Obituaries

Arthur John Schobert, age 72, of Lansing passed away at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, WI September 11, 2025, after suffering complications due to diabetes. A celebration of life for Art will be held Saturday, September 27 from 5-8 p.m. at the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing. All are welcome to come and share their stories of Art.

Born May 8, 1953, to Otto and Verna (Cole) Schobert, Art was one of five children. August 24, 1974, he married Dawn Richards and together they had two children, Trever and Lynn. Spending most of his life in Lansing, the river was home to Art. His calendar revolved around where the fish were biting and what hunting season was open. Besides his love of fishing and hunting, Art was a very skilled cook. Known for his signature fish chowder or his sour cream raisin pies, he was more than willing to share with those around him.

Patricia “Patty” A. Schobert, 67, of Lansing died Saturday, September 13, 2025, at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse, WI. Graveside services will be held Friday, September 19 at 11 a.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lansing with Pastor James “Buck” Buckhahn officiating. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lansing. Friends may greet the family from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, September 18 at Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Lansing.

Patricia Ann Schobert was born October 12, 1957, in Ontario, CA, the daughter of Merril and Alvilda (Henderson) Landis. She was baptized and confirmed at New Hope Methodist Church in Red Mound, WI, and graduated from De Soto High School in 1977, in De Soto, WI. July 7, 1979, she married James Schobert in De Soto. Patty drove school bus for the De Soto School district and worked at the Blumenthal Lansing Company.

It is with great sadness that our family shares the passing of Janice Eleanore Bechtel, a.k.a. Jan Barlow, of Dickson, TN. Janice passed peacefully from this life August 31, 2025, at the age of 85.

A Celebration in memory of Janice will be held September 27 at Dickson First Methodist Church at 3 p.m. with Rev. Ed White officiating. Visitation will begin at 2:30 p.m. until the time of service. A private family burial will follow.

Condolences may be sent to her daughter, Jacque Mayberry, at 6195 Hwy. 48 North, Dickson, TN 37055.

Janice was born November 7, 1939, in Waukon. In high school she was active in extracurricular activities, such as cheerleading, majorette, and chorus. She remained life-long friends with her school buddies, Nedra, Bonnie, Sylvia, and Betty. She so enjoyed returning to Waukon for family and class reunions.

“Not everyone who lost a life in Vietnam died there...” this could be said for John Stephen Sautter of Lansing. John passed away peacefully at his home Monday, September 8, 2025 at the age of 77. Proud parents, Violet Marie (Gohde) and Fred Martin Sautter, welcomed John into their life May 10, 1948 in Iowa City.

A Graveside Service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, September 23 at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, located on Eagle Drive, McGregor. Family and friends are welcome to gather at Maggie’s Diner, 28534 U.S. Hwy. 18, McGregor afterwards for fellowship. Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of McGregor is assisting the family with arrangements.

Rita I. Severson, 96, of Waukon died Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Saturday, September 13 at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in Waukon, with Deacon Rex Blake officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Donations may be made to WinnMed Hospice in Decorah. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements.

Rita Irene Severson was born December 6, 1928, in rural Postville, the daughter of Edwin and Hazel (Brainard) Knuppe. Her father died when she was only two years old, and a few years later her mother married Marion Knapp.

Jeanne Ann Roggensack passed away peacefully September 6, 2025. Jeanne’s memorial celebration will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, September 20 at the Plymouth Place, 315 LaGrange Road in LaGrange, IL. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. Contributions in memory of Jeanne may be made to The Scholarship Fund at Plymouth Place.

Jeanne was born in Waukon September 8, 1934, to James and Amanda Waldron, who preceded her in death. Brothers Vernon, William, John, Stan, and Paul also predeceased her along with sister Maxine Howell. Jeanne sadly also lost her granddaughter, Kelly; two sons, Kirk and Jeff; and a son-in-law, Mike Kain.

Ellen M. Mellick, 83, of Waukon died Saturday, September 6, 2025, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO. Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 20 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Philip Agyei officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may greet the family from 4-7 p.m. Friday, September 19 at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon.

Ellen Marie Mellick was born in Indianapolis, IN July 24, 1942, to James Noel and Helen (Noell) Noel. She was the eldest of three children, which also included James Noel, her brother, and Phyllis (Noel) Trier, her sister. From an early age, Ellen carried a deep sense of responsibility, kindness, and care that would define the way she lived her life.

Rose Ann (Roxanne) Williams died August 28, 2025 at the age of 89. A Memorial Service will be held at 12 p.m. Thursday, September 18 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home in Rochester, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. The burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Rochester, MN.

A life well-lived, Roxanne was born in 1936 on a farm in southeast Iowa to Henry and Gertrude Larson. One of 14 children, she grew up surrounded by the energy and closeness of a large family, with six sisters and seven brothers.

At age 18, Roxanne moved to Rochester, MN, with her sister, Alice, to begin a new chapter. She soon found work at Macy’s department store, where her eye for fashion and business led her to become a clothing buyer. Her work brought her to New York City annually, selecting items for the store and even modeling for Macy’s herself - a role she filled with elegance and grace.

DiAnna Jean (Duvel) Higgins passed away May 3, 2025 at Monterey Community Hospital in Monterey, CA from complications following open heart surgery. There will be a graveside service Saturday, September 13 at 11 a.m. at Salem United Church of Chris (UCC) Cemetery in rural Waukon with a lunch and Celebration of Life following at the church.

DiAnna was born March 15, 1939 to Clarence and Caroline (Miller) Duvel. She attended the country schools in Ludlow Township and graduated from Waukon High School. After graduation, she worked in the office at the high school for a short period of time.

She married John Gray of Waukon. They moved to Chicago, IL where DiAnna worked as an executive secretary for the Masonite Corporation. She and John later divorced. At that time, DiAnna moved to California, where she was executive secretary for the vice-president of Continental Airlines.

Ernest “Ernie” William Lubahn, 95, of Waukon passed away peacefully Monday, September 1, 2025, at his home, surrounded by his loving family.

Visitation will be held at Zion United Church of Christ, 113 1st Street NE, Waukon, Thursday, September 11, from 4:30-7 p.m. and Friday, September 12, from 10-10:50 a.m. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. Friday, September 12, with a meal to be served after.

Born December 27, 1929, in Oronoco, MN, to William and Clara (Koenig) Lubahn, Ernie was one of nine children. He grew up on the family farm, where he developed a lifelong love for the outdoors. He was baptized and confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church in Oronoco and attended grade school there before graduating from John Marshall High School in Rochester, MN.