News Center newsletter

Consider a different way to give back to the heart of the community by donating blood during February-Heart Month. The next local drive will be held in Waukon Monday, February 3 from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. People who give blood have an 88% lower risk of having a heart attack so giving blood is a win-win situation for both the donor and the recipient. Blood pressure, pulse and hemoglobin are all checked at every blood donation so donors know if it’s high or low and can see patterns that may cause concern, helping keep them healthy and reducing heart attack risk.

For many Iowans, understanding Medicare and related health insurance can be confusing and overwhelming, asking themselves questions like, Where do I start? What are my options? Am I making the right decision? What will it cost me? Is there help if I can’t afford my insurance? If I’m still working, do I have to sign up for Medicare?

Trained Iowa Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) volunteers can help answer these and other questions about navigating health care insurance options for Iowans on Medicare. SHIIP is a free health insurance counseling service of the State of Iowa Insurance Division sponsored locally by Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH).

 Eileen Nordheim of Decorah will be celebrating her 100th birthday February 6. In honor of this milestone birthday, cards and well wishes may be sent to her at Aase Haugen Senior Services, 4 Ohio Street, Decorah, IA 52101.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Speech-Language Pathologist Steven Mazzafield offers 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 (VMH). The next Stroke Support Group meeting will be held Thursday, February 6, at 2 p.m.

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 people get 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.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Marlin Cooper by Bev Krambeer and Joel and Teresa Sommer; in memory of Muriel Cooper by Fran and Jean Ann Weymiller; in memory of Dennis Curtin by Gary and Jean Gilbertson; in memory of Richard Delphey by Pam Delphey; in memory of Duane and Noah Dietrich by Jane Dietrich; in memory of Bert Fellows by Richard and Joan Leiran; in memory of Sawyer Fink by Greg Fink; in memory of Duane Franks by Linda Siegrist; in memory of Brian Garin by Maureen Garin; and in memory of Arlene Campbell Roney by Don and DiAnne Haler, Randy and Lori Hover, Diane Regan and Chuck and Lois Votsmier.

Memorials were also received in memory of Ella Mae Dvorak by Cindy Barness, Marlys Leiran and Ernest and LaVonne Palas; and in memory of Rodney Fink by Kevin and Teri Welsh, Chuck and Lois Votsmier and Mary Fink.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
January 31: Deadline to request 2024 MALs and LDPs for all eligible wool, mohair and unshorn pelts
February 17: Office closed in observance of Presidents’ Day
March 31: 2025 DMC Signup deadline
April 15: 2025 ARC/PLC Signup deadline

Join the Northeast Iowa Dairy & Agriculture Foundation for the NRCS Field Day and Annual Meeting Tuesday, Feb. 11. The event will be held at the Wilder Business Center starting at 9 a.m.

This year’s NRCS Field Day theme is Roots and Ruminants: Maximizing Farm Productivity. The event features agricultural experts such as Brian Dougherty, Daniel Olson and Eric Fuchs presenting valuable insight into farm production with topics ranging from managing manure, digestible fiber for your herd and grazing cover crops.

Additionally,  Iowa dairy farmer, Dan Venteicher, will lead the afternoon sessions with a unique perspective of social media in agriculture.

The Northeast Iowa Dairy & Agriculture Foundation annual meeting will begin at 3 p.m. and will feature the business meeting and election of board members.

Janet M. Seibert, 67, of Harpers Ferry died Saturday, January 25, 2025, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI. Funeral services were held Wednesday, January 29 at Center Baptist Church, Lansing with Pastor Matthew Majewski officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements.

Janet Marie Seibert was born November 30, 1957, in La Mesa, CA, the daughter of Dexter and Barbie (Graham) Tuttle. She was baptized and confirmed in California. Janet graduated from Monte Vista High School in Whittier, CA, in 1975, and attended Cyprus College in Cyprus, CA. Janet met the love of her life, Kenny Seibert, and the two were married at Wayfarers Chapel in Palos Verdes, CA April 9, 1994. It was a beautiful ceremony overlooking the ocean.

Linda M. Monson, 62, of Waukon died unexpectedly at her home. She has been cremated and there will be a celebration of life this spring. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Linda Marie Monson was born July 13, 1962, in Waukon, the daughter of Paul and Edith (Cornwell) Ferring. She graduated from Kee High School in 1980. December 3, 1983, she married Brent Monson at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. Brent and Linda lived in Rice Lake, WI, until moving to Waukon in 2000, where she worked for Blumenthal Lansing Company in Lansing and Mosaic in Waukon.

Survivors include her siblings: Donny (Margie) Ferring and Marian (Dennis) Gavin, both of Caledonia, MN, Roseann (Ken) Mark of Waukon, and Mike (Vickie) Ferring of Lansing; one sister-in-law, Mary Ferring of Van Meter; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Brent, in 2022; her parents; her grandparents; and a brother, Pat Ferring.

Gary Gilbertson, age 75, of Waukon, formerly of Waterville, died peacefully at his home surrounded by his family January 26, 2025, after a long battle with COPD. Funeral services will be held Monday, February 3 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Father Joseph Sevcik officiating.

Friends may greet the family from 9 a.m. until the time of services Monday at the church. Burial with military honors will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Waukon.

For those wishing to share memories and condolences, please visit iowacremation.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Waterville Community Center.

Gary Gordon Gilbertson was born March 22, 1949, in Waukon, the son of Gordon and Donna (Campbell) Gilbertson. Gary graduated from Allamakee Community High School in 1967. Following high school, he served for four years in the U.S. Navy as a helicopter mechanic and crewman on the USS Iwo Jima.