Delores Schultz of Marquette is a great-grandparent.
Nathan and Amanda Bakker of Cedar Falls announce the birth of their son, Calvin Fitz Bakker, born May 5, 2017 at Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo. He weighed 7 lbs. 14.3 ozs. and measured 21 inches in length at the time of his birth.
Grandparents are Alan and Lori Heitman of New Albin and Larry and Leann Bakker of Dike. Gladys Heitman of New Albin is a great-grandparent.
Brian and Eva Brummel of Dorchester announce the birth of their son, Dell Christopher Brummel, born May 13, 2017 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. He weighed 9 lbs. 13 ozs. and measured 22 inches in length at the time of his birth. He joins siblings, Oliver (10), Lillian (5) and Lewis (2).
Grandparents are David Fassbinder of Monona and Larry and Maria Brummel of McGregor. Ethel Herring of Marion is a great-grandparent.
Lisa Duck and Larry Bajorinas announce the birth of their daughter, Lillian Rose Gilliland, born May 13, 2017 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She weighed 5 lbs. 13.4 ozs. and measured 18-1/4 inches in length at the time of her birth. She joins a brother, Andrew.
Laurence and Cassie Olson of Waukon announce the birth of their son, Dominic Wayne Olson, born May 12, 2017 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. He weighed 10 lbs. 14 ozs. and measured 22 inches in length at the time of his birth. He joins siblings, L.J. (5) and Tatum (2).
Grandparents are Pam Van Horn and Al Williams, both of West Union, and Marie Gremm and Gary Gremm, both of Waukon.
Tessa Detra and Marcus Vance of Farmersburg announce the birth of their son, Felix Howard Vance, born May 10, 2017 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. He weighed 7 lbs. 5 ozs. and measured 20 inches in length at the time of his birth.
Grandparents are Chris Detra of Cresco and Gayle Heins of Luana, Jessica Dehning of Cresco and Becky Vance and Todd Vance of Monona. Great-grandparents are Howard Detra of South Wayne, WI, Emma Jean Barkhaus of Monona, Linda and James Retrum of Holmen, WI, Bob and Linda Vance of Prairie du Chien, WI and Richard and Lynn Barkhaus of Bonduel, WI.
... that I read with considerable interest the series of articles in The Des Moines Register about the education efforts regarding the ever-increasing number of foreign born students in Iowa schools.
My interest stems in part from the fact that Postville is essentially tied for third among all school districts in the state in numbers of such students. And partly because of a chance encounter with what was then a Japanese foreign exchange student in Waukon whom I interviewed many years ago for the newspaper. She was back visiting the hostess of her exchange, and has been back several times since her school days. She speaks essentially unaccented English these days.
I am certain English has to be among the more difficult languages to learn. Cattily I might observe that lots of citizens born here do not manage it well.
One of the best ways to measure a society is by how the members of that society treat those who are on the fringes of society. I was recently invited to consider the question, “Is your church community HAVING needs? Or is your church community MEETING needs?”
I suppose the short answer is “yes” to both questions. And when I consider the wider community of Waukon and the surrounding area, there are several examples of people meeting needs. Our parish community has the St. Patrick Thrift Store. Not only are people able to get good quality used clothing, but there is a network of volunteers who do a lot for people who are in need. For the past several years, Marilyn Clark, the store’s director, and many of our parishioners have reached out.
Just yesterday, I had a Waukon RAGBRAI Housing Request Form come across my desk and as I looked it over I was so intrigued. Jack and his wife, Lucille, will be riding this year’s RAGBRAI ride and it will be their 25th year of riding. They are not part of a biking group but ride alone.
This is not a unique request, except for the fact that Lucille is 90 and Jack is 89! Now, that had my attention and I was and am compelled to help them out. What a good chance for anyone to have the opportunity to visit with these fine people and to learn from them. Think of the stories they can tell.
Our RAGBRAI Housing Committee needs to find host homes to house special people just like Jack and Lucille. We are asking our residents to show their hospitality by opening up a bed(s), floor space or backyard.
