Obituaries

Matt Brandt, 61, died Wednesday, February 1, 2023 in his home in Cedar Rapids, after a 13 month battle with glioblastoma. Funeral Mass was held Saturday, February 4 at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids. Matt was buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon.

Matt is survived by his wife of 36 years, Mary Kay, of Cedar Rapids; his sons, Peter of Houston, TX, Stephen and his wife, Alise, and their daughter, Banks, of Williamsburg, and Joseph and his wife, Amberly, and their daughter, Villanelle, of Louisville, KY; his daughter, Rachel, of New York, NY; his siblings, Julie of Cary, NC, Tom (Linda) of St. Paul, MN, Paul (Karen) of Kalona and Mark (Jennie) of Minneapolis, MN; and many loving extended family.

Nancy “Nan” C. Grangaard, 79, of Waukon died Sunday, January 29, 2023 at her home in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Friday, February 3 at 11 a.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 from 9:30 a.m. until time of services Friday at the church.

Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Waukon EMS Association and Waterville Community Center.

Nancy “Nan” Carolyn Gronna was born April 16, 1943 in Waukon, the daughter of Dorothy “Dot” and Robert “Bob” Gronna. Nan grew up on the Gronna farm, a pioneer homestead in rural Waterville. She enjoyed telling her grandchildren and great-grandchildren stories of the place she called home. Nan was very close to her sister, Patricia “Pat,” and her brother, Tom.

Betty V. Opfer, 89, of Waukon died Thursday, January 26, 2023 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Memorial services were held Tuesday, January 31 at Salem United Church of Christ in rural Waukon with Pastor Sue Klimstra officiating. Burial will be held at a later date in the church cemetery. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements.

Betty Vergene Opfer was born April 14, 1933 in Postville, the youngest of eight children to Theodore and Emma (Grotegut) Henning. She was baptized and confirmed at Salem United Church of Christ (UCC) in rural Waukon where she remained a lifelong, active member. Betty grew up in the rural Postville and Frankville areas and graduated from Postville High School.

John T. Conway, 73, of DeForest, WI lost his battle with cancer January 19, 2023 and passed peacefully in his home surrounded by family. A visitation will be held for John from 5-8 p.m. Friday, January 27 at Ryan Funeral Home, 6924 Lake Road in DeForest, WI. Another visitation will be held from 9-11:30 a.m. Saturday, January 28 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 648 Main Street in Lansing.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the church at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, January 28. Burial, with military honors, will follow the service at Gethsemane Cemetery in Lansing. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in John’s name to the DeForest American Legion Post 348.

John was born September 29, 1949 to Peter and Veronica (Ferring) Conway in Waukon. John graduated in 1967 from St. George High School in Lansing. He began his working career at age 14 and became an (Iowa State awarded) Grit Sunday Newspaper salesman.

Lynn Ordell Bjerke, 68, of West Union, formerly of Waukon, died January 19, 2023 at Gundersen Palmer Hospital surrounded by his family, after suffering a stroke. The family has decided to not hold a funeral service. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Lynn was born April 9, 1954 to Ordell and Virginia (Grotegut) Bjerke. He was baptized and confirmed at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon and graduated from Waukon High School in 1972. After attending Calmar Community College and earning a certificate in masonry construction, he transitioned to farming.

Linda J. Handke, 64, of La Crosse, WI, formerly of Waukon, died Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at her sister’s home in La Crosse. Funeral services were Tuesday, January 24 at Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon with Pastor Duane Smith officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.

Linda Jo Handke was born April 15, 1958 in Waukon, the daughter of Harry and Deve (Fish) Ford. She was baptized and confirmed at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon and graduated from Waukon High School in 1976. In 1983, Linda received her LPN license from NIACC and worked at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, and then for six years at the nursing home in Harmony, MN.

From 1982 until 2002, Linda was married to Kevin McCormick. She then married Mike Handke in 2004 before divorcing in 2014.

Arlene G. Jacobson, 92, of Lansing, formerly of New Albin, died Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Thornton Manor in Lansing. Graveside services were held Tuesday, January 24 at St. Peter’s Cemetery in New Albin with Pastor Dick Wohlgemuth officiating. Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home in Lansing handled the arrangements.

Arlene Grace Jacobson was born June 8, 1930 in Wisconsin to Franz and Alida (Johnson) Seidel. October 30, 1951, she married Victor Jacobson and they raised four children together.

She is survived by her three daughters: Nancy (Bob) Featherston of Prairie du Chien, WI and their children: Kenny, Jim, Amanda and Amy and their families; Vicki (Jim) Baures of Lansing and their children: Angel and Jim and their families; and Patty Miller of Caledonia, MN and her children: Terry, Duane, Heidi and Patrick and their families; along with one brother, Franklin Seidel; a daughter-in-law, Joan Betthauser, and her son Brandon; and numerous great-grandchildren.

Robert F. Heimer, age 87, passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus January 19, 2023 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. A celebration of life will be planned at a later date.

Robert was born July 13, 1935 in Stacyville, the son of Marvin and Agatha Heimer. He attended St. Augustine High School in Austin, MN, where he met Shirley A. Hobbs. They wed June 5, 1954. Through this union, he was blessed with having seven children: Cheryl (Steve) Kiesau of Champaign, IL, Scott Heimer of Gillette, WY, Lynette Corkery of Muscatine, Susan (Dean) Burroughs of Waukon, Mary (Joel) Anderson of Waukon, the late Martin (Dawn) Heimer of LaCrescent, MN and Catherine (Jim) Gelo of Postville.

Ronald Wayne Ashbacher, age 76, formerly of Waukon, went home to be with the Lord Monday, December 5, 2022. Interment service will be in Waukon at a later date.

Ron was born May 15, 1946 in the French Creek area of rural Waukon, the son of Harold and Louise (Scharping) Ashbacher. He attended elementary school and graduated from Waukon High School in 1964.

He farmed with his father, Harold, until attending college at University of Iowa. He was drafted and served in the U.S. Army in Viet Nam. He graduated from Washburn University in Topeka while working  for  Goodyear Tire company in Topeka, KS.

In retirement, Ron lived in northwest Arkansas and later in St. Louis, MO. Ron loved fishing and water skiing, and was a nationally ranked Bridge card player.

Sylvia Mae Huffman, 89, of Denver, formerly of Waterloo, went to be with the Lord the morning of Tuesday, January 17, 2023. Funeral services were held Saturday, January 21 at Waterloo First United Methodist Church with Rev. Hojin Shin officiating. Sylvia was laid to rest at the Waterloo Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be directed in Sylvia’s name to her family which will be later designated to the church or Unity Point Hospice Care of Waterloo. For further information or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.hagartywaychoffgrarup.com. Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service West Ridgeway location in Waterloo is caring for Sylvia and her family.