News Center newsletter

Norman Duane Miller, age 89, passed away January 24, 2019 at the Heights of Alamo in Alamo, TX, where he had been a patient for 2-1/2 months. Memorial Cremation Center of Edinburg, TX assisted the family with arrangements.

Norman was born October 9, 1929 to Dewey and Mabel (Herman) Miller in Waukon. He married Mary Ann Klocke and they later divorced. After helping his father take care of the crops in the fall, he volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army, with a tour of duty from 1953 until 1955.

Following his discharge, he farmed for a few years and then started his career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He was transferred from Waukon to Missouri Valley and then to McAllen, TX. While employed with the USDA in McAllen, he attended classes at University of Texas-Pan American. He also served part time as a Deputy Sheriff Reserve while employed by the USDA. His duties included back-up and flying prisoners to new locations.

Barbara A. Leathers, 88, of Waukon died Tuesday, January 29, 2019 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Barbara Ann Leathers was born May 2, 1930 in Macon, MO, the daughter of Otho and Magdalene (Richards) Miller. She graduated from Macon High School and worked at the county extension office there.

July 18, 1952, Barb married Alfred Lowell Leathers in Macon, MO. The couple moved to St. Louis, MO, then to San Diego, CA and Hawaii during Al’s service in the Navy, before settling in Iowa for Al’s music teaching career. They lived in Seymour and Guthrie Center before moving to Waukon in 1966.

Jeremiah Thomas Hayes, 80, of La Habra, CA, formerly of the Chicago, Detroit and Flint, MI areas, passed away December 21, 2018. A funeral Mass was celebrated December 27 at St. Bruno’s Catholic Church in La Habra, CA. Jerry was laid to rest at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, IL January 4.

Jerry was born in Oak Park, IL July 12, 1938, spent many summer days at his grandparents’ (Devitt) farm in Hanover, graduated from Chicago’s St. Ignatius High School and Loyola University, and served in the U.S. Army. In 1963 he married his sweetheart, Virginia Ann Dean (Susie) and later welcomed their son, Tom, into the family. They lived in Illinois and Michigan during Jerry’s long career with General Motors. Susie and Jerry later retired to California.

Betty A. Brandt, 95, of Waukon died Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Tuesday, February 5 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Mark Osterhaus officiating. Burial was at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon.

Elizabeth “Betty” Byrnes Brandt was born February 21, 1923 in Jefferson Township, Allamakee County, the daughter of John Francis and Eleanor Link Byrnes. She grew up on the family farm and was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon. In 1940, she graduated from Waukon High School and April 22, 1946, Betty married Kenneth “Cod” Brandt at the St. Patrick rectory.

OFFICIAL NOTICE is given that the date of the upcoming February 5 Special election for Postville School District will be changed to Tuesday, April 2, with polling hours being from Noon-8pm on election day. Absentee voting will begin in the Auditor’s office on Monday, March 4.
The reason for the change of dates is due to an omission in the required publication. The County Auditor sends the Notice of Election and Sample Ballot to the newspaper for publication. The Notice of Election was sent and published, but a Sample Ballot inadvertently did not get sent for publication. Due to this omission, the Special Postville School election scheduled for Tuesday, February 5, 2019 must be rescheduled.
Absentee voting for the rescheduled April 2 Special Election for Postville Community School District will begin in the Allamakee County Auditor’s office Monday, March 4. Absentee voting will be open until 11 a.m. election day, Tuesday, April 2, 2019.

Over 50 interested community members attended the two pain control presentations hosted by Dr. Dave Schwartz at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon January 23 and 24. Dr. Schwartz explained the two new options which are now available locally at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon to help with chronic joint and muscular skeletal pain, explaining these new procedures are providing options for people who have reached a point where there are really no other options, except for joint replacement, if that even is an option for them. He also spent time carefully answering the numerous questions about these procedures asked by those attending.

These new P.R.P. and stem cell procedures both involve injections and have been very successful in delaying total joint replacement. Dr. Dave Schwartz is the physician on the Veterans Memorial Hospital staff who performs both of these procedures.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will be offering the next course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for health care providers (those working in health related fields such as physicians, nurses, EMTs, etc.) Wednesday, February 20, beginning at 5 p.m. This “Health Care Professional” CPR class will be held in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of the hospital.

The cost of the class, for certification or recertification, is the same and all registrants should bring along their own pocket mask. The online certificate received with the course does certify attendants in CPR for two years.

Pre-registration plus minimum of three participants is required. For more information and to register for the “Health Care Provider” CPR Course, call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Kirk Roggensack by George Pickett, John and Lorna Kerndt, Jim and Margo Sweeney and Jim and Ele Klenske. Memorials were also received in memory of Emmet Nolting by Jim and Jill Kiesau, Dave and Laurie Martin, Joan Bieber, Jean Lydon and Family, Jerry and Linda Siegrist and Carol Moe. In addition, memorials were also received by Ernie and Donnalee Osland and Jerry and Linda Siegrist in memory of Ron Benzing. A donation in honor of Chuck and Lois Votsmier’s 40th wedding anniversary was also received from Brian and Denise Wullner.

Memorials and donations are greatly appreciated by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation. The Foundation is a 501C3 organization. All donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. Memorials and donations can be sent to the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA  52172.
 

The local Grief Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital Tuesday, February 12 at 5 p.m. in the Education Conference Room.

This informal meeting is open to anyone suffering from any type of loss, whether it be death, divorce, illness or some other grief. Feel free to attend and bring a friend. This grief support meets the second Tuesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, February 21 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Large Conference Room on the lower level of the hospital.

This diabetes class is open to everyone who has diabetes or has a friend or loved one with diabetes. For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, call Angie Mettille, RN at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.