Obituaries

Jacob Carlton Johnson, 40, of Lansing tragically passed away in the early hours of February 28, 2024 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. A Celebration of Jacob’s Life will be held from 2-6 p.m., Sunday, March 17, at TJ Hunter’s Banquet Hall in Lansing. In lieu of flowers, a fund is being established at Kerndt Brothers Bank for Jacob’s two-year-old daughter, Leona Johnson.

Dennis (Denny/Gramps) James Curtin died March 8, 2024. In accordance with one of his final requests, a celebration of Denny’s life will be held at Curtin’s Arena Saturday, April 6, from 2-6 p.m. Friends and family are invited to join in honoring and celebrating his life as he lived it, with food, music, and drinks. (Due to liability issues of the celebration being held at a business, we are unable to serve alcoholic beverages, but you are more than welcome to bring your own.)

Ervin F. Gordon, 85, of Waukon died Monday, March 11, 2024, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. A private burial with family will be held at Rossville Cemetery in Rossville. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Ervin Fred Gordon was born February 25, 1939, in New Albin to Fred and Eda (Geinzer) Gordon. He graduated from Waukon High School in 1957. Ervin married the love of his life, Sharon Ehde, June 4, 1958, at St. Mary’s Lycurgus Catholic Church in rural Waukon. He spent most of his life farming and loved being outdoors. Ervin enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling, and picnics. He also liked going to parades, where he could be found visiting and catching up with old friends.

Rita M. (Weber) Hafkemeyer, age 90, of Sherrill, passed away at 8:08 p.m. Thursday, March 7, 2024, surrounded by her family at UnityPoint Health Finley Hospital in Dubuque. To honor Rita’s life, family and friends may visit from 3-7 p.m. Friday, March 15 at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, 5131 Sherrill Road, Sherrill. There will also be visitation from 9-10:15 a.m. Saturday, March 16.

The Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, with Rev. Tyler Raymond officiating. Burial will be in Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery. Behr Funeral Home is assisting Rita’s family.

Rita was born September 7, 1933 in Lansing, the daughter of John and Leona (Kelleher) Weber. She graduated from high school and May 9, 1953, married the love of her life, John “Jack” Hafkemeyer. They were blessed with four children and 51 years of marriage before Jack passed away September 10, 2004.

Arlene B. Beisker, 96, of Waukon died Friday, March 8, 2024, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Memorial services were held Tuesday, March 12 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon with Pastor Bryan Robertson officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Arlene Bertha Miller was born September 28, 1927, the daughter of William and Louise (Krueger) Miller in rural Allamakee County. She attended rural elementary schools and later earned her GED from NICC in Calmar. She married John “Jack” Beisker at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Postville October 28, 1947, and they later attended St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon. Arlene and Jack farmed and trucked until 1952. For over 40 years, they were co-owners and operators of Beisker’s Lounge and Dining in Rossville.

Craig James Brown, 63, of La Crosse, WI passed away Friday, March 1, 2024, with his sons by his side at Bluffview Memory Care. A small service was held at the gravesite in Gates of Heaven Cemetery in La Crosse, WI Thursday, March 7.

Craig was born January 24, 1961, to Charles and Mary “Delores” (Moore) Brown. He grew up in Lansing, graduating from Kee High School in 1979, and married his high school sweetheart, Joyce Hitchins. They became parents to twin boys, Joshua and Justin Brown. They later divorced.

Craig perfected his craft as a meat cutter for 40 years with a majority of that time spent with Quillin’s and Festival Foods. After his retirement from Festival, he discovered a new passion in life of driving for Uber/Door Dash/Lyft. It was the perfect job for him going into retirement, being the sociable guy he was.

John (Jack) Patrick Morgan, 102, passed away unexpectedly February 2, 2024. Services were held February 10 at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home in Missoula, MT. Condolences and memorials may be sent to Sunset Memorial Funeral Home at 7405 Mullan Road, Missoula, MT 59808.

John was born May 23, 1921 to Francis B. And Anna (Bakewell) Morgan in New Albin. He was the second youngest of eight children that included his brothers, Lawrence, Jim, Earl and Daniel, and his sisters, Kathleen, Peggy and Marietta.

John attended the Morgan country school, also known as Sandbank school. He spent his youth working on the family farm. John traveled out west to work in Oregon at age 16. He then went to California to work in an aircraft manufacturing facility.

During WWII he enlisted in the Coast Guard doing shore patrol at Long Island. He then moved to LST 23 in the Pacific Ocean where he was a pharmacist mate.

Gary H. Schulte, 76, of Dorchester died Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. A celebration of life was held Saturday, March 2 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. Private family funeral services along with burial were held at St. Mary’s Hanover Catholic Church in rural Waukon with Fr. John Moser officiating.

Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements. Memorials may be directed to Veterans Memorial Hospital or St. Patrick’s School, both in Waukon, or to a charity of choice.

Gary Henry Schulte was born September 10, 1947, in Waukon, the son of Henry “Hank” and Gertrude (Burke) Schulte. He attended French Creek #6 country school through eighth grade and graduated from St. Patrick’s High School in Waukon in 1965. October 21, 1967, Gary married Janis Link; they became parents to two children: Victoria “Vicki” and Eric.

James Lewis “Jim” Slitor, 83, of Decorah passed away February 22, 2024 at Wellington Place with his loving wife, Sherry, by his side.

Jim was born January 19, 1941 in Waukon, the son of Truman G. and Gwen (Kelly) Slitor. Jim graduated from Waukon High School in 1959 and earned his BA degree at UNI in 1963. He taught junior high and high school math and science in Waterloo for two years before moving to Florida. Jim was employed for five years at IBM in Boca Raton, FL as a computer programmer.

After obtaining a MA from Florida Atlantic University (FAU), he became a statistics instructor in FAU’s college of social science where he taught for over 30 years while pursuing his PhD at Florida International University. Additionally, he taught International Relations through the Lifelong Learning Center at FAU.

Lynne M. Kruse, 60, of Seattle, WA, formerly of Eitzen, MN, died Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Swedish Hospital, Cherry Hill Campus in Seattle, WA. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, March 16 from 1-4 p.m. at the Eitzen Community Center. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

Lynne Marie Kruse was born December 8, 1963, in Waukon, the daughter of Delton and Margaret “Maggie” (Herman) Kruse. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Luke’s Church in Eitzen, MN, graduated from Caledonia High School in 1982, and received a master’s degree in public health from Tulane University in New Orleans, LA.

She loved to travel and after college Lynne joined the Peace Corps. She taught cultural English in Japan for several years and worked in refugee camps in Thailand. Lynne moved to Seattle, WA, where she worked at the Polyclinic for several years as a medical assistant.