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Christa L. Parker, 42, of Waukon died Thursday, February 9, 2017 at her home. Funeral services were held Monday, February 13 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, with Pastor Steve Oden officiating. Burial was at Postville Cemetery, Postville.

Christa Lynn Parker was born August 12, 1974 in Postville, the daughter of Dean and Shirley (Sampson) Foels. She was baptized and confirmed at Postville Presbyterian Church in Postville. Christa graduated from Postville High School, where she was active in FFA. She also attended Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. Christa worked at a horse stable and screen print and embroidery shop in Cedar Rapids. She loved working with horses and fixing things.

Survivors include her brother, Karsten (Beth) Foels of Luana; two nephews: Jackson and Tristan Foels; an aunt, Sharon (Byron) Zeisler of Fish Creek, WI; and an uncle, Calvin (Betty) Foels of Monona. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Terry D. Shefelbine, age 62, of Waukon passed away December 27, 2016. He was born July 22, 1954 at the hospital in Spring Grove, MN; his parents were Malcolm and Stella Shefelbine of Dorchester.

Terry graduated form Dorchester Elementary School and Waukon High School. He loved the outdoors, fishing and hunting with his friends. In 1999, he moved to Waukon.

Terry is survived by his daughter, Kristine, and her family living in Boone; three brothers: Ronnie of Waukon, Rick of Garnavillo and Randy of Spokane, WA; two sisters: Priscilla Nuehrling and Brandy Marquez Shefelbine, both of Denver, CO; and his long-time girlfriend, Jackie Johnson. He is preceded in death by his father and mother.
 

The third time was the charm for Waukon wrestling 182-pound senior Blain Swenson, as he knocked off Decorah senior Daniel Ott for the first time in the past three Saturdays in their Class 2A District 1 championship match Saturday, February 11 at Decorah, earning qualification for the Class 2A State Tournament. Swenson opened the District Tournament with a 6-0 win over Independence senior Peyton Nolting to earn a championship rematch with Ott, who had defeated Swenson in their previous two meetings in the championship match of both the Northeast Iowa Conference Tournament two weekends earlier and also in the Class 2A Sectional 2 Tournament just a week earlier. In this rematch, however, Swenson took Ott down repeatedly to post a convincing, 11-5 triumph and earn his first-ever qualification for the Class 2A State Wrestling Tournament that will be held in Des Moines this Thursday through Saturday, February 16-18.

Darrell F. Snitker, 75, of Waukon died Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. Funeral services were held Saturday, February 11 at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon with Pastor Grant VanderVelden officiating. Burial with military honors was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.

Darrell Francis Snitker was born March 10, 1941 in Waukon, the son of Lawrence Elmer and Helen Minnie (Goeke) Snitker. He was baptized and confirmed at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon. Darrell graduated from Waukon High School, where he was a conference champion wrestler. From 1960-64, Darrell served in the Air Force and fought in Vietnam from 1963-64.

Glenn O. Thorsen, 90, of Waterville died Monday, February 6, 2017 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Friday, February 10 at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial with military honors was at Waterville Lutheran Cemetery, Waterville.

Glenn Oliver Thorsen was born August 24, 1926 in Chicago, IL, the son of Emil M. and Agnes (Larson) Thorsen. He was baptized at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville and confirmed at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in St. Paul, MN.

Veterans Memorial Hospital nurses received a surprise visit from Loretta Schafer’s fourth grade class from St. Patrick School Wednesday, February 1. The class delivered two generous “random acts of kindness” baskets with goodies to their local nursing ‘heroes’. Pictured above is the fourth grade class with the nursing staff that were working at the hospital when the students made their surprise delivery. Submitted photo.
 

Veterans Memorial Hospital has announced it plans to transition to a new electronic medical record system the end of February. This new system will now link to all departments, encompassing all areas of the hospital, including the billing department.

With this change, patients will see a new statement following any hospital service which will be a completely different look from what they are used to receiving due to the use of a new vendor. In addition, patients’ account balances will also be handled by a new system that will be unfamiliar to current patients. For example, a patient may have a test performed in February and it will be processed through the current company, MedPay, and after March 1, self pay statements and phone calls will come from the new vendor instead.

Over 950,000 Americans die each year from cardiovascular disease. Since February is National Heart Month, Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon provides the following facts and tips on heart health:
- 250,000 people die within one hour of onset of a heart attack.
- 60-70% of those individuals are male.
- Heart disease is the number-one killer of American women and men.
- 75-80% of cardiac arrests happen in the home.
- Bystander CPR does improve the outcome once someone has arrested.
- Traditional CPR courses are not reaching those who live with high-risk populations.
- Rapid defibrillation is the most important treatment for victims.
- For every minute delay in defibrillation there is a 10% loss for chance of survival.
- In the case of heart attack, “Time is Muscle.”
- In the case of stroke, “Time is Brain Tissue.”

Sweating, nausea, dizziness and unusual fatigue may not sound like typical heart attack symptoms, but they are common for women. Pain, pressure or discomfort in the chest is not always severe or even the most prominent heart attack symptom, particularly in women. These symptoms may occur more often when women are resting or even asleep.

“That is why it’s important for women to understand their unique symptoms and work to reduce their risk of heart disease,” says Elizabeth Leschensky, family nurse practitioner at Mayo Clinic Health System Franciscan Healthcare in Waukon.

Certain factors play a bigger role in the development of heart disease in women than the traditional risks of high cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity. “Women should control traditional risk factors as well as these to help prevent heart disease,” says Leschensky.

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Ida Duffy by Kent and Donna Schultz, Laura Duvel, Marilyn Bulman and Wendy Bucheit.

Memorials were also received in memory of Curt “CD” Kruger by Marv and Marge Strike, Dave and Laura Martin, Randy and Karen Loeb, JoAnn Peake, Jerry and Linda Siegrist, Orrin and Nan Grangaard, Ken and Jill Lampman, Mae Jean Bakke, John and Lorna Kerndt, Elsa Hager, Craig and Barb Lensing, Robert and Marilyn Bulman, Cyril and Shirley Larkin, Mary Ann Hager, Norb and Nola Palmer, Carol Krumme, Wayne and Nona Sawyer, Dan and Traci Byrnes, Dale and Ann Rademaker, Jackie Westby, Kate Wooden, Jim and Bev Larson-Needham, Lois Evans, Otto and Eleanor Thorstenson, Jim Moritz, Lesa Moose, Gladwin and Darlene Anderson, and Allan and Fern Rissman.