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Mon
27
Jan

Ruby Rathbun

Ruby F. Rathbun, 91, of Waukon died Saturday, January 25, 2025, at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 1 at 11 a.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing with Pastor Laura Gentry officiating. Inurnment will be held at a later date at Old East Paint Creek Cemetery in rural Waterville.

Friends may greet the family from 10 a.m. until time of services Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Waterville Ambulance or LIFT Food Pantry in Lansing. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

Mon
27
Jan

Vernon Ronnfeldt, Jr.

Vernon Le Roy Ronnfeldt, Jr. passed away January 19, 2025 at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT. He will be laid to rest in the Utah Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Bluffdale, UT Friday, February 7. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, February 8 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Starks Funeral Parlor in Salt Lake City, UT.

Vernon was born June 14, 1957 to June (Alexander) and Vernon Ronnfeldt, Sr. He entered the U.S. Air Force in June 1975, right after high school graduation. Vernon was able to travel many places in the Air Force, including Iceland, Italy, England, Germany, and many other states. He also served in Desert Storm.

Vernon moved to Utah to be closer to his daughter. This is also where he met the love of his life, Alene.

Sun
26
Jan

James "Jim" Christianson

James “Jim” E. Christianson, 84, of Waterville died Friday, January 24, 2025, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

James “Jim” Edwin Christianson was born September 6, 1940 in Waterville, the son of Edwin and Loretta (Weipert) Zweibohmer Christianson. He was baptized and confirmed at Waterville Lutheran Church and graduated from Waterville High School in 1958. Jim served in the U.S. Navy from 1966-1968 as a Seabee.

June 22, 1968, he married Wanda Jean Fritz in the First Presbyterian Church chapel in Waukon. Jim started his career logging the bluffs of northeast Iowa. He then went to work at Capco and decided to carry his passion for logging to Effigy Mounds, where he worked as a groundskeeper. He ended his working career with Ashbacher Building Supplies.

Fri
24
Jan

Iona Farley

Iona C. Farley, 87, of Waukon died Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at the Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Monday, January 27 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Father Daniel Knipper officiating. Burial was in Mt. Olivet Cemetery Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements. Memorials can be sent to Iona Farley Family, P.O. Box 11, Waukon, IA 52172.

Iona Corrinne Farley was born May 18, 1937, in Decorah to Joseph and Cora (Landmeyer) Tangen. She attended Decorah schools and graduated from Decorah High School. She met the love of her life, William “Bill” Farley, while working at Darling Drug Store in Decorah and they spent many nights dancing at Matter’s Ballroom. July 2, l958, they were married at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah. Iona’s greatest happiness in life was taking care of her family and being a wife, mom, grandma, and great-grandma.

Thu
23
Jan

Lollie Hirth

Lollie E. Hirth, 82, of Waukon died Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at her home in Waukon. Memorial services were held Monday, January 27 at 11 a.m. at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon with Rev. Cathy Jurgens officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Memorials can be made to Veterans Memorial Hospital or Winn Med Hospice.

Loleta “Lollie” Eloise Hirth was born August 12, 1942, the daughter of Elmer Ehde and Leota (Phipps) Snitker in rural Waukon. She was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church and confirmed at Zion United Church of Christ, both in Waukon, and attended Waukon schools. October 24, 1959, she married Gary Charles Hirth at Zion United Church of Christ. Lollie stayed at home to take care of her children until they were raised. She worked at the Food Ranch Cafe, Gambles Store, and Makee Manor, all in Waukon.

Wed
22
Jan

Waukon native Holly Hesse reflects on her 36-year head coaching career with Missouri State softball as she retires and is inducted into another Hall of Fame


Looking back on where she always looked forward ... Waukon High School 1978 graduate Holly Hesse looks on from the dugout location she occupied for more than three decades at the helm of the Missouri State University softball program. Hesse retired this past spring from that head coaching position at the completion of her 36th season leading the softball Bears, and she will be inducted into the Missouri State University Athletics Hall of Fame as part of a weekend event scheduled for this Friday and Saturday, January 24-25. Photo courtesy of the Missouri State University Athletics Communications Department.

Focused on success ... Recently-retired Missouri State University head softball coach Holly Hesse, a 1978 graduate of Waukon High School, peers out at the field with an outward focus indicative of the inward focus that drove her to successful careers as both a player and head coach of the game she loves. After pitching the Waukon softball team to a pair of top-five State Tournament finishes and Creighton University to several National Tournament qualifications during her playing days, Hesse took that passion and knowledge to the coaching ranks, coaching a four-decade span that included a 36-year tenure as head coach of the Missouri State University softball program she retired from this past year. Photo courtesy of the Missouri State University Athletics Communications Department.

