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Alice G. Schlacke, 84, of Waukon passed away early Sunday morning, January 19, 2020 at West Ridge Care Center in Cedar Rapids. Funeral services will be held Friday, January 31 at 12 p.m. at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon with Rev. Kim Thacker officiating. Burial will be at Waterville Lutheran Cemetery. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until the time of services Friday at the church. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Alice Gretchen (Wacker) Schlacke was born in Farmersburg on Halloween, October 31, 1935, to Andrew E. and Sophie E.W. (Mueller) Wacker as one of 14 children. Alice married A1C Ronald Victor Schlacke November 26, 1954 at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon and began her career as an Air Force wife of 32 years. Together they lived in four states and three overseas countries, where she stayed busy managing a household with three children.

Jerry A. Schlesselman, 60, of Harpers Ferry died Monday, January 20, 2020 at his home. A celebration of life will be held at a later date this summer on the banks of the Mississippi River in Harpers Ferry. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is assisting the family. Memorials can be made to the Dolores Tillinghast Memorial Library in Harpers Ferry.

Dorothy A. Cunningham, 95, of Waukon died Friday, January 24, 2020 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 29 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Fr. Mark Osterhaus officiating. Burial with military rites will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 9:30 a.m. until time of service at the church Wednesday.

Dorothy Anastacia Cunningham was born June 28, 1924 on the Hanover Township, rural Waukon farm of her parents, Willard Frederick and Anna Marie (Healy) Cunningham. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Hanover, attended Hanover #4 Elementary School and St. Patrick’s High School in Waukon for three years. She graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Des Moines in June of 1942 while living with an older sister.

Francis “Frank” V. Schulte, 92, of Dorchester died Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at his home in rural Dorchester. Funeral services were held Monday, January 27 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dorchester with Fr. Mark Osterhaus officiating. Burial was at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Dorchester.

Francis Vincent Schulte was born January 8, 1928 in Spring Grove, MN, the son of Henry and Mary “Mayme” (Connor) Schulte. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dorchester and graduated from Waukon High School in 1946, where he played football and baseball.

November 10, 1949, he married Rita McCormick at St. Mary’s Hanover Catholic Church in rural Waukon. They farmed together in Waterloo Township in rural Dorchester, where they milked cows and raised pigs, beef cattle, chickens and crops. Frank has lived on the family farm for 89 years.

Josephine Norma Smith, 97, of Postville died Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral Service was held Saturday, January 25 at Community Presbyterian Church, Postville with Rev. Kate Rupert as the officiant. Burial followed at Postville Cemetery, Postville.

Josephine was born January 25, 1922 to Ole and Anna (Erickson) Loftsgard in Gunder. She was baptized and confirmed in Marion Lutheran Church in Gunder. She attended country school through the eighth grade and graduated from Postville High School. She then taught country school until she was married.

Josephine was united in marriage with Rodney Ira Smith June 18, 1941 at Marion Lutheran Church in Gunder. Eight children were born to this union. Josephine loved being a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother to her family. She was a talented artist who loved drawing using charcoal and also wrote two genealogy books.

Debbie (Deborah) Katherine Curran of Grafton, WI passed away peacefully Sunday, January 19, 2020 at the age of 61 years. The Rite of Christian Burial was held Monday, January 27 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Grafton, WI. Inurnment followed at St. Joseph Cemetery.

Debbie was born in La Crosse, WI December 31, 1958 to Viola (Augedahl) and Cyril Manning. Debbie attended Kee High School. She married James Curran June 21, 1975 at Immaculate Conception in Lansing. Their marriage was blessed with three children that she loved with her whole heart.

Debbie cared greatly for the elderly. She began her career working as an activity aide and nurse’s aide. She worked diligently to achieve her Wisconsin Nursing Home Administrators License and continued her career as administrator at multiple nursing homes in the Milwaukee, WI area. Debbie enjoyed the sun, outdoors and spending time with her friends and family.

by Brianne Leikvold, RN, Maternity Services Supervisor, VMH

At Veterans Memorial Hospital Birthing Center, we offer a variety of services that can provide our patients with a more natural and enjoyable experience throughout their labor. Our patients are given options for the type of labor and delivery they would like; and our staff attempt to carry out our patients’ wishes in the safest way possible.

In recent years, water births have gained popularity amongst hospitals and mothers looking for a natural birthing option in a controlled environment. With water birth popularity growing the past three years throughout other facilities, we take pride in ourselves for having offered this service for over the past 17 years. For low-risk women seeking a more natural experience throughout the birthing process, water birth is a great option.

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Monday, February 3 from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Blood drives are held every month in Waukon.   The LifeServe Blood Center of Iowa supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood and blood products.

The LifeServe Blood Center of Iowa 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.  Many Iowans are encouraged to make donating blood on a regular basis their New Year’s resolution this year.

Exercising is important to do all year-round. One should not feel that they need to stay indoors to exercise during cold weather. A good workout outdoors in the winter can be very exhilarating. Just follow the steps below for keeping it a safe outdoor winter workout:

- Warm up longer than usual before heading outdoors in cold weather.
- Keep skin dry. This in turn will keep the exerciser warmer.
- Dress accordingly using many layers. Be sure that the outer layer will break the wind. Add a fluffy layer, like fleece or wool, to trap heat in. Long underwear is good to keep the skin dry.
- Always wear a hat to prevent heat loss through the top of the head.
- Wear mittens instead of gloves to allow air to circulate better between the fingers, keeping the hands warmer.

Always be sure to exercise in a safe, well-lit area. Stay clear of any icy spots and proceed with care in snow. One never knows what may lie under those snow-covered spots.

Each year, older Iowans or individuals with disabilities may benefit from rent reimbursement. Those individuals can file for rent reimbursement if they met all the below requirements during 2019:

• Age 65 or older or disabled
• Income was less than $23,216
• Lived in Iowa and still live in Iowa now
• Paid rent in Iowa at a property that pays property tax.

Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A) is providing older individuals assistance filling out the rent reimbursement application. Make an appointment for that assistance by calling 563-277-6021.