News Center newsletter

To the Editor:

It is election season. Political ads abound on TV. Which are true and which are lies? It’s hard to tell. There’s no law that says campaigns and PACs (political action committees) have to tell the truth.

Social media is full of misinformation and AI generated content as well. There will be no author listed, or fact checking done, and the add relies on the reader’s emotions to get them to pass the information on. So, what to do?

Well, I found a site which helps a little - “Fast Democracy.” It’s free, but you have to sign up. You can look up your legislator and see their voting records on various bills. State and federal congress critters are listed.

Pamela “Pam” A. Dundee, 68, of Waukon passed away peacefully Sunday, September 13, 2026, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI, surrounded by loved ones. A celebration of life was held at the Freedom Bank basement in Waukon Saturday, September, 19.

Pamela “Pam” Alaine Pothast Dundee was born November 15, 1957, in Waukon, the daughter of Donald and Doris (Ingvalson) Pothast. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church and graduated from Waukon High School in 1976. Following graduation she attended Hawkeye Community College.

October 6, 1979, she married Larry Dundee at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon. Pam and Larry lived in Waukon, where she worked as a dental assistant and then spent the remainder of her career as an education assistant at the Decorah Community Schools and the after-school program in the Allamakee Community School District.

Carlyle Robert Kolsrud, 70, of Grantsburg, WI, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, September 11, 2026, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN. A memorial service was held at Old West Paint Creek Church, rural Waukon, Friday, September 18.

Carlyle was born in Waukon October 19, 1955. While his father served in the Navy, he attended schools in Rhode Island and Virginia before graduating from Waukon High School in Iowa.

Carlyle had a love for canoeing, camping, motorcycles and cars (which you could often find him fixing). He enjoyed playing softball, bowling and especially spending time with family.

Carlyle was preceded in death by his father, Robert; his son-in-law, Eddie; and a granddaughter, Joanne.

Allen A. Goeke, 98, of Waukon died Sunday, September 13, 2026, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services were held Friday, September 18 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon, with Pastor Daryl Schultz officiating. Burial followed at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements.

Allen Arthur Goeke was born March 14,1928, the son of George and Gertrude (Shindoll) Goeke of Waukon. He attended Jefferson #3 country school for grades 1-6, and then the Waukon public schools, graduating from Waukon High School in May of 1947.

Lawrence “Larry” J. Blake, age 73, of Dorchester died Sunday, September 13, 2026, at his home in Dorchester, surrounded by his family. Mass of Christian Burial is at 11 a.m. Tuesday, September 22, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Dorchester. Visitation and a meal will be from 4-7 p.m. Monday, September 21 at the Allamakee Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. Visitation will also be from 9:30-11 a.m. Tuesday before the service at the church. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Dorchester.

Larry was born March 29, 1953, in Charles City, the son of Pat and Margaret (Hammell) Blake. He was raised in Dorchester with seven sisters and five brothers. Larry and Susie Manning were married July 1, 1972 in Wexford.

Thomas K. Buege, 65, of Waverly, formerly of Waukon, passed away peacefully with his family by his side Thursday, September 3, 2026, at University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. Memorial services will be held Saturday, September 19 at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Daniel Knipper officiating. The service will also be live streamed on the church’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/waukonareapastorate.

Friends will be able to greet the family and enjoy a meal following the service from 12-3 p.m. Saturday at Empty Nest Winery, 1352 Apple Road, Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Thomas Kevin Buege was born May 1, 1961, in Waukon to Wilford “Bill” and Dorothy (West) Buege. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon, and graduated from Waukon High School in 1979.

Daniel C. Burke, 86, of Lansing passed away Sunday, September 6, 2026, at Thornton Manor in Lansing. He died of natural causes in the presence of family members and very helpful nursing home staff. A private service will be held. Thornburg-Grau Funeral home in Lansing is assisting the family.

Daniel Charles Burke was born July 1, 1940, to Charles and Ruth (Hammel) Burke. He was a lifelong resident of Lansing and graduated with the last class of Immaculate Conception High School in 1958.

Loren H. Beneke, 78, of Cedar Rapids, formerly of Waukon, passed away peacefully with his family by his side Monday, September 7, 2026, at University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. Funeral services were held Saturday, September 12 at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon, with Rev. Cathy Jurgens officiating. Burial with military honors was held in Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon assisted the family.

Loren Henry Beneke was born August 17, 1948, in Waukon, the son of Henry and Tillie (Schallock) Beneke. He graduated from Waukon High School in 1966. Following graduation, he attended Iowa State University in Ames, he worked for the railroad and road crews, and enlisted in the United States Army, where he served for two years before returning home to help on the family farm.

Monica Kay Smeenk, 64 years old, of Independence died Saturday, August 8, 2026, at the Rehab Center of Independence in Independence, following a long battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Private burial took place at the Postville Cemetery in Postville, with a Celebration of Life held Saturday, September 12 at the Ampersand in Oelwein. Memorials may be directed to the family. Condolences may be placed at www.White-MtHope.com. White Funeral Home, Independence assisted the family.

Monica was born September 12, 1961, in Postville, the daughter of Paul Henry and Beatrice Caryl (Guyer) Benjegerdes. She attended school in Postville and graduated with the high school class of 1980. She was united in marriage to Bernard Daniel Smeenk in 1980, in Postville.

Mary A. Soboleski (nee Curran) of Wauwatosa, WI, passed away August 11, 2026, at the age of 96, surrounded by her loving family. A funeral mass was held September 4 at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Wauwatosa, WI.

Mary was the daughter of William L. and Marguerite Curran of Lafayette Township, IA. She graduated from Immaculate Conception High School in Lansing, and attended Clarke College in Dubuque for two years. In 1952, she graduated from St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Rochester, MN.

Mary moved to Milwaukee, WI, where she worked at Children’s Hospital. There, she met Jerome Soboleski of Ironwood, MI, a friend of her brother, William J. Curran. Mary and Jerome were married June 21, 1958, at Immaculate Conception Church, Wexford.