The members of the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital are holding a garage sale at Freedom Bank in Waukon in conjunction with the Waukon City-Wide Garage Sales. The Auxiliary garage sale will be open Thursday, June 1, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and again Friday, June 2, from 8 a.m. to Noon.
The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital is devoted to providing the hospital and its patients and visitors with many services. The Auxiliary also holds annual fundraisers such as the Women’s Health Day Luncheon each fall, the Pillow-Perk in early November, the Gift Case at the hospital and their annual membership drive each July.
Veterans Memorial Hospital Speech-Language Pathologist Steven Mazzafield is offering a Stroke Support Group for individuals who have experienced a stroke, as well as caregivers and family members affected by stroke. Monthly meetings are held the first Thursday of every month at 2 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hospital. The next Stroke Support Group meeting will be held Thursday, June 1 at 2 p.m. in the ICN Conference Room.
The Stroke Support Group provides opportunities to share tips, tricks or trials among participants, offer support for caregivers, and provide an opportunity for socialization.
While strokes can happen at any age, risk of stroke is greatest as a person gets older with the majority of strokes occurring after the age of 70. Risk factors for stroke include obesity, sedentary lifestyle, binge drinking, diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.
The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Monday, June 5 from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. The LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood and blood products.
The Waukon High School Class of 1963 will be holding its 60-year class reunion Saturday, July 8 at 1909 Bluebell Road, Lansing. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with a social hour and a class photo at 6 p.m. to be followed by a meal at 6:30 p.m.
Waukon High School graduates from 1959-1964 who would like to attend may contact Robert Metcalf at 563-379-3943 by June 15 to select a meal choice of hamburger, brat or hotdog. Cost is $20 per person.
Benjamin and Faith Scott of Maynard announce the birth of their son, Harlan John Scott, born May 21, 2023 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. He weighed 9 lbs. 5 ozs. and measured 21 inches in length at the time of his birth.
Grandparents are John and Meghan Palmer of Waukon and Mike and Kathleen Scott of Westgate. Great-grandparents are Becky Gesing of Waukon, Greg and Marlene Palmer of Waukon, and Wesley and Marlys Foster of Waverly.
During the last few years there has been an amazing shift in the world of mental health. People have begun to understand that the mental health issues that someone may struggle with do not define them, and that they need support and love from their family and peers.
The stigma that once hung over depression, anxiety and other mental disorders is lifting, making it easier for people to come to terms with their illnesses and seek the help they need to heal. An extremely beneficial way to combat mental illness is to attend peer support groups for mental health. Here is a list from clinical psychologist David Susman, PhD of six reasons a support group could best serve your needs.
Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 15 - August 1: Primary Nesting Season
June 2: ERP Phase 2
June 2: PARP
July 15: Spring Crop Reporting
Conservation Update submitted by Ben Cottrell, District Conservationist, Waukon
Across Iowa we are seeking applications as we recently released funding for Organic Transition Initiative (OTI) through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) as well as another round of funding for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). NRCS accepts conservation program applications on a continuous basis but sets application cutoff dates as funding allows. The next application cutoff for OTI and CSP applications is June 15.
Richard Francis Data, 74, of New Albin was called home to God Friday evening, May 19, 2023, suddenly at home. Rich’s wishes for a private final disposition were pre-arranged and are being handled by Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, La Crosse, WI. Celebration of Life Memorials will be held in the future in both New Albin and the Chicago South Suburban Area.
He is survived by his wife, Lily Joy Data; a brother, Stanley (Karen) Data; a sister, Maria (Steven) Vaslef; his nephews, Alex and David Vaslef; his step-son, Michael Joy; his step-daughter, Anne (Michael) Joy-Pesavento; his dearest friend of 60 years, Jim (Kathy) Szeszol; and many cousins and friends in Iowa, Chicago and around the country.
Carolyn Jane (Thomas) Kiesau passed away from an aggressive form of cancer May 21, 2023. A memorial service for Carolyn will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 3 at Hemer-Pickerign Funeral Home, Medford, WI with Pastor Daniel Iwinski officiating. Burial will take place at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery. Visitation will take place at Hemer-Pickerign Funeral Home, Medford Saturday, June 3 from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m.
Carolyn was born May 28, 1947 to Edward and Jane Thomas in Olney, MD. After graduating from Sherwood High School in 1966, Carolyn enlisted in the U.S. Navy, completing basic training in Bainbridge, MD. Her duty station for her entire enlistment was at the Naval Station, Long Beach, CA where she met her future husband, Curtis Kiesau, April Fool’s Day in 1968.
Parade Grand Marshal Loretta Roese ... Since 2008, Loretta Roese of Waukon has been leading her Arabian horse, Karabay, through the Memorial Day Parades in Waukon in a “riderless horse” symbolic honoring of all the fallen soldiers who have given their lives in service to their country. With the passing of Karabay earlier this spring, Roese will now be serving as this year’s Grand Marshal for the 2023 Memorial Day Parade scheduled for Monday, May 29 in Waukon, in honor of Karabay and their parade contributions together over the past 14 years.
A variety of Memorial Day activities are being planned for the upcoming holiday weekend, including all the traditional Memorial Day observances this year scheduled for Monday, May 29 in all of the area communities within Allamakee County. Those traditions of parades, full cemetery programs and wreath laying are being planned in honor of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in serving their country, with details of some of those celebrations being outlined below on this page in their respective highlighted boxes.
