Obituaries

Lynn Ordell Bjerke, age 68, of West Union, formerly of Waukon, died January 19, 2023 after suffering a stroke. A Celebration of Life is scheduled to take place Saturday, May 13 at the Elgin Golf Club from 1-4 p.m. Refreshments will be served and all are invited to share memories.
 

Toni K. Kolsrud, 75, of Waterville died peacefully Saturday, April 29, 2023 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI, with her beloved family beside her. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 6 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. John Moser officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon.

Friends may greet the family from 4-7 p.m. Friday, May 5 at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon, where there will be a 3:30 p.m. scripture service and a 5:30 p.m. American Legion/VFW Auxiliary service.

Toni Kathryn (Goltz) Kolsrud was born July 6, 1947 in Decorah, the daughter of Dale and Mary “Sis” (Campbell) Goltz. She was baptized at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon and grew her strong, humble faith throughout her 75 years.

Kenneth “Sam” J. Hill, 84, of Harpers Ferry passed away Saturday, April 29, 2023 at Thornton Manor Nursing Home in Lansing after a spirited and courageous battle with cancer. Funeral services were held Tuesday, May 2 at Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service with Lisa Dalziel officiating. Burial was at Oak Hill Cemetery, both in Lansing.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Harpers Ferry Fire Department or the Mississippi Valley Sportsman’s Club.

Kenneth “Sam” J. Hill was born March 13, 1939 in Lansing, the son of John and Bertha (Cole) Hill. He was one of 10 children raised on a farm with a strong work ethic. Sam graduated from Waukon High School in 1957 and moved to Cedar Rapids.

Gary G. Gress, 77, of Waukon died Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse, WI. Funeral services were held Monday, May 1 at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon with Pastor Grant VanderVelden officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

Gary Gene Gress was born August 9, 1945 in Waukon, the son of Raymond Edward Sr. and Laura Mae (Hamann) Gress. He attended Ludlow #5 country school in rural Waukon. March 6, 1971, he married Dorothy Ann Johnson at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon.

Gary worked at Northern Engraving in Waukon as a foreman until it closed. He also worked at Quillin’s, drove semi and hauled milk for Gary Bulman, and drove semi for IAS.

Sharon L. Kubitz, 71, died April 23, 2023 at the Good Samaritan Society in Waukon. Family and friends may gather from 4-8 p.m. Friday, April 28 at the New Life Christian Church in Waukon. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Midwest Veterans of America or the Northeast Iowa Food Bank. Condolences may be sent to Doug Kubitz at 716 Volney Road, Monona, IA 52159.

Sharon Lea Ewing was born November 18, 1951 to Stanley and Darlene “Boots” (Schlitter) Ewing at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She grew up with her baby sister, Sue, on the family farm south of Rossville.

She was educated in Waukon Public Schools, graduating from Waukon High School in 1970. June 13, 1970, she married her high school sweetheart, Douglas Kubitz, at the Rossville Presbyterian Church, the same church she was baptized and confirmed in, and where she was a member until the church closed in 2018.

Shirley Mae (Weis) Murphy was born October 15, 1929 in Dubuque to Alvin H. and Pauline L. (Koester) Weis. At the age of three, the family moved to Decorah, where she graduated from St. Benedict’s Catholic Grade School and Decorah High School. While in high school, she was elected Homecoming queen.

Peach graduated from Clarke College (University) in Dubuque. She spent the next two years teaching English and commercial subjects in Scales Mound, IL and Shellsburg. Peach married Cyril F. Murphy at St. Benedict’s Church in Decorah September 3, 1955 and for the next two years had numerous jobs while her husband pursued his master’s degree in social work, these included the West Block of the National Harbours Board, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Dennis Lee Zidlicky, age 74, of Decorah died Sunday, March 26, 2023 at Gundersen Health Systems in La Crosse, WI. Funeral Services were held Saturday, April 1 at the Washington Prairie Lutheran Church, rural Decorah with Rev. Jennifer Edinger presiding.

Dennis Lee Zidlicky was born February 11, 1949 to Arthur and Gatriel (Thompson) Zidlicky in Nevada, IA. He later graduated from Cresco High School in 1967.

In 1970 he married the love of his life, Donna (Moe) Zidlicky. To this union, two sons were born, Dean and Don. In his early years, Dennis worked for Camcar and Marigold, but his true passion was farming. Dennis and Donna went on to farm together for 35 years near Ridgeway, Waukon and Highlandville. He also worked for Holden Farms in their hog buildings.

Constance “Connie” A. (Wild) Gallagher, 83, of Waukon passed away peacefully July 23, 2022 after a courageous battle.

A Celebration of Life for Connie is scheduled to take place this Saturday, April 22 at the Waukon Golf & Country Club from 2-5 p.m.

Refreshments will be served and all are invited to share their memories of Connie and the life she lived.
 

Leonette “Lee” K. Thornton, age 78, of Arlington, formerly of Waukon, passed away peacefully at her home Friday, April 14, 2023 with her family by her side. Memorial services will be held Saturday, April 22 at 12 Noon at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon. Burial will be at Postville Cemetery, Postville. Friends may greet the family from one hour before services Saturday at the funeral home.

Leonette Kay Smith Thornton was born September 23, 1944 at her parents’ home in Waterville, the daughter of Leonard and Myrtle (Dahly) Hastings. Lee graduated from Waukon High School in 1961. She was united in marriage to Elmer Lee Smith February 8, 1964 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon. After his passing, she reconnected with a high school sweetheart and was united in marriage to Ronald “Butch” Thornton May 8, 2004 in a private ceremony at their home in Rochester, MN.

John Hyler Jennings, age 92, of Chippewa Falls, WI passed away peacefully Friday, April 7, 2023 of congestive heart failure at Mayo Clinic Health Systems – Eau Claire with family by his side. He was born at home June 11, 1930 in the township of Garden Valley, Jackson County, Wisconsin to Paul and Myrtle (Larson) Jennings.

A funeral service was held Monday, April 17 at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel, Chippewa Falls with Rev. Brad Thomas officiating. Interment with Military Honors was held at Forest Hill Cemetery, Chippewa Falls.

John married Betty (Plunkett) Jennings July 26, 1975, and was a wonderful husband and the best ‘dad’ Betty’s six kids could have asked for. Betty and John moved to Waukon following their marriage. John had previously married Dorothy Storlie September 26, 1955. He lovingly adopted Dorothy’s son, Terry. Dorothy passed away after 19 years of marriage.