WHS 1978 graduate to be honored at MSU induction ceremony this weekend

by David M. Johnson

A decorated high school and college athlete, a successful Division I college softball coach, an author and a mentor, Waukon native Holly Hesse has blazed a trail of achievement since her days of living within the hills and valleys of Waukon and Allamakee County, with that trail leading to a storied career of more than three decades as head coach of the Missouri State University softball program. With a laser-like focus on goals and career targets that lofted her to new heights both playing and coaching, Hesse has now retired this past year knowing she will leave at the top of her game - a game that she’s loved for so long and shared with so many others.

Wed
22
Jan

Semi tractor-trailer overturns after exiting Black Hawk Bridge at Lansing ...

Tuesday, January 14, at 10:32 a.m., the Allamakee County Sheriff’s E911 Center received a report of a single-vehicle semi tractor-trailer rollover at the intersection of Iowa Highway 26 and Wisconsin Highway 82 on the west end of the Black Hawk Bridge in Lansing. An initial statement released by the Allamakee County Sheriff’s office reported that the semi tractor and livestock trailer heading westbound from Wisconsin was exiting the Black Hawk Bridge to the north onto Iowa 26, failing to negotiate the right-hand turn and rolling onto its side. Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick further reported that the driver, who was not injured in the crash, stated that the brakes on the semi tractor appeared to have malfunctioned, causing the turn to be made at a less controlled rate of speed and resulting in the momentum of the trailer load of cattle overturning the entire vehicle (as pictured in each of the photos above and below provided by the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office).

Wed
22
Jan

Peoples State Bank makes donation to Waukon EMS Association


Peoples State Bank donates to Waukon EMS Association ... Peoples State Bank in Waukon recently made a generous contribution to the Waukon Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Association with funds the staff themselves generated through their Friday “Jeans Days” and other various raffles. Pictured, from left to right, are Bryce Bahr, Paramedic; Jacob Dougherty, Paramedic and EMS Manager; and Lesa Moose, Brian Mahoney and Peggy Berns of Peoples State Bank. Submitted photo.

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon was notified that Peoples State Bank in Waukon recently made a generous contribution to the Waukon Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Association with funds the staff themselves generated through their Friday “Jeans Days” and other various raffles.

Each Friday throughout the year, employees of Peoples State Bank are welcome to wear jeans to work, then make a contribution into the “Jeans Day Fund.” At the end of the year, the staff then decide on a non-profit organization or local cause to donate their funds to. This year it was decided to award the Waukon EMS Association with these funds.

Officials at Peoples State Bank state, “The donation reflects our team’s commitment to giving back to our community and making a positive impact together.”

Wed
22
Jan

Prize winners in Robey Memorial Library’s 2024 Reading Challenge

Robey Memorial Library in Waukon has announced the conclusion of its “Read. Renew. Repeat.” Adult Reading Challenge, a yearlong literary adventure that took place from January 1 to December 31, 2024. This initiative invited readers to explore diverse genres and themes, encouraging them to discover something new by tackling books from 12 thoughtfully selected categories, including: Animal-themed; Based on a true story; Classic; From your childhood/youth; Nature-themed; Reader’s Choice; Recycled (garage sale, second-hand store, or borrowed from a friend); Science; Teaches you something; Tragedy; Travel-themed; Weather-related.

Wed
22
Jan

Allamakee Community School District students learning about cybersecurity from Iowa Communications Network

Starting in January, cybersecurity students in the Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) have begun learning from a line-up of industry professionals coordinated by the Iowa Communications Network (ICN) on the topics of technology, coding, cybersecurity, and careers.

It’s a spin-off to ICN’s Statewide Youth Broadband Advisory Council (SYBAC) program. Allamakee Community School District Curriculum Director Kelli Olson will have her entire cybersecurity class interact directly with industry professionals.

The virtual line-up of experts will meet monthly with the students, who include  representatives of the ICN, ProCircular, Fortinet, the Waterloo Career Center, and more.

“ICN is fortunate to have great relationships within the technology industry that understand the importance of sharing first-hand knowledge with students interested in technology and cyber fields,” said Lori Larsen, ICN’s Public Information Officer.

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