News Center newsletter

Marilyn Hamm of Waukon will be celebrating her 90th birthday August 9. 

In honor of this milestone birthday, cards and well wishes may be sent to her at Good Samaritan Center, 21 East Main Street, Room 211 Waukon, IA 52172 or stop by for a visit.

The Brainard Family Reunion was held Saturday, July 25 at the Jaycees Shelter in the Waukon City Park with over 20 family members present during the event. Descendants of Amos and Cora (Ewing) Brainard in attendance at the Brainard Family Reunion are pictured above. Submitted photo.
 

The 66th Bulman Reunion was held July 19 at the Eitzen Community Center. About 47 people were in attendance, plus a few kids on the playground. Organizers were Grace Bulman and Deb Harguth. The meeting was led by Vicki Bulman Roeske. Collection for the day was $277, with a balance of $374.51 after the rent and paper were paid.

Jenny Sward attended for the first time and received a door prize along with Kate Bulman for driving furthest from Illinois, and Grace Bulman for being the oldest.

Vicki Bulman Roeske agreed to be the new president, LeeAnne Bulman will continue as secretary, Laina Ford as historian and Lori Hover as treasurer.

Photos were on display as well as the story of the tragic deaths of 1919: Joseph Hartley and his son, John, Alice, Mable, and Ben Bulman, Rev. Robert Paden, and Nellie Bulman Weymiller.

Harley and Jaedyn O’Hare of Waukon announce the birth of their daughter, Jovie Lou O’Hare, born July 27, 2026 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She weighed 6 lbs. 9 ozs. and measured 18 inches in length at the time of her birth. Grandparents are Craig and Barb Lensing and Brad and Susan O’Hare, all of Waukon.

Frances “Franny” L. Byrnes, 91, of Waukon passed away peacefully into the arms of Jesus at the Good Samaritan Society in Waukon Monday, July 27, 2026, with family around her. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 8 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Ben Valentine officiating. Burial will be at St. Patrick Cemetery Hanover, rural Waukon.

Friends may greet the family from 10 a.m. until time of services at the church Saturday. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is assisting the family with arrangements.

Frances Lois Peterson Kelly Byrnes was born the youngest of six children August 6, 1934, in Decorah, the daughter of Albert and Hattie (Dinger) Peterson. Franny graduated from Decorah High School. In school, Franny was quite the roller-skater, spending hours at the rink, and even made homemade root beer at the drive-in where she worked.

Monica Monserud, 78, of Waterville passed away peacefully Saturday, August 1, 2026, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. A celebration of life will be held Friday, August 7 from 2-5 p.m. at the Waterville Community Center with a meal served throughout. A prayer service will follow at 5:30 p.m. with Pastor Bryan Robertson officiating. A private family graveside service will be at Waterville Cemetery. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Monica Mary Rose Monserud was born September 24, 1947, to Joe and Alberta (Hammell) Troendle. She was the sixth of 12 children, growing up in a large, close-knit family, where she learned the importance of hard work, loyalty, resilience, and always looking out for one another. She attended country school before graduating from St. George High School in Lansing, carrying those small-town values with her throughout her life.

Jay A. Schneider, 71, of Waukon died Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at his home in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Thursday, August 6 at 1 p.m. at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon with Pastor Grant VanderVelden officiating. Inurnment will be at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon. Friends may greet the family from 12 p.m. until time of services at the funeral home Thursday.

Jay Allen Schneider was born December 27, 1954, in Iowa to parents Lloyd and Helen (Hartong) Schneider. He was baptized and confirmed at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon. Jay graduated from Waukon High School in 1973, and attended NIACC in Mason City for a degree in auto mechanics.

Gary LaVern Johnson, age 79, of Dubuque passed away July 21, 2026, at 12:47 p.m., at MercyOne Dubuque after a brief illness. Family and friends will gather Sunday, August 16 from 12-3 p.m. at the Waterville Church for a celebration of life.

He was born a twin October 18, 1946 in Waukon to Melva Adeline (Grangaard) Johnson and Donald Milton Johnson. His twin brother James Alan died shortly after birth. His mother and younger brother David passed in a car accident in December of 1958. His father Don then passed in June of 1970, “just when he was getting interesting”.

He graduated from Dubuque Senior High, Class of 1964. Gary then entered the Navy at age 17 and proudly served aboard the USS Bristol (DD-857), returning home and marrying his high school sweetheart, Sandra K. Good, in November of 1967. Their son James was born in 1972. Sandra and Gary later divorced in 1977.

Deadlines/Dates
August 2: Primary Nesting Season Ends
August 12: Deadline to submit an SDRP application
September 30: Office Fiscal Year Rollover

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team has released four new technical resources designed to facilitate partnership-based dairy operations that benefit both beginning and retiring farmers. The publications are available for download at no cost from the ISU Extension Store.

High capital requirements, land costs and volatile milk prices often create significant barriers for new producers attempting to enter the dairy industry. These resources advocate for moving beyond traditional “straight cash rent” agreements to Dairy Share Agreements, a model that allows individuals to share land, labor and capital to achieve economic goals that might be unattainable on their own.