News Center newsletter

The local Grief Support Group will be holding its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Tuesday, April 8, at 5 p.m. in the Meditation Healing Center, located just inside the main entrance of the hospital.

This informal meeting is open to anyone suffering from any type of loss whether it be death, divorce, illness or some other grief.

Feel free to attend and bring a friend. This grief support meets the second Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon.
 

Robert Hansmeier of Waukon will be celebrating his 90th birthday April 2. In honor of the occasion, cards and well wishes may be sent to 21 East Main Street, Waukon, IA 52172.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
April 15: 2025 Agriculture Risk Coverage & Price Loss Coverage Program (ARC/PLC) Signup deadline
May 31: Deadline to request a Marketing Assistance Loan (MALs) for 2024 farm stored or warehouse stored grain

Fungi in Agriculture
by Eric Novey, NRCS

Blessings to all who read these wandering thoughts from a wayward follower of Jesus.   Let’s talk about prayer… Praying seems like such a simple thing to do. We pray at mealtimes, we pray at bedtime, we pray during church services, we pray during times of grief, life’s struggles, traumatic events, and at times of joy, thanksgiving, and blessings.

Typically, prayer is used as a defensive tool.  Something has happened or is about to happen and we seek intervention. But when was the last time you used prayer as an offensive tool, specifically in doing God’s work? When was the last time you used prayer as just a time to have a conversation with the All Mighty?   When was the last time you asked God what God wanted you to do, rather than asking God to bless what you wanted to do?   

Sheryl K. Peterson, 78, of Waukon died Friday, March 14, 2025, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Saturday, April 5 at 10:30 a.m. at Salem United Church of Christ in rural Waukon with Pastor Karla Johnson officiating.

Friends may greet the family from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services Saturday, April 5 at the church. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Beverly S. Bakkum, 62, of Decorah died Thursday, March 20, 2025, at home in Decorah. Memorial services will be held Wednesday, April 2 at 11 a.m. at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waukon with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may greet the family from 10 a.m. until the time of services Wednesday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for distribution to causes close to Bev’s heart, or given in her memory to a charity of your choosing. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Beverly Sue (Wolfe) Bakkum was born December 17, 1962, in Glendale, CA, to Fred and Sandy (Yochum) Wolfe. After graduating from high school in Ohio, she attended Kent State for a brief time before enlisting in the United States Air Force in 1980. She served honorably for eight years, achieving the rank of Sergeant.

LCDR Dean Allan Engelhardt, U.S. Navy, Retired, 70, of Hertford, NC, died Saturday, March 22, 2025, in his home after a brief battle with sarcoma cancer.

A memorial service was held Monday, March 31 at Cann Memorial Presbyterian Church, Elizabeth City, NC, conducted by his pastor, the Rev. Don Morris. His life will again be celebrated in August at a ceremony at his beloved cabin in Iowa.

The family requests, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to curesarcoma.org or to this Go Fund Me (https://gofund.me/9c19d909) to support a future donation to Future Farmers of America (FFA) at Waukon High School. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.

Janice Illene Lunde Treffinger, 78, of Connelly Springs, NC passed away Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at Magnolia Lane Nursing and Rehabilitation in Morgantown, NC. Born March 12, 1947, she was the daughter of the late Arnold Orlando Lunde and Olga Galstad Lunde.

Janice had a true passion for gardening, she could grow just about anything, from flowers and herbs to vegetables and trees. No matter where life took her, she left a little piece of herself behind in the form of a garden or a tree, and chances are, something she planted is still thriving today.

She was also a book lover through and through. Her collection was filled with treasured reads, and she knew each book she owned. Gardening, cookbooks, biographies, and politics were among her favorite topics, and she was always eager to learn something new.

Neilah Alexis Mae Nobles, age 4, daughter of Barry and Breanna Nobles of Waukon, died Sunday, March 23, 2025, at University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center in Iowa City. Funeral services were held Saturday, March 29 at Iron Ridge Church in Waukon with Pastor Bryan Mincks officiating.

Neilah Alexis Mae Nobles was born to Barry and Breanna Nobles November 16, 2020. Neilah had the most beautiful big blue eyes and an infectious smile. She was very social, cheerful, warm spirited, mischievous, energetic, sassy, innocent, joyful, witty, expressive, and curious.

Her favorite activities were swimming, fishing, puddle stomping, boating, walking her dog Zuma, playing with her best friends, going to the park, playing dress-up, reading books, painting nails, playing with Play-Doh, and snuggling.

Kendra Gibbs, daughter of Chris and Kerri Gibbs of Waterville, was crowned the 2025 Allamakee County Dairy Princess at the annual Allamakee County Dairy Banquet held Saturday, March 22 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. Gibbs will now assume the duties that are inherent with being crowned as the Allamakee County Dairy Princess throughout her reign this next year. Additional photos of award winners and other recognition from Saturday’s 2025 Allamakee County Dairy Banquet will appear in a future edition of The Standard. Photo by Paula Enyart.