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by Beth Shafer, Growth and Development Coordinator, Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation

Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) are becoming a popular, flexible way to support local charities. With a DAF, you donate cash or assets - such as appreciated stocks or mutual funds - to a sponsoring organization and receive an immediate tax deduction. You can then recommend grants to your favorite charities, such as Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation (VMHCF), over time, while your remaining balance grows tax-free.

How it works:
• Choose a sponsoring organization (like Fidelity Charitable or Edward Jones).
• Contribute cash or assets.
• Let the funds grow tax-free.
• Recommend grants (donations to charities) whenever you’re ready.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Arlene Martin by Gladwin and Darlene Anderson, Marilyn Anderson, Charles and Marlene Bloxham, Sheila Claire, Jane Dietrich, Cheryl Duncklee, Lois Evans, Linda Flatland, David and Suzanne Hahn, Don and DiAnne Haler, Helen Johnson, Jens and Jane Kallevang, Lillian Larson, Barb and Craig Lensing, Dave and Gail Prestemon, Ann Rademaker, Diane Regan, Mary Beth Regan, Linda Riek, Meg Schaller, Bill and Beth Shafer, Linda Siegrist, Frank and Carol Sivesind, Nancy and Larry Straate, Frank and Jean Ann Weymiller, Donna Wood and an anonymous donation.

The Waukon girls wrestling team had this past week’s schedule trimmed to just a single weekend tournament date, as a quadrangular event at Janesville scheduled for Tuesday, December 9 was called off due to winter weather and has been postponed to Thursday, January 8. That lone competition of last week for the Indian mat ladies came at the South Winneshiek Tournament that took place at Luther College in Decorah Friday, December 12, where the Waukon girls compiled 88 team points on the strength of one individual champion and a pair of fourth-place individual finishes to end up in sixth place in the final team standings that involved 27 squads from throughout the Midwest.

The Waukon boys basketball team was limited to just a single game this past week after a Tuesday, December 9 game at Crestwood was postponed by winter weather and has been rescheduled for January 8. In the game the Indians were able to play this past week - a Friday, December 12 home game against North Fayette Valley (NFV), they were also able to keep their undefeated start to the season intact, overcoming a first quarter deficit with consistent outscoring efforts in the game’s final three frames to pull away to a 52-35 home victory over the visiting TigerHawks.

The Kee boys basketball team ended up playing just one game this past week, as a Tuesday, December 9 home game against Central Elkader was postponed by winter weather to Tuesday, December 23. The lone contest the Hawks did play ended up not quite going their way, as they traveled to Clayton Ridge Friday, December 12 and came home with a 73-65 defeat to suffer their first loss on the season, battling back from an early deficit to hold a brief lead before halftime and nearly pulling off another comeback effort late in the contest.

The Hawks were next scheduled for a busy week, playing De Soto, WI Monday, December 15 at Prairie du Chien, WI before playing at North Fayette Valley Tuesday, December 16 and hosting Crestwood Friday, December 19. Kee’s boys are slated to make up that December 9 home postponement against Central Elkader Tuesday, December 23.

The Waukon girls and boys bowling teams returned to the lanes after being idled last week by a weather postponement, hosting their first meet of the season when New Hampton came to town Friday, December 12 to bowl at Grumpy’s Lanes. The bowling Indians split that home match-up, as the Waukon girls posted a 2247-1557 win over the visiting Chickasaws but the boys ended up on the other side of their result to suffer a 1962-2681 loss to their New Hampton bowling counterparts.

The Waukon bowlers are next scheduled to wrap up their pre-holiday schedule with another home meet Friday, December 19 against North Fayette Valley. They will return to the lanes for back-to-back nights of competition after the holidays, bowling at Denver Thursday, January 8 and then hosting Waverly-Shell Rock Friday, January 9 in a meet rescheduled from that December 5 weather postponement.

Wayne C. Leidahl, 89, of Waukon died Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at Good Samaritan Society in Waukon. Funeral services were held Monday, December 15 at Glenwood Lutheran Church in rural Decorah with Pastor Bryan Robertson officiating. Burial with military honors was at Glenwood East Cemetery.

Wayne Charles Leidahl was born February 15, 1936, in Decorah, the son of Guy and Caroline “Minnie” (Pankow) Leidahl. He was baptized and confirmed at Glenwood Lutheran Church in rural Decorah and graduated from Decorah High School in 1954. Wayne served in the U.S. Army from 1955-1957.

May 12, 1957, he married Carol Severson at Big Canoe Lutheran Church in rural Decorah and they had three children: Danny, Brenda, and Dale. Carol passed away in 1999. Wayne was a foreman at H&H Distributing in West Union for 12 years. He farmed in Glenwood Township, rural Waukon, milking cows and raising hogs and crops, retiring in 2000.

Beth Marie Pohlman, age 52, of Caledonia, MN, passed away peacefully December 10, 2025, at Tweeten Care Center, Spring Grove, MN. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 18, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, New Albin. Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. before the service at the church. Burial will take place at a later date. Online condolences may be given at mccormickfuneralhome.net.

Beth was born August 1, 1973, in La Crosse, WI to Lyle and Joan (Hammell) Pohlman. She graduated from Caledonia High School in 1994.

Beth worked at Woodland Industries and ABC Works for over 25 years while residing within the ABLE community. She enjoyed drawing, word searches and spending time with her nieces and nephews. She loved to go to camp and partake in the Special Olympics. Beth made friends wherever she went and she always remembered their names. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

The Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation (DOT) will take the next step in the Mississippi River bridge project at Lansing with a planned implosion and removal of the main section of the existing Black Hawk Bridge Thursday, December 18. The demolition was deemed necessary to allow construction of the new crossing to proceed safely after engineers detected movement in the Black Hawk Bridge structure beyond safety allowances while completing work on the adjacent new bridge. The new bridge has a planned opening date in 2027.

The Allamakee Ecumenical Choir will present its 49th Annual Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols this Sunday, December 14 at 7 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon. This long-standing community tradition - uniting churches, clergy, musicians, and families across northeast Iowa - continues to be one of the region’s most cherished Christmas events.

This year’s service is directed by James H. Bieber, with assistance from his daughter, Sarah J. Sweeney, and will once again feature a blend of scripture, candlelight, and sacred choral and handbell music. As attendees gather in the warm glow of the church sanctuary, they will experience the timeless telling of the Christmas story through readings offered by clergy from multiple denominations, interwoven with congregational carols accompanied by organ.