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Transitioning a farm to the next generation is one of the biggest challenges that farm owners and beginning farmers will face. The decisions made can affect families, finances and rural communities for decades into the future.

That’s why Iowa State University’s Farm Transitions Conference, slated for Feb. 9-10 in Ames, will bring together experts and experienced landowners from a wide range of backgrounds with the goal of improving the farm transition process.

Bankers, attorneys, tax professionals, mediators and family farmers will all be part of this year’s event, to be held at the Gateway Hotel. Attendees will hear from professionals who deal with all parts of farm transitions – those looking to exit farming, those looking to enter or expand, and those who simply want to review their existing succession plans to ensure they are current.

Dale F. Mathis, 77, of Harpers Ferry died Sunday, January 1, 2023 at his home in rural Harpers Ferry. Funeral services were held Friday, January 6 at St. Ann’s - St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Harpers Ferry with Fr. Joseph Sevcik officiating. Burial with military honors was at St. Joseph’s Paint Rock Cemetery in rural Harpers Ferry. Martin – Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled the arrangements.

Dale Frederick Mathis was born April 24, 1945 in rural Lansing, the son of Willis “Buster” and Myrtle (Steiber) Mathis. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph’s Paint Rock Catholic Church in rural Harpers Ferry. Dale attended Waterville School, graduated from St. George Catholic School in Lansing in 1963, and served in the National Guard from 1965 to 1971.

Brian M. Garin, 48, of Waukon died Thursday, December 29, 2022 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, surrounded by family and friends after a long, two-year battle with pancreatic insulinoma. Memorial services will be held Saturday, January 7 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. John Moser officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Lycurgus Cemetery in rural Waukon.

Friends may greet the family from 4-7 p.m. Friday, January 6 at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon, where there will be a 3:30 p.m. scripture service. In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorials can be made to the family or Veterans Memorial Hospital.

Brian Michael Garin was born April 28, 1974 in Waukon, the son of Raymond and Maureen (McGeough) Garin. He received his religious education at Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Lansing and St. Patrick Catholic School in Waukon, and he graduated from Waukon High School in 1992.

Deborah M. Volker, 72, of Lansing died Thursday, December 22, 2022 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Memorial services will be held at a later date at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lansing. Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home in Lansing is handling arrangements.

Deborah Margaret Ann Volker was born August 19, 1950 in Waverly, the daughter of Francis Carroll and Marcella (Kramer) Cagley. She was baptized and confirmed at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waterloo and graduated from East High School in Waterloo in 1968. August 18, 1972, Deb married Kim Volker at St. Nicholas Parish in Evansdale.

Dale E. Reiser, 89, of Dorchester died Thursday, December 29, 2022 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 4 at 1 p.m. at Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church in rural New Albin with Pastor Paul Burgess officiating. Burial with military honors will be at the church cemetery. Friends may greet the family from 3-7 p.m. Tuesday, January 3 at the New Albin Community Center. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Dale Earl Reiser was born January 31, 1933 in Caledonia, MN, the son of Earl H. and Alice R. (Child) Reiser. June 10, 1934, he was baptized at the New Albin Methodist Church. His family moved around the country when he was a child and Dale graduated from high school in Texas.

Zonna Louise (Stee) Wullner, 92, of Postville passed away December 29, 2022 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, January 6 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville with Rev. Lynn Noel as the officiant. Inurnment will be held at a later date.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, January 5 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville. There will also be a one hour visitation before services at the church Friday. Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Postville is helping the family with arrangements.

Zonna was born November 24, 1930 in David City, Nebraska to Merle and Sarah (Chambers) Stee. The Stee family moved to Castalia soon after. Zonna attended rural school in Frankville and then Castalia Public Schools. She was confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church, Castalia in 1944. She graduated from Postville High School in 1948 and was the class treasurer.

On Christmas Day, 2022, Lester Julian Carlsborg peacefully went to be with his Lord, surrounded by his family. A memorial service will take place Friday, March 24, 2023 at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Ames. Cremation was performed by Grandon Funeral Home in Ames and his ashes will be scattered at his request near a trout stream in northeast Iowa.

Lester Julian Carlsborg was born to Joseph O. Carlsborg and Lillian K. (Skaim) Carlsborg January 27, 1940  on a farm that crossed the line between Winneshiek and Allamakee counties in northeast Iowa. He was baptized into Christ February 25, 1940 at Glenwood Lutheran Church, Decorah. As a child he walked a mile to and from Glenwood School #4, a one-room country school. In 1951 his family moved to Winona, MN. It was there that he finished country school, and was confirmed May 29, 1953 at Central Lutheran Church in Winona, MN.

Russell P. Loven died at home in Guttenberg after a long struggle with cancer December 27, 2022. The family will receive friends from 10-11 a.m. Saturday, January 21, 2023 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Guttenberg. Funeral service will be at St. John’s Lutheran Church at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 21, 2023 with Rev. Michael Ashman officiating.

Russ was born March 9, 1934 in Decorah, the son of Roy and Ruth (Onsager) Loven. Russ spent his formative years in Waukon where he attended first through 12th grades in Waukon; graduating high school in 1952. He then attended Luther College in Decorah two years, where he met his future wife, Juanita Zeman.

William “Bill” J. Byrnes, 89, of Waukon, passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus Tuesday, December 27, 2022 at Good Samaritan Society in Waukon surrounded by family. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 4 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. John Moser officiating. Burial with military honors will be at St. Mary’s Hanover Cemetery in rural Waukon. Friends may greet the family from 10 a.m. until time of services at the church Wednesday. Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) has announced Urgent Care clinics will be returning during the weekends, beginning Saturday, January 7.  Urgent Care will be offered from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.

Urgent Care is designed for treating injuries or illnesses requiring immediate care, but not serious enough to require an emergency department visit. Patients may enter through the main entrance of the hospital and ask for Urgent Care. A registered nurse will assess each patient and decide if Urgent Care or ER is the level of care needed.