Obituaries

Rebecca Helen “Becky” (Westerfield) Wilke, 69, of Elkader, passed away Monday, October 6, 2026, at home. Funeral service is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday, October 16 at Norway Lutheran Church in St. Olaf, with Pastor Marshall Hahn officiating. Burial and a time of fellowship will follow the service. Interment will be at Norway Lutheran Cemetery, St. Olaf.

Visitation will take place from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, October 15 at Norway Lutheran Church in St. Olaf. Friends may also call from 2-3 p.m. Friday at the church, prior to the funeral service.

It was Becky’s wish that family and friends attending the visitation Thursday wear bright colors, or simply something they know she would have loved. She envisioned the visitation as a celebration of her life with the people she loved so dearly, while bringing smiles to the faces of her family.

Sharon K. Koth, age 68, formerly of Waukon, passed away Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at her home in Colorado Springs, CO. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is assisting the family.

Sharon Kay Koth was born March 15, 1958, at the Postville Community Hospital. She was the daughter of Harold and Caroline Koth. Sharon attended Cora B. Darling and Aber Hendrickson Schools. In 1982, Sharon became part of the TASC community in Waukon. In November of 2006, she relocated to live in Kansas City, MO, with her brother. Her final home was in Colorado Springs, CO.

Sharon enjoyed making friends, doing art and craft projects, bowling, remembering your birthday, and family gatherings. Birthdays and Christmas were of special interest to Sharon. She was a Beloved Rose to all who knew her.

Dwain Marlin Wolter, 92, of Luana passed away peacefully October 3, 2026, surrounded by family. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, October 30, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Luana. Visitation will take place at the church from 9-11 a.m. prior to the service. Coffee and baked goods will be served following the service in honor of Dwain always enjoying coffee with friends/family. Memories and condolences may be left at www.printyfuneralhome.com.

Born March 31, 1934, on a farm north of Elgin, Dwain was the son of George and Agnes (Ames) Wolter. Dwain had one brother, Donavon. Dwain married the love of his life, Jean Corlett, January 31, 1953 in McGregor. They were happily married for 73 years - 73 YEARS!

Mr. George Juris Prieditis, age 85, passed away October 2, 2026, in Grand Rapids, MI. A Memorial Service will be held Thursday, October 15 at 3 p.m. at the United Methodist Church of the Dunes (717 Sheldon Road, Grand Haven, MI 49417). The Memorial Service will also be live streamed on the church’s YouTube channel (www.umcdunes.org) for anyone who is unable to attend.

Memorials in memory of George may be directed to Special Olympics or the Bucs Care Food Pantry at Grand Haven High School. You may sign his online guestbook at www.sytsemafh.com. Arrangements by The VanZantwick Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 620 Washington Avenue, Grand Haven, MI 49417.

Dean “Petey” E. Jackson, 74, went home to be with the Lord Wednesday, October 7, 2026, while surrounded by family at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Services were held Saturday, October 10 at Center Baptist Church in rural Lansing, where burial was also held.

Dean “Petey” Eric Jackson was born September 29, 1952, in Waukon to Lyle and Wilma Jackson. He graduated from Waukon High School in 1970, and served in the Army National Guard from 1970 to 1976. He married the love of his life, Mary Johnson, August 18, 1973, in Spring Grove, MN.

Together, Dean and Mary built their life on a farm outside Waukon, where they worked hard and loved harder. Their three children were Dean’s pride and joy, and he shared his love of fishing, hunting, softball, fireworks, hearing other people’s life stories, and his “can do” attitude with them. He was a lifelong learner whose humble intelligence, physical strength, and determination to persevere on his own terms were unmatched.

Harold “Hal” Ferkingstad, dedicated educator, artist, and craftsman, passed away September 13, 2026 at Providence St. Vincent Hospital in Portland, OR. A private remembrance will be held October 24 at Beadle Park in Cresco. Friends and family are invited to gather and celebrate Hal’s life.

Hal, the son of Imogene and Elmer Ferkingstad, leaves behind a legacy of creativity, resilience, and family devotion. ​Hal earned degrees from Winona State University, where he competed as a pole vaulter on the track team. He shared his love of creativity as an art teacher in the Allamakee County School District for 30 years. Hal actively supported the Waukon Arts Council, painted local signs, and the iconic Iowa map mural in Waukon. An accomplished woodworker, he crafted custom hardwood furniture for loved ones.

Sharon Ann Costello, 81, of Lansing passed away suddenly at her home September 20, 2026. Visitation will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church from 4-7 p.m. Friday, September 25 and again from 9-10 a.m. Saturday, September 26, prior to a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. A funeral dinner and celebration of Sharon’s life will follow. All are welcome.

Sharon married her soulmate, John “Twinny” Costello, November 21, 1964. Together they raised four children: Sue (Keith) Meyer of Eitzen, MN, John (Kayla) Costello of Lansing, Michelle (Joe Gillitzer) Kishman of Prairie du Chien, WI, and Tom Costello of Lansing. John and Sharon lived in Chicago, IL for five years before moving to Lansing in 1969.

Sharon worked as a supervisor at Thornton Manor Nursing Home for more than 30 years. She was active in the Women’s Auxiliary and her church and always willing to lend a helping hand.

Ruth Ann “Annie” Teff, 80, of Sun City, AZ, passed away peacefully Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at Hospice of the Valley in Glendale, AZ. A memorial service was held at Willowbrook United Methodist Church, Sun City, AZ, Sunday, September 13. A family service and celebration of life will be held in Iowa at a later date.

Memorial donations may be directed to the Stephen Ministry at Willowbrook United Methodist Church in Sun City, AZ, the Nature Conservancy, or Bethlehem Presbyterian Cemetery in Postville.

Ruth Ann Klocke was born in Waukon May 30, 1946, to Reuben and Margaret (Miene) Klocke, joining her older siblings, Betty and Merlyn. She was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith at Bethlehem Presbyterian Church, Postville. Annie attended Ludlow Country School and graduated from Waukon High School where she was a drummer in the band and was named Class Valedictorian in 1964.

Pamela “Pam” A. Dundee, 68, of Waukon passed away peacefully Sunday, September 13, 2026, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI, surrounded by loved ones. A celebration of life was held at the Freedom Bank basement in Waukon Saturday, September, 19.

Pamela “Pam” Alaine Pothast Dundee was born November 15, 1957, in Waukon, the daughter of Donald and Doris (Ingvalson) Pothast. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church and graduated from Waukon High School in 1976. Following graduation she attended Hawkeye Community College.

October 6, 1979, she married Larry Dundee at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon. Pam and Larry lived in Waukon, where she worked as a dental assistant and then spent the remainder of her career as an education assistant at the Decorah Community Schools and the after-school program in the Allamakee Community School District.

Carlyle Robert Kolsrud, 70, of Grantsburg, WI, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, September 11, 2026, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN. A memorial service was held at Old West Paint Creek Church, rural Waukon, Friday, September 18.

Carlyle was born in Waukon October 19, 1955. While his father served in the Navy, he attended schools in Rhode Island and Virginia before graduating from Waukon High School in Iowa.

Carlyle had a love for canoeing, camping, motorcycles and cars (which you could often find him fixing). He enjoyed playing softball, bowling and especially spending time with family.

Carlyle was preceded in death by his father, Robert; his son-in-law, Eddie; and a granddaughter, Joanne.