Austin Joseph Bennett, age 37, passed away June 21, 2025, in La Crosse, WI. Immediate family will honor Austin with a private Celebration of Life at a later date.
Others wishing to honor Austin’s memory may do so by advocating for mental health reform, helping someone in need and hugging loved ones every chance you get.
A full obituary will appear in the July 2 edition of The Standard. You can subscribe to The Standard's print edition or e-edition by clicking here.
Thomas F. Nierling, 85, of Sterling, CO, formerly of Waukon, died Friday, June 13, 2025, at Benefits Peace Hospice in Great Falls, MT. Funeral services will be held Friday, June 27 at 11 a.m. at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon, with Conrad Rosendahl officiating.
Burial will be at Lycurgus Cemetery, rural Waukon. Friends may greet the family from 9:30 a.m. until time of services at the funeral home Friday.
Barbara Ann (Kuehl) Amundson, 86, of Livingston, WI, formerly of Elkader, was surrounded by family when she passed away Sunday, December 15, 2024 at Upland Hills Health in Dodgeville, WI. A Celebration of Life will be held Monday, June 30 at 10:30 a.m. at Highland Lutheran Church, rural Elkader. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until the time of services.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local animal shelter or to Grant County Humane Society, 222 South Roosevelt Street, Lancaster WI, 53813, or online at https://www.grantcountyhumanesociety.com in memory of Barbara.
Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Elkader is assisting the family with arrangements.
Sharifah K. Hagen, 58, of Waukon died Sunday, January 5, 2025, at her home in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Saturday, June 28 at 11 a.m. at Decorah Congregational United Church of Christ with Duane Fenstermann officiating.
Family and friends may greet the family at the church Saturday, from 10 a.m. until time of services. Inurnment will be held at Mabel Lutheran Cemetery in Mabel, MN. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon will be handling the arrangements.
“If laughter is the best medicine, then I should live another 20 years.”
Jack McCormick departed this world December 13, 2024 and wrote this before he passed:
“Born during the Great Depression in Marquette, Iowa on July 26th, 1932, I was the 5th of 8 children born to Leslie and Bernice (Ryan) McCormick. Soon after, our family moved to Waukon, IA.
After graduating St. Patrick’s High School in Waukon in 1950, I joined the Navy. I attended Radio School in San Diego and was then assigned to the Amphibious Branch, serving on the USS Andromeda and later the USS Montrose. During the Korean War I had four tours to the far East including Japan, Korea and Taiwan.
After discharge from the Navy, I settled in Spokane with my brothers, Bill and Jim, working at the Kaiser Aluminum plant. In 1956, I proudly helped my brother Bill’s successful campaign for election to the House of Representatives where he served until his death in 1968.
Jeffrey Lee Roggensack entered into the presence of his Lord Jesus Christ June 18, 2025. A time of visitation for friends and family will be held Thursday, June 26, from 4-7 p.m. at Williams Funeral Home in Columbia, TN. The Funeral Mass will be held Friday, June 27, at 11 a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Columbia, TN. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Franciscan University of Steubenville’s Christ the King Chapel Renovation - Jeff Roggensack Memorial. Memorials can be mailed to: Franciscan University of Steubenville, Jeff Roggensack Memorial, 1235 University Boulevard, Steubenville, OH 43952. Or give online at: https://encounter.franciscan.edu/register/roggensack.
Leader of group now facing federal investigation; Local dismissal still leaves door open for possible future action
The five individuals from Iowa and Wisconsin recently charged in Allamakee County with violations of Iowa securities laws by the Iowa Insurance Division Fraud Bureau have all had their cases dismissed without prejudice as of a motion filed Thursday, June 12 in Allamakee County District Court.
According to its legal definition, dismissal without prejudice means that a case has been closed and charges have been dismissed but can be filed and tried again at a later date.
The cases dismissed involved charges filed earlier this year following an investigation conducted after an initial local complaint and a February 1 investment meeting arranged in Waukon by undercover investigators from the Iowa Insurance Division Fraud Bureau involving the five individuals, who were determined to be acting as agents for a company named Bright Silver LLC.
Female turtles of at least eight different species frequently move across highways, gravel roads and muddy side-tracks in the local area to find places to lay their precious eggs. At this time, the Driftless Area is currently at or near the peak of the critical three-month long turtle nesting season for 2025, according to Friends of Pool 9.
“Unfortunately, far too many vehicle drivers do not pay sufficient attention to these slow moving forms of wildlife, and either smash them accidentally, or to get some sort of weird thrill out of crushing them,” shares Friends of Pool 9 members. “Either way, using caution to avoid running over turtles (or any type of wildlife) is an easier solution than is commonly realized. Be alert. Be careful.”
The new EPIC Electronic Health Record is now live at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon after an entire year of preparation by the staff, with the help of the University of Iowa Health Care team. The system was fully implemented this past week and offers a number of advantages for patients, their families as well as the hospital and clinics, but the hospital would like all to be aware that some changes will be noticed at a patient’s next visit.
New ADA-accessible fishing area ... Friends of Yellow River State Forest recently completed the revamping of the fishing area at the first creek crossing in Little Paint Campground at Yellow River State Forest to make it Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible. The location now has two paved handicap parking spots, a graded sidewalk and a curbed fishing area next to the trout stream. Submitted photos.
Friends of Yellow River State Forest will be holding an open house celebrating the group’s many completed projects, along with a free concert, this Saturday, June 21. Everyone is welcome to attend.
The open house will be held from 3-5 p.m. Attendees should start their tour at 729 State Forest Road, Harpers Ferry (Yellow River State Forest headquarters/forestry office) for an introduction and map. Stations with hosts will include a new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) fishing area (pictured in adjacent photo), streambank restoration, the firetower, prairie plantings, solar observation, flint knapping, bird research and a new solar array.
Local band Big Blue Sky will perform a free outdoor concert at 737 State Forest Road - the Sawmill Complex/Ranger’s Office starting at 5:30 p.m., with the Friends annual meeting (to elect board members) being held at the music intermission (approximately 6:30 p.m.). The second set of the concert will follow this short meeting.
