News Center newsletter

Debra Ann Zeimet, 57, formerly of Waukon, finished her journey Monday, January 16, 2023 at Thornton Manor Nursing Center, Lansing, where she spent the last 16 months of her life. All are welcome for a graveside gathering Saturday, February 25 at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, Wexford, where she will rest alongside her beloved mother, Gloria.

Her pure spirit was born to Adrian and Gloria (Hodgkinson) Zeimet January 3, 1966 in Prairie du Chien, WI. As the youngest, she was welcomed into a home of four brothers and two sisters where she won our love and showed us how to care. Those siblings included Frank (Kim) Zeimet of Kearney, MO, John (Joyce) Zeimet of Camdenton, MO, Robert (Barb) Zeimet of De Soto, WI, Catherine (Robert “Bob”) Stevenson of De Soto WI, Kenneth Zeimet of Smithville, MO and Teresa (Tim) Jandrey of Gilbert MN.

Norman “Chris” Clinton Christianson, 78, of Issaquah, WA passed away at home January 27, 2023 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Chris was born in Waukon April 14, 1944 to Hilma Corneilia (Larson) and Andrew Cornelius Christianson. He worked the family farm in Waukon after graduating from high school. Chris served in the United States Navy and the Marines as a hospital corpsman from 1966 to 1970. He was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal with Combat “V” for meritorious service while serving in Vietnam.

Toward the end of his military career, he was stationed at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, CA. There he met Gayle Shapiro and they married five months later. Chris and Gayle lived most of their lives and raised their two sons in Vallejo, CA.

Chest pain is a common presenting complaint in any emergency room, including the emergency room at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH). There is always the possibility of heart disease in every complaint of chest pain or upper abdominal pain, and it must be taken very seriously.

The common signs and symptoms of an acute myocardial infarction, commonly called a heart attack, are;

1. Chest pain (crushing, squeezing or heaviness).
2. Sudden onset of weakness, nausea, fainting and sweating without an obvious cause.
3. Pain that radiates to the shoulders, neck or arms.

These symptoms occur when the blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, often by a blood clot. This happens because coronary arteries that supply the heart with blood slowly become clogged from a build-up of cells, fat and cholesterol called plaque.

Veterans Memorial Hospital recently received a large donation of hand-made baby blankets from Cindy Hertrampf of rural Monona. Many of the blankets are pictured above with Cindy and will be given to young patients in ER, surgery and inpatient areas of the hospital. Many will also be offered for sale in the hospital gift case which is managed by the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital. Submitted photo.
 

Veterans Memorial Hospital, together with Helping Services of NE Iowa, will begin offering the ‘Baby and Me - The Basics’ class Tuesday evening, March 14, from 5-8:30 p.m. in the hospital’s Large Conference Room.

Helping Services’ Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians Barb Fjelstul and  Rachel Weber will teach the basics of how to correctly secure children in their car seat and getting the seat secured in the vehicle. Barb Fjelstul, also a breast-feeding educator, will guide participants through the challenges and rewards of breast-feeding and provide techniques to ensure baby is getting the most benefit from nursing.

Rachel Stone, RN, is a labor and delivery nurse who will give expecting mothers education on breathing techniques and coping with pain during labor.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Earl Haas by Chuck and Lois Votsmier, John and Shelly Elliott, Robert and Karen Fossum, Mr. and Mrs. James Harris, Ardie Kuhse, Mr. and Mrs. James Jarmes, Mike and Gwen Lloyd, Don and Connie Nagel, Eric and Stephanie Palmer, Chelsea Rodas and Donna Wood.

Memorials were also received in memory of Angela Kula by Al and Fern Rissman and Wayne Rissman; in memory of Margaret Wikan by Margie Schulte; in memory of Helen “Tiny” May by Larry and Nancy Straate; in memory of Marlene “Mickey” Cook by Chuck and Lois Votsmier; and in memory of Grace Peterson by Lyle and Barb Wilkes.

In addition, a donation was made to the Foundation by Chuck and Lois Votsmier in honor of JoAnn Peake’s 90th birthday.

All donations to the Health Care Foundation are tax deductible. Memorials and donations can be sent to 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA  52172.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, February 16 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Large Conference Room, located on the lower level of the hospital.

This diabetes class is open to everyone who has diabetes or who has a friend or loved one with diabetes.  For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, call  Angie Mettille, RN, at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 568-568-3411.
 

Paul and Lisa Heitman of Marshalltown announce the birth of their daughter, Gloria Louise Heitman, born December 22, 2022 at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames. She weighed 7 lbs. 6.5 ozs. and measured 19 inches in length at the time of her birth.

Grandparents are Alan and Lori Heitman of New Albin and Mark and Holly Kukkonen of Iowa City.

Nick and Jessica Wild of Waterville announce the birth of their son, Cordell Harris Wild, born January 23, 2023 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. He weighed 8 lbs. 14 ozs. and measured 22 inches in length at the time of his birth. He joins a brother, Henry Nicholas Wild (2).

Grandparents are Louise and Randy Wild of Lansing, Brad Thorstenson of Waukon and Barb Thorstenson of Waukon. Great-grandparents are Donna Moen of Ossian and Juanita Thorstenson of Waukon.

Sam and Shelby Schwartz of Waterville announce the birth of their daughter, Tatum Jo Schwartz, born January 31, 2023 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She weighed 6 lbs. 6 ozs. and measured 20-1/2 inches in length at the time of her birth. She joins a brother, Rhett (2).

Grandparents are Dave and Joan Schwartz of Waterville and Jamie and Elaine Bodley of Waukon. Great-grandparents are Craig and JoAnne Bodley of Postville and Roger and Judy Radloff of Clermont. Betty Bodley of Waukon is a great-great-grandparent.