Obituaries

Carlton J. Tryon, 48, of Garnavillo, formerly of Waukon, died Saturday, June 29, 2024, at his home in Garnavillo. Private family graveside services will be held in Smithfield Cemetery, rural Monona with Charles Tryon officiating. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Carlton John Tryon was born November 19, 1975, at University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City, the son of Charles and Carol (Borcherding) Tryon. He graduated from Waukon High School. Carlton was a former member of First Baptist Church in Waukon and Center Baptist Church in rural Lansing. He was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan. Carlton enjoyed visiting with family and friends and spending time in the outdoors.

Survivors include his mother, Carol Tryon of Waukon; his brothers: Charles (Cintya) Tryon of Granton, WI, Chad (Ikha) Tryon of Chicago, IL, and John (Angreina) Knudtson of Granton, WI. He is preceded in death by his father, Charles; and his twin brother, Clifford Rene Tryon.

An open house Celebraton of Life for Robert “Bob” Maxson, “Beer and Brats for Bob,” will be held at T-Bocks upper level event room at 206 West Water Street in Decorah from 3-6 p.m. Saturday, July 6. A short program will begin at 3:30 p.m. followed by sharing memories and stories about Bob.

There will be several opportunities during the time to share stories. The event center may be accessed by the door next to T-Bock’s bar on Water Street or from the rear parking lot. The front access has a handicap-accessible chair on the stairs.
 

Joel E. Conderman, 71, of Waukon passed away Friday, June 28, 2024, at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Visitation will be held from 4-6 p.m. Monday, July 8, at the Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon. Burial will be held in Greenfield Cemetery in Knierim.

Joel Edwin Conderman was born April 3, 1954, in Fort Dodge, the son of Walter L. and Myrna M. (Green) Conderman. The family later moved to Cedar Rapids. Joel was confirmed at Westminster Presbyterian Church and graduated from Kennedy High School in 1971. He attended Kirkwood Community College and studied math, music, and business law.

A graveside burial service will be held for Elinor Englehorn Meyer, who passed away September 3, 2023 in San Antonio, TX at the age of 95. The burial service will take place at Oak Hill Cemetery, located at 1843 Valley Street, Lansing, Saturday, July 20 at 11 a.m. A luncheon will follow the service at Lansing United Methodist Church, located at 490 Center Street, Lansing.
 

Don R. Sommermeyer, 75, of New Albin died Sunday, June 23, 2024, at Glen Oak Alzheimer’s Special Care Center in Urbandale. Friends may greet the family Friday, June 28 from 4-7 p.m. at the New Albin Community Center in New Albin, with a Masonic service to follow at 7 p.m. and Mike Root officiating. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

Donald Robert Sommermeyer was born April 26, 1949, in La Crosse, WI, the son of Milton and Gertrude (Bechtel) Sommermeyer. Don was baptized and confirmed at St. Peters United Church of Christ in New Albin and graduated from Kee High School in Lansing in 1967 and also attended University of Wisconsin in La Crosse, WI.

August 17, 1974, he married Susan Grahlman at Grace United Methodist Church in New Albin. Don worked at Interstate Power Company in Lansing, and for the Local #139 out of Madison, WI, as a heavy equipment operator before retiring in 2010.

Chester Stanley Thune, 93, of Waukon died Saturday, June 22, 2024, at WinnMed in Decorah. Funeral services were held Saturday, June 29 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon with Pastor Bryan Robertson officiating. Burial with military honors was at Big Canoe Cemetery, rural Decorah. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements.

Chester Stanley Thune was born July 19, 1930, in Spring Grove, MN, the son of Alvin and Julia (Amundson) Thune. He was baptized and confirmed at Big Canoe Lutheran Church in rural Decorah. He attended country school in Highlandville and graduated from Decorah High School in 1948.

Chester enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1951, and proudly served aboard the USS Mindoro through 1954. October 1, 1952, he married Lorna Nelson at Big Canoe Lutheran Church. They shared 68 years together and were blessed with five daughters.

Betty A. Bell, 92, of Monona, formerly of Waukon, passed into the presence of her Lord and Savior Sunday, June 9, 2024, in her home at Garden View Place in Monona. Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 29 at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Waukon with Pastor Duane Smith officiating.

Burial will be held at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Battle Creek, MI, at a later date.

Friends may greet the family one hour before the services Saturday at the church. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

Betty Ann Greene Bell was born February 5, 1932, to Rufus Thomas and Mary Celia (Lewis) Greene in Elizabethton, TN. She graduated from Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC, in 1953 with a bachelor’s degree in education. She married the love of her life, Bobby Dan Bell, of Meridian, ID, Memorial Day, May 30, 1953.

Charles N. Langland, 70, of Decorah died Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at Accura Healthcare in Cresco. Graveside services will be held at Iowa River Cemetery in rural Dorchester Saturday, September 14 at 11:30 a.m. Martin-Grau Funeral Home is Waukon is handling arrangements.

Charlie (Chuck to his family) N. Langland was born in Spring Grove, MN October 28, 1953, the second son of Charles and A. Lois (Nesheim) Langland. He graduated from Waukon High School in 1971. In 1975, he enlisted in the Navy, serving as a gunner’s mate on the USS Dubuque amphibious transport dock home ported in San Diego, CA, and traveled to many countries in the Pacific.

After leaving the Navy, he moved to Decorah, where he lived the rest of his life. Charlie worked as an engineering technician in the Winneshiek County Surveyor’s office for many years before retiring in 2019.

Chester Schlake, 85, of Waukon died Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Memorial services will be held on Chester’s 86th birthday, Sunday, June 23, at 1 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon with Pastor Bryan Robertson officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may greet the family starting at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the church fellowship hall. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.
 

Mary Kay Colsch, 73, of New Albin died Sunday, June 9, 2024, at Mayo Clinic Methodist Hospital in Rochester, MN. Funeral services were held Monday, June 17 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in New Albin with Fr. Joseph Sevcik officiating. Burial was at St. Joseph Cemetery, New Albin. Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home in Lansing handled arrangements.

Mary Kathleen Colsch was born in Waukon February 21, 1951, the daughter of Joseph and Kathleen (Mauss) Becker. She was baptized and confirmed at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lansing and graduated from St. George High School in 1969, later earning her associate degree in business from NICC. Throughout her life, Mary Kay worked as an executive administrator’s assistant to the CEO of Mayo Clinic in La Crosse, WI.