News Center newsletter

Norma E. Svendson, 97, of Waukon died Thursday, December 26, 2019 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Monday, December 30 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon with Pastor Bryan Robertson officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to St. John’s Lutheran Church or to Veterans Memorial Hospital, both in Waukon.

Norma Elaine (Wurtzel) Svendson was born in Center Township, rural Waterville June 28, 1922 to Herman and Inga (Pladsen) Wurtzel. She was baptized at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville July 23, 1922. She attended Dalby (Center #7) rural school until the family moved to Waukon in March of 1934, where she attended Waukon public schools from sixth grade until graduating from Waukon High School in 1940.

Thanks to the numerous responses to the 2018 community campaign, Veterans Memorial Hospital again has three ambulances ready for emergency calls and transfers. Last year, donations were accepted to fund the purchase of a new chassis so an existing ambulance box could be mounted onto this new, needed engine and running gear. With the help of the donations received from the 2018 fall annual appeal mailing, the Rural Ambulance Board and the City of Waukon, this became a reality in mid-2019.

by Jill Fleming, MS, RD, Dietitian at Veterans Memorial Hospital

Let the holidays begin!  Starting with Thanksgiving, most of us will be invited to several social events and parties from now through New Year’s Day. It’s tempting to just throw in the towel on healthy eating and exercise until next year, but don’t do it!

Try to resist the temptation to put all of your good habits on hold for two months. Make Thanksgiving the kick-off to a holiday season of family, friends and great conversations. Could food be a side perk instead of the main attraction at your gatherings? You can still enjoy all of your favorite food and beverages, just approach events a little differently this year.

First, make it your goal to maintain your current weight, not to lose weight. Even if you think you should lose weight, December is not the best month for weight loss success. December is full of parties and extra treats, so you may be setting yourself up for failure.

Urgent Care will be available over the holidays this year at Veterans Memorial Hospital. The hospital offers Urgent Care in addition to 24 hour a day Emergency Room (ER) services each and every day. Twenty-four hours a day, the hospital’s ER is staffed with an emergency provider to see ER patients with little waiting. Urgent Care is offered every day as well including every weeknight, on the weekends and on holidays when the local clinic is closed. Urgent Care is designed for treating injuries or illnesses requiring immediate care, but not serious enough to require an ER visit.

The next LifeServe Blood Center Blood Drive will be held Thursday, January 2, from 12-5 p.m., at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Blood drives are held every month in Waukon to allow for more donors to give.  The LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood and blood products.

The Blood Center is seeking donors to ensure a safe and plentiful blood supply in Iowa. Because there is no substitute for human blood, the need for donors is continuous, especially over the holidays.

Over half of the United States population is eligible to donate blood, yet less than four percent donate on a regular basis. A single donation of blood can be used to save up to three lives and help in treatment of cancer patients, accident victims, hemophiliacs and surgery patients.  The LifeServe Blood Center is committed to serving the needs of Iowans by saving lives through volunteer blood donation.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will begin the next Prepared Childbirth Education classes (formerly called Lamaze) Monday, January 13, and they will continue for two more consecutive Monday evenings beginning at 6 p.m. in the Large Conference Room. The Prepared Childbirth Education classes at Veterans Memorial Hospital are offered in three sessions that allow the expectant parents to choose which topics they wish to learn more on.

These Prepared Childbirth Education classes are free to any expectant parents delivering at Veterans Memorial Hospital, and available for a small fee per session for those delivering at another facility. Preregistration is necessary. Contact Machelle Bulman, RN at 563-568-3411, or register at www.veteransmemorialhospital.com.
 

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Ardis Klepper by Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Dave and Rita Newton, Fred and Geralyn Smith, Rick and Cathy Larson and Dennis and Sandy Deal.

Memorials were also received in memory of James Howes by Angie Schulte, Mary Beth Regan, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, J.C. and Natalie Kelly, Don and DiAnne Haler, Stephanie and Eric Palmer, Diane Regan, Dave and Rita Newton, Jim and Jill Kiesau and Dave and Sandy Lyons.

In addition, memorials were received in memory of Lois Langland by John and Charlene Loven, in memory of Bob Rush by Jack and Sally Hagensick, in memory of Eugene Mork by Joan Bieber, in memory of Jim Pickett by Jim and Sue Bieber and in memory of Bob McCoy by Brian and Denise Wullner.

Ernie Lubahn of Waukon will be celebrating his 90th birthday December 26 from 2-5 p.m. at the FreedomBank Community Room, 201 West Main Street in Waukon. Coffee and cake will be served. No gifts are requested.

For those not able to attend the celebration, cards and well wishes can be sent to: 208 Fifth Avenue NW, Waukon, IA 52172.
 

Thomas and Susan (Pettingill) Counters recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family at an event hosted by their children, Dr. Jeff Counters and Nancy Keith. They exchanged vows at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon December 27, 1969 with Rev. William Tjaden officiating.

They are both retired and reside in La Crescent, MN.
 

Amber and Andrew Sandvick of Navarre, FL announce the birth of their daughter, Ivy Dawn Sandvick, born October 30, 2019 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, FL. She weighed 9 lbs. 5 ozs. and measured 20-1/2 inches in length at the time of her birth. She joins a brother, Oliver (2).

Grandparents are Dean and Mary Jackson of Waukon, John and Mollie Wetherill of Norwalk, OH and Jerry and Karen Sandvick of Navarre, FL.