News Center newsletter

Ellen Marie Waters, 88, of Dows passed away Wednesday, April 8, 2020 at Sheffield Care Center. Private family services will be held at a later date at Waukon due to the COVID-19 virus.

Ellen was born July 26, 1931 at Burr Oak, the daughter of Lyle and Sena (Baker) Masters. Ellen attended school at Canton, MN. In 1948, she was united in marriage to George J. Waters. They were blessed with nine children. Ellen spent most of her life as a wonderful homemaker, but did work for a few years at the Dows Care Center, Franklin Manufacturing in Webster City and the Turkey Plant in Ellsworth.

Ellen was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, George (Stub); her sons, Mike and Tim; a great-granddaughter, Scarlett Rose Dickerson; a nephew, Michael Helland; her brothers-in-law, Merlyn Helland, Floyd Waters, Bill Waters, Earl Waters, Ronnie Waters and Danny Waters; and her sisters-in-law, Deloris Lundsford, Helen Dixon, Kate Kirkeby and Evelyn Peters.

William (Bill) Lyndon Evans, 56, of Waukon died Sunday, April 12, 2020 at Gundersen Health in La Crosse, WI. A celebration of life will be held at a later date and announced at that time. Condolences can be sent to Joe Evans at 204 Fourth Avenue NW, Waukon, IA 52172.

Bill was born April 3, 1964 in Waukon, the son of Kenneth and Ruby (Becker) Evans. He was baptized and confirmed at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon and graduated from Waukon High School in 1982. He worked at the Iowa Turkey Products plant in Postville for many years, until the fire in 2003, and continued working in a variety of positions in and around Waukon since that time.

Bill had a love of the outdoors and especially enjoyed fishing, boating, hunting, searching for wild asparagus and morel mushrooms, as well as simply spending time with family and friends.

Raymond A. Duvel, 59, of Waukon died Tuesday, April 7, 2020 at Gundersen Medical Center in La Crosse, WI from cancer. Graveside services were held in Salem Cemetery in rural Waukon with Pastor Sue Klimstra officiating. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements. Condolences can be sent to Justin Duvel at 75 Dan Avenue, Waukon, IA 52172.

Raymond Albert Duvel was born November 16, 1960 in Postville, the son of Norman and Gloria (McNally) Duvel. He was baptized at Salem United Church of Christ in rural Waukon and attended Waukon schools. When he was younger, Raymond lived in the Castalia area, Ludlow Township, and then moved to Waukon. He worked at Northern Engraving until it closed and also mowed lawns in Waukon. Ray enjoyed fishing, playing on his computer, baking and loved dogs.

The Occupational Therapy Department at Veterans Memorial Hospital has had a bladder and bowel incontinence treatment program for over eight years. Staff member Melissa Clarke, Occupational Therapist, has been providing this treatment and has seen very positive results. 

More people than one may think are impacted by bladder and bowel dysfunction. An average of 25-30% of adults 25-55 years old have experienced bowel or bladder problems. An average of 35-40% of individuals over 65 who live in the community have bladder and bowel problems, and 10-15% of children 8-16 years old have nighttime wetting. The good news is 61% of people using the Beyond Kegels program were dry in 3 ½ weeks.

Veterans Memorial Hospital continues to be appreciative of the outpouring of community support and interest in making and donating face masks for patients and staff during the COVID-19 challenge. The Hospital is encouraging those that have been sewing for the hospital to please continue to do so.

The hospital staff remains concerned and committed to the community and has devised a plan whereby the continued donations of face masks can be used to keep the elderly and immune-compromised public safe also.

The hospital has asked the Waukon Economic Development Corporation, Lansing City Clerk’s Office, Postville City clerk’s Office and Monona Chamber of Commerce to help coordinate the project of supplying additional homemade masks to some of the grocery stores that remain open in their communities. Then these masks will be handed out to each qualifying customer to have, to keep laundering and wearing anytime they have to enter public places.

by Jill Fleming, MS, RD/LD

The newest strain of the Coronavirus has created a huge wave of panic amongst our community. Everyone is worried about loved ones getting sick. It may seem like negative thoughts are running through your head on endless repeat over the past few weeks. You might feel like you’re spiraling out of control, going crazy or about to burn out under the weight of all this anxiety. This is not good, as excess anxiety or worrying can weaken your immune system.

The good news is that there are steps you can take right now to interrupt all those anxious thoughts and give yourself a time out from your worrying. So, step away from the news and (in your mind) set down your big bag of worries. Pick one of the following ways to reconnect with your body and “get out of your head” for a few minutes today.

Veterans Memorial Hospital and the Iowa Department of Public Health wishes to remind the community of these facts and ways the public can help during this COVID-19 challenge.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Norma Svendson by George Pickett, Dennis and Julie Herman, Dave and Laurie Martin, Ron and Kim Winters, Joan Moody, Gary and Toni Kolsrud, Jerry and Linda Siegrist and Diane Regan.

Memorial donations were also made in memory of Betty Steiber by Jean Huffey, Patsy Kerndt and Harold and Shirley Marti; in memory of Ivy Althoff by Marv and Marge Strike and Dave and Laurie Martin; in memory of Roger and Janet Kuhse by Darrell and Alice Baumgartner; in memory of James “Tony” Urell by Dan and Sue Schlitter, Jane Dietrich, John and Lorna Kerndt, Rick and Cathy  Larson, Ernie and Donnalee Osland and the Urell family.

In addition, a donation was received in honor of Ernie Lubahn’s 90th birthday from Nyles and Ruby Herman, and a donation was also received from George Pickett.

Marjorie Kruger is celebrating her 96th birthday April 11. Her family is honoring her with a card shower. Birthday greetings may be sent to her online at: https://www.good-sam.com/resources/send-a-note or by postal mail at Marjorie Kruger, 400 Hardin Drive, Postville, Iowa 52162.
 

Ethan Jermy and Katherine Price of Harpers Ferry announce the birth of their daughter, Charlotte Louise Jermy, born March 25, 2020 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She weighed 7 lbs. 8 ozs. and measured 22 inches in length at the time of her birth.

Grandparents are Jon and Tracey Engle of Harpers Ferry.