Obituaries

Lollie E. Hirth, 82, of Waukon died Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at her home in Waukon. Memorial services were held Monday, January 27 at 11 a.m. at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon with Rev. Cathy Jurgens officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Memorials can be made to Veterans Memorial Hospital or Winn Med Hospice.

Loleta “Lollie” Eloise Hirth was born August 12, 1942, the daughter of Elmer Ehde and Leota (Phipps) Snitker in rural Waukon. She was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church and confirmed at Zion United Church of Christ, both in Waukon, and attended Waukon schools. October 24, 1959, she married Gary Charles Hirth at Zion United Church of Christ. Lollie stayed at home to take care of her children until they were raised. She worked at the Food Ranch Cafe, Gambles Store, and Makee Manor, all in Waukon.

Charles R. Rolfs, 83, of Waukon passed away at his home Saturday, January 18, 2025, surrounded by his family. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, January 22 at 3 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon with Pastor Bryan Robertson officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon. Friends may greet the family from 1 p.m. until the time of services Wednesday at the church. A reception at the church will follow the service and burial. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Charles Richard Rolfs was born May 24, 1941, in the Forest Mills area of rural Waukon to Walter and Emma Rolfs. He graduated from Waukon High School. Four years later, in 1963, he married the love of his life, Lois Halvorson. He spent most of his career working with local farmers and homeowners as an LP and petroleum salesman with Farm Service in Waukon.

Neil M. Krumme, 84, of Waukon died Thursday, January 16, 2025, surrounded by his family at his home in rural Waukon. Funeral services were held Tuesday, January 21 at Salem United Church of Christ with Pastor Sue Klimstra officiating, and burial was in the church cemetery, both in rural Waukon.

Neil Milton Krumme was born April 1, 1940, in Ludlow township in rural Waukon, the son of Milton and Miriam (Straate) Krumme. He was baptized and confirmed at Salem United Church of Christ and graduated high school in 1958. Following high school, Neil proudly served in the National Guard from 1958-1966 where he worked as a combat engineer.

Rose M. Larkin, 94, of Dorchester passed away peacefully Thursday, January 16, 2025, at Thornton Manor in Lansing. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Hanover Catholic Church Wednesday, January 22. Friends may greet the family from 9 a.m. until time of services at the Church Wednesday, with Father Joseph Sevcik officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

Rose Mary Gullo was born May 5, 1930, in LaSalle, IL, the daughter of John and Anna (Puccio) Gullo. She was baptized and confirmed at Holy Ghost Church in Dubuque. Dubuque is where she was raised along with her younger sister, Marie (Piotrowski), and half siblings, Fred, Vi, Joe, and Cindy Brenke.

Ralph J. Bakewell, age 82, of Onalaska, WI passed away Sunday, January 5, 2025 at his home. Funeral service was held Tuesday, January 14 at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home in Onalaska, WI. Burial followed at Gate of Heaven Cemetery located in La Crosse, WI.

Ralph was born October 20, 1942 in Waukon to the late Joseph and Luella (Schulte) Bakewell. He attended St. Patrick Grade and High School in Waukon. Ralph married Kathryn (Netwal) in 1966 and had three children: Debbie, Steve and Diane.

Ralph was an avid race car driver back in the day and you would find him at the La Crosse Interstate Speedway almost every Wednesday night for many years with his family up in the stands watching the red, white and blue #60 car. There are many memories of his children rolling down the hills in the yard inside a stock car tire.

Joanne A. Larson, 78, of Harpers Ferry died Monday, January 6, 2025, at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. Funeral services were held Saturday, January 11 at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial was at Waterville Lutheran Cemetery.

Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lynn Felkey, c/o Martin-Grau Funeral Home, P.O. Box 59, Waukon, IA 52172.

Joanne Arlene Larson was born April 22, 1946, in Waterville, the daughter of Irvin O. and Helen M. (Budahl) Iverson. She was baptized and confirmed at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waukon, attended Waterville schools, and helped on the family farm. October 7, 1961, Joanne married Lawrence Ingvald Larson at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon.

Sharifah K. Hagen, 58, of Waukon died Sunday, January 5, 2025, at her home in Waukon. Memorial services will be held at a later date, in June of 2025, at Congregational United Church of Christ in Decorah. Inurnment will be held at a later date at Mabel Lutheran Cemetery in Mabel, MN. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon will be handling the arrangements.

Sharifah Kay Hagen was born February 11, 1966, in Richmond, CA, the daughter of George D. and Joann K. (Kaiser) Hagen. She was baptized in Richmond, CA, and confirmed at Faith Lutheran Church in Pleasant Hill, CA. Sharifah completed special education schooling in Pleasant Hill, CA and Berkely, CA.

April 22, 1993, she moved with her parents to Decorah. Sharifah has lived in several towns in northeast Iowa, the last 24 years she has lived in Waukon. She was a resident at Mosaic in Waukon. Sharifah did daily activities with Spectrum and TASC.

John G. Eadie, 77, of Shueyville died Saturday, January 4, 2025, at Santa Rosa Hospital in New Braunfels, TX. A visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Friday, January 17 at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Cedar Rapids. A funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 18 at Hope Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids, with Pastor Rhea Evanson officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Shueyville Cemetery in Shueyville.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Swisher American Legion. Please share a memory of John at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

John was born September 26, 1947, in Waukon, the son of Gilbert and Gladys (Sunderman) Eadie. He graduated from Waukon High School, Class of 1965, and went on to serve honorably in the United States Air Force.

Msgr. Edward W. Lechtenberg, 98, of Lansing died Monday, January 6, 2025, at Thornton Manor in Lansing. Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 18 at 10:30 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lansing with Archbishop Thomas Zinkula officiating. Prior to the service, starting at 10 a.m., the Luren Singing Society will provide prelude music.

Burial will be at Gethsemane Cemetery, Lansing. Lunch will follow in the church hall. Friends may greet the family from 4-7 p.m. Friday, January 17 at the church, where there will be a 3:30 p.m. rosary with a scripture service to follow. Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home in Lansing is handling arrangements.

Jason L. Hamm, 48, of Viroqua, WI, died Sunday, January 5, 2025, at his home in Viroqua, WI. Memorial services will be held Saturday, January 11 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville with Pastor Lynn Noel officiating. Burial will be at Waterville Lutheran Cemetery, Waterville.

Friends may greet the family from 4-7 p.m. Friday, January 10 at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon.

Jason Lee Hamm was born February 3, 1976, in Waukon, the son of Gregory and Rebecca (Smrcina) Hamm. He was baptized and confirmed at Waterville Lutheran Church in Waterville and graduated from Waukon High School in 1994. Throughout his life, Jason worked as manager at Rockweiler Appliance in Viroqua for over 20 years.