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James Eugene Reicks, 63, of Decorah, formerly of Lawler, went to be with our Lord March 26, 2017 with his family by his side at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN. His death was due to complications from a rare form of lung cancer, which had metastasized to his bones by the time of diagnosis.

Mass of Christian Burial was held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Lawler Friday, March 31 with Fr. Kyle Digmann, Fr. Nick March, Fr. Phillip Gibbs and Deacon Jim Zajicek officiating. Interment was at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery, Lawler.

James Eugene Reicks was born July 3, 1953 in New Hampton, the oldest son of Neal and Alice (Huinker) Reicks. Jim attended OLMC through eighth grade and graduated from Turkey Valley High School in 1971. Jim graduated with honors from Iowa State University with a degree in Agricultural Science. He was the leader of several champion hog judging teams while at Iowa State University.

Barbara Ann (Lewey) (Neuzil) Russell, age 68, of Waukon lost her battle with cancer March 23, 2017. Her family was assisted by Iowa Cremation.

Barbara was born December 2, 1948 in Waukon, her parents are Robert Lewey and Irene Hammel Lewey. She was baptized at St. Mary's Lycurgus Catholic Church.

Barbara attended grade school and high school at St. Patrick School in Waukon. She married Bob Neuzil at St. Patrick Church in Waukon, and they later divorced. September of 1993 she married Dean Russell at St. Patrick Church in Waukon.

Survivors include her children: Theresa Neuzil, Nancy (Randy) Pausch, Mike (Brandi) Neuzil and John Quanrude, all of Waukon; two brothers, Richard (Jean) Lewey and David Lewey, both of Waukon; one sister, Patty Pladsen of Waukon; three grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by an infant son, Joey; two brothers, baby Stephen and Michael Lewey; and Vern Quanrude, father of John Quanrude.
 

Gary Edwin McKee, 68, of Lansing, died Thursday March 23, 2017 at his residence in Lansing. There will be no services at this time.

In 1966 he graduated from Kee High School in Lansing. June 7, 1966 he entered the U.S. Air Force and served until 1970, serving overseas in Vietnam. September 9, 1973 he was united in marriage to Christina Marti in Lansing.  Gary worked as a shift leader for Dairyland Power his entire career.

He is survived by his wife, Christina; two sons, Eric (Thea) McKee of Waukon and Nick (Madai) McKee of Orlando, FL; two daughters, Shane (Bruce) Scott of Lansing and Brittney (Darren) McKee of San Carlos, Mexico; his mother, Florence McKee of Lansing; three grandchildren; and a sister, Phyllis Dymond of Phoenix, AZ.

He was preceded in death by his father and three brothers, Tommy, Harris and Keith.

The Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Lansing assisted the family.
 

Louis “Tim” S. Frank, 85, of Waukon died Friday, March 31, 2017 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is assisting the family.

Louis “Tim” Sheridan Frank was born February 28, 1932 in Nebraska, where we was raised. He graduated from high school at the age of 15 and then enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving from 1948-1951 in Korea as a frontline cook. After being honorably discharged, Tim resided in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan for seven years where he taught at a baking school.

A Lansing man lost his life after getting caught in the roller gates of the Genoa Dam on the Mississippi River early Friday evening, March 31. According to reports issued by the Vernon County, WI Sheriff’s Office and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), James Kenneth Freeman, age 52, of Lansing was killed Friday around 4:45 p.m. when his boat was pulled into the dam after being anchored in a restricted area. Freeman’s body was recovered from the water around 6 p.m. that same evening.

Further details of the incident will appear in the April 5 edition of The Standard. You can subscribe to The Standard's print edition or e-edition by clicking here.

Ralph G. Welch, 84, of Waukon passed away peacefully with his family by his side Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, WI. Funeral services were held Saturday, April 1 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Mark Osterhaus officiating. Burial was at St. Mary's Lycurgus Cemetery, rural Waukon.

Memorials are preferred and may be made to St. Patrick Catholic School, Alcoholic Anonymous, or REACH suicide prevention organization.

Ralph Gordon Welch was born September 20, 1932 in rural Waukon to James L. and Mary (Sweeney) Welch. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Lycurgus Catholic Church in rural Waukon. Ralph graduated from St. Patrick's High School in 1950. He worked in Cedar Rapids at a grocery store before coming back to Waukon. He worked for Dorf Halverson and did some farming on the side.

by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• August 1 - ARC/PLC Sign-up
• May 31 - Marketing Assistance Loans for Prior Year Harvested Corn and soybeans:
• May 15 - August 2: Primary Nesting Season.  No Mid-Contract Management Activities on CRP acres   

CRP Mid-Contract Management
We would like to remind CRP producers who have Mid-Contract Management (MCM) scheduled for 2017 that the activity must be completed by May 14, 2017. Upon completion of the MCM activities, you will need to notify the FSA office that MCM has been completed by signing the FSA-848B form and providing acceptable evidence of the practice completion to determine proper cost share payment. Cost share for MCM is 50% Not to Exceed the per acre rate established for each MCM activity.

Farm owners can apply for the 2017 Century and Heritage Farm Program. Applications are available at www.IowaAgriculture.gov by clicking on the Century Farm or Heritage Farm link under “Hot Topics.” Applications may also be requested from Coordinator Becky Lorenz via phone at 515-281-3645, email at Becky.Lorenz@IowaAgriculture.gov no later than June 1, 2017.
 

The Allamakee SWCD will be hosting a Cover Crop and Manure Field Day on Thursday, April 6 from 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.  We will meet at the Scott Ness Farm, 1509 Family Lane, Waterville, IA and then drive to at least 2 additional sites in the county.  We will show cover crops that were established by broadcasting or drilling in the fall.  Manure was injected or broadcast before or after cover crop planting, depending on the site.  You’ll be able to see that cover crops and manure can work well together and learn from the local NRCS agronomist, SWCD project coordinator, and other producers.  No RSVP is required.  In the event of inclement weather, an announcement will be made on KNEI as well as the Allamakee SWCD website at allamakeeswcd.org.  If you have questions, please email Sara Berges at sara.berges@ia.nacdnet.net or call 563-568-2246 ext. 3. 
 

Nearly 200 graduating seniors from Postville, Kee, MFL/MarMac and Waukon schools attended “Reality 101” at the Waukon High School Wednesday, March 22. Over 80 individuals and businesses volunteered their time to create a real life financial scenario for these students preparing for graduation.

Each student chose a career and researched monthly income based on average northeast Iowa wages in the classroom setting prior to the activity. The day of Reality 101, the students were provided with a life scenario which may include a spouse, children and possibly even child support situations, including the information they provided on their chosen career and college plans. The students were then required to visit each of the 30 stations to open a bank account, pay their taxes, purchase an automobile and insurance, pay for daycare, groceries, household supplies, vet expenses, health and life insurance, etc.