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Erin Marie Rud, age 19, of New Albin passed away at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, WI with her family surrounding her. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 12 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Caledonia, MN. Rev. Steven E. Meyer and Pastor Paul Burgess will officiate. Burial will follow in St. John’s UCC, Wheatland Church Cemetery, rural New Albin.

A visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 11 at the New Albin Community Center. No visitation will be held prior to the funeral service Wednesday at Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Erin was born January 14, 1998 in La Crosse, WI. She was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Caledonia, MN and confirmed at St. John's UCC Wheatland, rural New Albin.

She was a graduate of Kee High School in Lansing, Class of 2016. Erin was currently a nursing student at Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI. She loved her job at the Thornton Manor nursing home in Lansing.

Bernice M. Schafer, 93, of Waukon died Thursday, April 6, 2017 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 11 at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon with Pastor Grant VanderVelden officiating. Burial was at Lansing Ridge Cemetery, rural Lansing.

Bernice Mae Schafer was born February 29, 1924 in Lansing Township, rural Lansing, the daughter of Fremont William and Clara Agnes (Lenz) Bauman. She graduated from Waukon High School in 1941 and attended Waukon Junior College.

December 24, 1942, she married Claude Schafer at the Presbyterian parsonage in Lansing. They farmed together in Center Township where they had 200 acres and raised crops, dairy cows, hogs and CAPONS. Bernice also raised and sold AKC registered collies.

Rev. Allen Hermeier, age 80, of Decorah died Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at his home. Funeral services were held Saturday, April 8 at the Glenwood Lutheran Church, Decorah, with Rev. Marshall Hahn and Rev. Stacey Nalean-Carlson presiding. Interment will be at a later date at Pontoppidan Cemetery, Decorah.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials may be given to Lutheran World Relief, P.O. Box 17061, Baltimore, MD 21298-9832.

Allen Elmer Hermeier was born September 7, 1936 at the Union Prairie Township rural Waukon farm of his parents, Elmer (Dick) and Amanda (Carlsborg) Hermeier. He grew up on the family dairy farm, attended Waukon High School playing football and being active in speech, drama and debate before graduating in 1954. He went on to attend Luther College, graduating in 1958 with majors in Theater and History.

Rita M. (Wagner) Barry, 93, of Dubuque passed away Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at Stonehill Care Center in Dubuque. Services were held Saturday, April 8 at Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Dubuque, with Deacon Bill Biver officiating. Burial was in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Dubuque.

Rita was born May 19, 1923 in Harpers Ferry, the daughter of Joe and Mae (Whalen) Wagner. She married Allan Barry April 16, 1947 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Dubuque. He preceded her in death June 1, 2010.

Rita was employed at the Bag Factory, the Button Factory and the Battery Factory, and also as a waitress at Woolworth’s. She was a member of St. Joseph the Worker Parish. Rita enjoyed ballroom dancing with her husband and bowling. She also enjoyed picnicking with family and friends.

The Allamakee County Sheriff's Office reports that at approximately 3:53 a.m. Sunday, April 2 the County dispatch center received a report of a serious injury accident near the intersection of Morgan Bridge Road and Pine Tree Drive in Allamakee County, approximately five miles southwest of New Albin about a mile south off of Iowa River Drive.
According to the Sheriff's Office report, a pick-up truck operated by Travis Scott Colsch, age 20, of rural New Albin was traveling northbound on Morgan Bridge Road when a female passenger in the vehicle, 19-year-old Erin Marie Rud of rural New Albin, fell from the moving vehicle and suffered what is being reported as serious injuries. Rud was transported by air ambulance from the scene to a La Crosse, WI hospital for treatment of her injuries. Those injuries have since claimed her life.

Renee A. Lembke, 29, of Osage, formerly of Waukon and Belmond, died Sunday, April 2, 2017 at Osage Rehabilitation Center in Osage from a neuro degenerative disorder. Memorial services were held Friday, April 7 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, with Fr. Mark Osterhaus officiating.

Renee Ann Lembke was born March 2, 1988 in Waukon, the daughter of Alan and Ruth (Bloxham) Lembke. She was a student of the first Allamakee Community School District Severe and Profound Special Education classroom. Renee graduated from Belmond Community High School in 2008. She resided at Mosaic II group home in Belmond for 14 years. Renee enjoyed her interaction with both staff and fellow residents.

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon generates 255 jobs that add $11,235,854 to the Allamakee and northern Clayton County region’s economy, according to the latest study by the Iowa Hospital Association (IHA). In addition, Veterans Memorial Hospital employees by themselves spend $2,003,137 on retail sales and contribute $120,189 in state sales tax revenue.

“We take seriously our responsibility of being a part of the local economy,” states Mike Myers, CEO of Veterans Memorial Hospital.  “We know how important we are to the local economy, and we work hard to be sure we remain viable so we can continue to provide quality care close to home.”

Congratulations to the numerous students who completed the recent Veterans Memorial Hospital Babysitting class. The class, which was held Saturday, March 25, consisted of teaching the qualities of being a good babysitter including basic child care, accident prevention and first aid. These new babysitters learned CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and the Heimlach Maneuver, to be used in the case of a choking infant or child, and also learned about fire safety thanks to assistance from Troy Gress and the Waukon Fire Department.

By Jill Fleming, Registered Dietician at VMH

We just celebrated National Nutrition Month in March, but here’s another great article I would like to share. If you are looking for another way to use your ripe bananas, instead of just making banana bread again, you are going to love this suggestion. Turn your frozen bananas into ice cream by simply blending them either in a blender or food processor. It is that easy.

If you are following a diabetic, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free or sugar-free style of eating, this healthy treat will fit into all of your nutrition plans. When you freeze a banana until it is solid, then whiz it up in a blender or food processor, it gets creamy and a little gooey, just like custard ice cream.

It’s an easy way to stay cool and use up overripe bananas at the same time. In case you’re new to this delicious treat, here are step-by-step instructions to make Healthy Banana Ice Cream

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its monthly Euchre Marathon for all individuals of the community interested Thursday, April 20. Men and women are welcome to attend, even if not an Auxiliary member. The Euchre marathons are held the third Thursday of each month at the Senior Citizens Room at the Waukon Wellness Center.

The Auxiliary’s Euchre Marathons begin at 11:30 a.m. with dinner if desired. Call Northland Agency on Aging at 877-838-8077 if opting to eat dinner. Card playing will follow at 12:30 p.m. until approximately 2:30 p.m. Anyone wishing to stay and play cards following the Senior Citizens meal is more than welcome to do so. The cost is $3 per person with all proceeds going towards the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital. Prizes will be awarded.

Anyone interested in attending, but preferring to play Bridge is also welcome to join in. It is asked that they come with their table of four players, however.