Obituaries

Jim E. Nagel, 82, of Waukon died Thursday, October 19, 2023 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Monday, October 23 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. John Moser officiating. Burial was at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements.

James “Jim” Edward Nagel was born June 17, 1941 in Waukon, the son of Edward and Aurelia (Stock) Nagel. He attended Waukon schools. February 23, 1963, he married Mary Sweeney at St. Mary’s Lycurgus Catholic Church in rural Waukon. For over 50 years, Jim worked for Quandahl’s Food Ranch in Waukon.

Family was very important to Jim; he loved spending time with them, especially his grandchildren. He enjoyed working in his yard and scratching lotto tickets. Jim collected guns, coins, stamps, marbles, dominoes and comic books. He was an all-around great guy, always very generous, kind, and had a positive word to say about everyone.

Raymond “Jim” Dougherty, 86, of Waukon, formerly of Dorchester, died Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at his home. Funeral services were held Tuesday, October 17 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. John Moser officiating. Burial with military honors was at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements.

Raymond “Jim” James Dougherty was born January 23, 1937 in Waukon, the son of Emmet G. and Irene (Bresnahan) Dougherty. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, attended country schools near Waukon, and graduated from St. Patrick Catholic High School in 1955. He then farmed with his parents and in 1960 went to military basic training in Missouri and AIT training for four months in Norfolk, VA, before becoming a reservist for six years out of Prairie du Chien, WI.

Virginia Anne Robinson (Anne), died peacefully October 9, 2023 in Chicago, IL. A Celebration of Life will be held in Chicago at a future date.

Anne Robinson was born November 11, 1937 in Manchester. She was the daughter of Burdette and Lynne Harris. Being the child of a serviceman, Anne traveled much during her younger years with stops in Illinois, Texas, Alabama, Nebraska, among others.

It was in Hanover, IL that she met the young man she would eventually marry.  Jack and Anne Robinson tied the knot July 18, 1956.  They settled down in Hazel Green, WI where their first child, Roxanne, was born.  A second child, Randy, was born three years later in Manchester. The family lived in Edgewood before moving to Waukon in 1969. In 2001, Jack and Anne moved full-time to Winter Haven, FL where they spent 18 years.

Gregory Lee Steffans, 65, of Somerset, KY passed away Monday, October 9, 2023 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI. A Celebration of Life Gathering was held Saturday, October 14 at Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Postville. A Graveside Service was held Sunday, October 15 at God’s Acres in Clermont with Pastor Karla Johnson serving as the officiant.

Gregory was born December 20, 1957 to Donald and Wilma (Quandahl) Steffans in Decorah. He graduated from Valley High School in 1976.

Cindy Lou Peterson, 65, passed Saturday, September 2, 2023 with her family by her side at home in Harpers Ferry on the Mississippi River. A Celebration of Life Ceremony will be honoring her Saturday, October 14 at 12 p.m. during the Annular Solar Eclipse. A riverfront reception will immediately follow at the Peterson’s home at 219 South 1st Street in Harpers Ferry. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.
 

Leslie Kerndt, Jr., 90, went to his heavenly home October 7, 2023 from the Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Memorial services were held Tuesday, October 10 at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon with Pastor Grant VanderVelden officiating. Burial with military honors was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements.

Leslie William Kerndt, Jr. was born August 28, 1933 to Leslie William and Irene (Gruber) Kerndt. He was born in a log cabin on the Center Township farm in rural Allamakee County; the payment to the doctor was a Holstein bull calf.

Les attended the rural schools of Center Township and graduated with the class of 1951 from Waukon High School. While in high school, he was active in all the sports. During a basketball practice, Les was dribbling down the court when the coach yelled, “Stretch”.  Stepping on the bus the next morning, everyone yelled “Stretch” and he has been known as “Stretch” ever since.

Dawn Roney, 65, of Waukon was called home to the Lord Thursday, October 5, 2023 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN surrounded by loved ones. Memorial services will be held Saturday, October 28 at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Waukon with Pastor Duane Smith officiating.

Friends may greet the family from 10 a.m. until time of services Saturday, October 28 at the church. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

Diane Dawn Roney was born June 25, 1958 in Postville, the daughter of Walter James and Dorothy Jean (Barr) Gelo. Dawn was raised on the family farm in the Forest Mills area of rural Postville, where she enjoyed riding her pony and taking long bicycle rides, several times all the way to Elgin to see her sister, Linda. She was baptized at First Baptist Church in Waukon and graduated from John R. Mott High School in Postville in 1976.

Jeff Jannsen, 72, of Waukon passed away peacefully at home Thursday, October 5, 2023 after a two-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Per Jeff’s wishes, no services will be held at this time. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Jeff is survived by his wife of 40 years, Janet; his son, Jamie (Angie) Jannsen of Stewartville, MN; his daughter, Jenny (Ryan) Hennessy of Waukon; his son, Jacob (Morgan) Jannsen of Lansing; his 10 grandchildren, who he loved dearly: Carter (Kaylee), Cole, Caleb and Carson Jannsen, Alli, Luke and Charlie Hennessy, and Eli, Judah and Abel Jannsen; as well as his dog, Chuck.

Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
 

Geraldine I. Muchow, 75, of Postville passed away Sunday, October 1, 2023 at Grandview Care Center, Oelwein. Funeral Service was held Thursday, October 5 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville with Rev. Lynn Noel as the officiant. Burial took place at St. Paul Cemetery in Monona.

Geraldine Ida, the daughter of Donald and Verda (Schultz) Williams, was born August 16, 1948. She was baptized August 22, 1948 at West Clermont Lutheran Church in Clermont. Geraldine graduated from Valley High School in Elgin May 26, 1967.

Geraldine was united in marriage with James E. Baker in June 1969. To this union one daughter was born. James and Geraldine later divorced. She later married Eldon Muchow May 18, 1991, and he passed away July 2, 2016.

Throughout her life, Geraldine worked for Gemini Products in Decorah, Iowa Turkey Products in Postville, cleaned houses in the surrounding communities and finally worked for Super 8 Motel in Decorah.

Walter Gordon Gilbertson, 90, of Winona, MN passed away Saturday, September 9, 2023 at Benedictine Saint Anne Nursing Home in Winona, MN. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, October 19 at the Grace Presbyterian Church in Winona, MN.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, October 18 from 4-7 p.m. at Fawcett Junker Funeral Home in Winona, MN and Thursday, October 19 from 10 a.m. until the service. Interment with military honors will be at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Preston, MN at a later date.

Walt was born December 20, 1932 at home on a family farm in Allamakee County to Cora (Fossum) and Arthur Gilbertson. He attended a country school until moving to Waukon where he graduated from Waukon High School. He was confirmed at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church, Waukon.