Obituaries

Ronald E. Rober, 81, of Dorchester died Monday, January 26, 2015 at his home. Memorial services were held Saturday, January 31 at St. Luke’s United Church of Christ, Eitzen, MN, with Pastor Michael McCann officiating and military honors rendered by the United States Army Funeral Honor Guard. Burial will be in the church cemetery at a later date.
Ronald was born June 21, 1933 in Waukon to Erwin and Lulu (Fruechte) Rober. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Luke’s UCC in Eitzen, MN, where he was a lifelong member and served on the council. After graduating from Waukon High School in 1951, he farmed for two years. In 1953, Ronald was drafted into the United States Army, spent two years at Fort Bliss, El Paso, TX and was honorably discharged in 1955. He then went back to farming on Golden Ridge until retiring in 2005. For several years Ronald measured land for the feed grain program and also worked at Deter’s Implement off and on for two years.

Travis W. Baughman, age 45, of Harpers Ferry passed away Saturday, January 24, 2015 at his home surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with cancer. A Celebration of Travis’ Life will be held from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, January 31 at the Garrity Funeral Home in Prairie du Chien, WI. A private family inurnment will be at a later date.
Travis was born February 23, 1969 in San Jose, CA, the son of Conrad and Marian (Ivancovich) Baughman. Travis currently worked as a contractor with his father for Baughman Construction.  He was a talented artist and enjoyed painting, tile work and making household items, including furniture.

LaVern Russell Johnson, 81, of Postville died suddenly at his home Thursday morning, January 22, 2015. Funeral Services were held Monday, January 26 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Postville, with Rev. Steve Brackett as the Officiant. Burial followed in the Postville Cemetery, Postville with Military Rites.
Lavern was born September 20, 1933 to Oscar and Selma (Wilke) Johnson in rural Allamakee County. He was baptized at St. John Lutheran Church in Waukon.
LaVern attended country school in Allamakee County and finished his education through grade twelve, upon joining the Air Force in October of 1952. During his four years of service, he was stationed overseas for much of the time as an airplane mechanic. He was honorably discharged in September of 1956 with the rank of Staff Sergeant.

 Lynn W. Morrow, 98, of Waukon died Friday, January 23, 2015 at his home in Waukon. Memorial services were held Monday, January 26 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, with Pastor Kim Gates officiating. Inurnment was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.
Lynn Wallace Morrow was born April 9, 1916 in Gladbrook, the son of Harry E. and Myrtie (Person) Morrow. His father was a lifelong Methodist minister serving churches throughout northeast Iowa so Lynn lived in a variety of places. In 1934, Lynn graduated from Buck Creek High School, then received his B.A. degree from Cornell College in 1938, and in 1941, he received his J.D. degree from the University of Iowa College of Law. That same year Lynn was admitted to the Iowa Bar.

Evelyn Marie Manning, 90, of Wexford passed away peacefully at Thornton Manor January 21, 2015 surrounded by her loving family. Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, January 24 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Wexford, with Rev. John Moser as the Celebrant. Interment followed at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Cemetery, Wexford.
Evelyn was born June 29, 1924 to Leo and Marie (Ferring) Troendle on a farm in rural Lycurgus. She was the oldest of four children.
Evelyn was united in marriage to Harold F. Manning October 21, 1941.  To this union, eight children were born. Evelyn farmed beside Harold for many years.  Evelyn took great pride in her farm and helped milk cows and was the primary caretaker of the baby calves. Her family was always her first priority.

Wilma Marguerite Miller, 84, of Waukon died Monday, January 19, 2015 at Thornton Manor in Lansing. Funeral Services were held Thursday, January 22 at the United Methodist Church, Lansing, with Rev. Kevin Smith as the Officiant. Burial was at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lansing.
Wilma was born March 28, 1930 to Ervin M. and Cora L. (Goeke) Phipps in Waukon. She grew up in the family of Art, Ferne and William “Bill” Wendel of Lansing. She was baptized at the Evangelical United Brethren Church, which later became the United Methodist Church in Lansing. She graduated from Lansing Public School in 1947.

Jackie (Jack) LeRoy Fish, 69, of Maquoketa left this world December 20, 2014 for a place where he could go hunting, fishing and play euchre with family and friends awaiting his arrival. A celebration of  Jack's life will take place Sunday, January 25 at The Spillway Supper Club, located at 112 North Third Street in Harpers Ferry, from 2-4 p.m.
Jack was born September 15, 1945 to Norma J. Zeil and Raymond L. Fish in Waukon. He married Betty  Jean Bennett April 18, 1964.
He was a 30-year employee at the John Deere Davenport works as a Fork Lift Tech, retiring in 2004. Jack was an outdoorsman and enjoyed his small farm.

Alyce M. Gavin, 87, of Mt. Pleasant, WI passed away at Artisan Senior Living in Mt. Pleasant Friday, January 2, 2015. A celebration of Alyce’s life and Funeral Mass were held at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Racine, WI January 6, with Rev. Terry Huebner officiating. Interment followed the Mass at Holy Cross Cemetery Mausoleum in Racine, WI.
Alyce was born in Harpers Ferry January 6, 1927, the daughter of the late Helmer and Mary (nee Garin) Evenson. June 25, 1946 she married the love of her life, Clair V. Gavin. They moved to Racine, WI from Iowa in 1949. Clair preceded her in death October 7, 1995.

Merlyn "Merl" E. Gramlich, age 91, known affectionately as “Big Daddy” to his family and friends because of his tall stature, powerful physique and strong will, passed away January 15, 2015 in his home in Calimesa, CA surrounded by his loved ones, his companion, Jeannie Marvin, and his little dog, Tippy. He was born November 9, 1923.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, January 24 at 11 a.m. at the Weaver-Hughes Mortuary, located at 33629 Yucaipa Blvd. in Yucaipa, CA, with Rev. Jim Granger officiating.
Merl is survived by his brother, Curtis Gramlich of Lansing; his four daughters, Bernice Foster, Bonnie Phillips, Betty Ashbaker and Brenda Powers; his five grandchildren, Brady Foster, Andrea Mecey, Andrew Foster, Jansen Falvai and Robert C. Carey, Jr.; and his three great-grandchildren, Marlee Mecey, Jaxson Foster and Myah Foster.
 

Robert E. Kubitz, 93, of Waukon died Saturday, January 17, 2015 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Tuesday, January 20 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, with Pastor Steve Oden officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.
Robert Edward Kubitz was born February 8, 1921 in Caledonia, MN, the son of Edward Charles and Jane "Jenny" C. (Reburn) Kubitz. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in New Albin and attended several country schools in the Eitzen, MN area.
August 29, 1945, he married Sophie Sandbeck in Decorah. They farmed together in Ludlow Township and Makee Township milking cows and doing all other aspects of farming. Sophie died in 1984. In 1983, Bob was baptized in Christian water by confession and immersion at the Cliff House pool in Decorah. January 14, 1985, he married Phyllis Martha Gast Lawson in Decorah.