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Todd R. Pladsen, 57, of Bellevue, NE, formerly of Waukon, died Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, NE. Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 5 at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating and burial at the church cemetery.

Todd Roger Pladsen was born October 11, 1961 in Waukon, the son of Roger and Sandra (Gray) Pladsen. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon and graduated from Waukon High School in 1980. Todd worked in the oil fields in Wyoming for 25 years. He then moved back to Iowa and went to work for a trucking firm in Cedar Rapids, driving throughout the United States. He found his passion in driving semi and loved being able to travel. July 2, 1994, he married Annette Hay in Vinton. They had three children and later divorced.

Margaret Mary Mettille, 90, of Dubuque passed away March 1, 2019 at Stonehill Care Center in Dubuque. Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, March 4 at the Church of the Nativity in Dubuque with Rev. Msgr. James Miller officiating. Entombment followed in the Mount Olivet Chapel Mausoleum in Dubuque.

Margaret was born July 6, 1928 in Monti, the daughter of Joseph and Marguerite (Woods) Sheeley. She graduated from Saint John’s High School in Independence and attended Mercy School of Nursing in Dubuque.

She married Donald Mettille September 16, 1950 at the Church of the Nativity in Dubuque. Margaret belonged to the Catholic Daughters of America and the YWCA for exercise and activities. Margaret and Don shared over 68 years of marriage. Margaret never tired of enjoying her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and some ballroom dancing including post-festivities.

Gladys Mae Heitman, 90, of New Albin passed away Sunday, February 24, 2019 at Thornton Manor Nursing Center, Lansing. Funeral services were held Saturday, March 2, 2019 at St. John’s United Church of Christ, Wheatland, rural New Albin. Pastor Paul Burgess officiated. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Gladys was born January 25, 1929 to George and Caroline (Meyer) Meyer. She was baptized and confirmed at St John’s United Church of Christ, Wheatland. She attended rural school in Iowa Township. June 9, 1950, she married Elmer Heitman at St. John’s Church and together they farmed in Union City Township. They celebrated 60 years of marriage in 2010.

Janet Alice Kuhse, 82, of Postville died Monday, February 25, 2019 at Crossing Rivers Health in Prairie du Chien, WI. Funeral Service was held Friday, March 1 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville with Rev. Lynn Noel as the officiant. Burial followed at Postville Cemetery in Postville.

Janet was born December 2, 1936 to Alfred and Ruth (Dresselhaus) Welper in Waukon. Janet was baptized December 20, 1936 and confirmed April 2, 1950 at Zion Reformed Church in Waukon. She attended grade school at Howard School near Waukon and graduated from Waukon High School in 1954.

by Diane Butikofer, RN, ER Supervisor at Veterans Memorial Hospital

Individuals who experience any type of chest pain need to take that pain very seriously and seek medical assistance. There is always the possibility that pain may be caused by a heart attack or some other form of heart disease and must not be ignored. Immediate medical attention is the only way to stop or decrease the damage to the heart.

The common signs and symptoms of a heart attack include the following:

1. Any type of chest pain. It may be a crushing pain, a feeling of heaviness such as an elephant standing on one’s chest, or even a squeezing of the chest.
2. Pain that radiates down the arm, or other areas of the body such as the neck, jaw or shoulders.
3. Weakness or shortness of breath, nausea, light headedness and/or possible sweating.

These “CHAD” labels, as pictured above, are available for labeling of infant and child car seats. These complimentary labels can be found at the front desk of Veterans Memorial Hospital for anyone to take to label their car seats. This safety seat identification program was developed as a result of a traffic crash involving a 13-month old boy named Chad. The babysitter who was driving in this accident was killed. Chad was injured, but no one at the scene could identify him. So to ensure rapid identification of a child in the case of an emergency, the Travelers Protective Association is encouraging all infant and child car seats to be identified with one of these labels. Drop by the front entrance of Veterans Memorial Hospital between the hours of 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, to pick up one of these complimentary labels. Submitted image.
 

Did you know that one pint of whole blood can save up to three lives? The next local LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Thursday, March 7 from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.   Blood drives are held every month in Waukon, allowing for more donors to give.  LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood and blood products.

Anyone who lives to the age of 72 will have a 95% probability of needing blood or blood products at some time in their life, so blood donors are greatly needed.

The Beat the Blues Winter Marathon is a free wellness opportunity being made available to northeast Iowa residents by Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission, Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative and WalkNEIowa.org. Participants can complete one or more marathons between now and March 1 for a chance to win a $50 gift card to a local sports/health business or recreation center of their choice.

Marathon activities that can be part of the event include running, walking, skiing, snowshoeing or biking 26 miles outdoors at the individual’s own pace, or play outside (create forts, build a snowman, sled) for 30 minutes to equal one mile. Participants can then record their mileage on the Mileage Log which can be submitted via email, mail or online. Both online and downloadable Mileage Logs can be found at WalkingNEIowa.org.

Northeast Iowa National Alliance on Mental Illness (NEIA NAMI) offers a weekly free, peer-led support group for adults living with mental illness. The group will meet Thursday evenings from 6:30-8 p.m. at St. Benedict’s Church, located at 307 West Main Street, Decorah.

Attendees will gain insight from hearing the challenges and success of others, and the groups are led by NAMI-trained facilitators. NAMI’s Support Groups are unique because they follow a structured model to ensure those in the group have an opportunity to be heard and to get the assistance they may need. For more information call 563-293-6264 or email namineiowa@gmail.com.
 

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Dr. Jim Rixen by Dave and Rita Newton, Marv and Marge Strike, Rich and Jane Strike, Jim and Deb Strike, Neal and Nancy Daley, Bill and Sue Blagsvedt, Wendy Bucheit, Roger and Jeanette Ruegnitz, Randy and Patty Nordheim, Andy and Emily Moore, Kay Sewick, Pat Pettingill, Dr. Steve and Judy Kurth, Dr. Elizabeth Van Dyke, Dave and Laurie Martin, Jim and Linda Ryan, Jerry and Linda Siegrist, Dr. Ken and Sharon Olson, Les and Ada Marie Kerndt, Don and Connie Nagel, Carrie Blake, the Purkart Family-Sarah, Frank and Alan, Jim Garrett and Kathy Hannum, Jeff and Linda Obrecht, Steve and Kim Rixen, Margaret Norden, Dr. Bill and Sheila Clair, Dr. Don and Claudia Koeber, Dr. Marshall and Susan Walker, Dennis and Linda DeBuhr, Richard Hermeier and Lee Mc Govern, Joe and Mary Cunningham, Dr. Bill and Libby Withers, Mike and  Teresa Myers, Hacker Nelson & Co, Dr.