News Center newsletter

Maureen C.  Keenan, 77, of Waukon died Saturday, July 29, 2017 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon surrounded by her six children. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, August 2 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Fr. Mark Osterhaus and Fr. Bernard Grady officiating.

Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, August 1 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, where there will be a 3:30 p.m. scripture service.

Maureen Catherine Grady was born April 11, 1940 in rural Monona, the daughter of Francis and Lorraine (Kricke) Grady. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Monona and graduated from MFL High School in Monona in 1958. Maureen worked as a waitress at the Model Café, where she met Lawrence.

Earl Francis Mathis, 69, of Lansing died Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at Mayo Clinic Health System - Franciscan Healthcare in La Crosse, WI after a lengthy illness. Mass of Christian Burial was Tuesday, August 1 at St. Ann – St. Joseph Catholic Church, Harpers Ferry with Rev. John Moser as the Celebrant. Burial followed at St. Joseph Paint Rock Cemetery, rural Harpers Ferry with Military Rites.

Earl was born June 11, 1948 in Waukon to Delbert and Ann (Troendle) Mathis.  He attended grade school in Waterville and continued to St. George High School in Lansing, graduating in 1966.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital is devoted to providing the hospital and its patients and visitors with many services. Their annual membership drive is on now.  Auxiliary membership dues are just $5.00 for active members and $12.00 for inactive members. Pictured are some members of the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital knitting baby hats for the infants born at the hospital. Some of these hats are also available in the Auxiliary gift case for purchase as gifts for newborns. The Auxiliary meets monthly the second Monday of each month, at 1 p.m., in the ICN Conference Room at Veterans Memorial Hospital. They also hold a monthly Euchre Marathon tournament the third Thursday of each month at the Senior Citizens Room at the Waukon Wellness Center. For more information on how to join the Veterans Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, call Nona Sawyer at 563-568-3105 or Lillian Larson at 563-568-2330. Submitted photo.
 

Veterans Memorial Hospital is requesting that all hospital patients, even emergency patients, enter through the main entrance of the hospital  Friday, July 28 during RAGBRAI’s visit to Waukon. The reason for this is to keep the Emergency Room (ER) parking area clear in case the helicopter would need to land for a patient. If vehicles other than hospital staff and patient vehicles would be parked in that area, there would be no way to move them in just the few short minutes it takes the helicopter to arrive.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will be providing and staffing three different medical tents throughout Waukon during RAGBRAI for emergencies, leaving the hospital emergency department for the more serious patients.

The hospital asks that anyone needing emergency care call 911 during the RAGBRAI event as with all emergencies that happen at any time of year.

The local Grief Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital Wednesday, August 9, at 2 p.m. This informal meeting is open to anyone suffering from any type of loss whether it be death, divorce, illness or some other grief. Feel free to attend and bring a friend. This grief support group meets the second Wednesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.
 

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Monday, August 7, from 12-5 p.m., at the First Baptist Church located in south Waukon. Blood drives are held once a month in Waukon, to allow for more donors to give. The LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood and blood products.

Blood centers across the United States see a decrease in blood donations during the busy summer months. During the summer, people become more active, have busier schedules, spend more time outdoors and take vacations. While donations decline, hospitals see an increase in the need for blood. More driving can mean more automobile accidents. A person who has suffered severe injuries from an automobile accident can need up to 50 units of blood.

Veterans Memorial Hospital, in cooperation with the American Heart Association, is offering a course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation for lay people (those not working in healthcare), which includes child care providers, Monday, August 14, from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

The CPR class, which will cover adult, child and infant CPR, will be held in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of the hospital. The cost of the class, for certification or recertification, is the same. The card received with the course does certify attendants in CPR for two years.

CPR is administered when someone’s breathing, pulse, or both, stop. When both of them stop, the victim has suffered sudden death, which can be caused by poisoning, drowning, choking, suffocation, electrocution, smoke inhalation, or the most common cause, heart attack.

The 59th annual Bulman reunion was held Sunday, July 16 at the Eitzen Community Center. A noon potluck dinner was enjoyed by descendants of James and Elizabeth Bulman of Little Thetford, England (70 miles north of London).

The five Bulman ancestors who came to America from Little Thetford were Thomas, William, George, Mary and John. A sailing ship took them from Liverpool, England to New Orleans, LA then up river to Evansville, IL where they stayed for approximately five years before driving  horse and wagons to

English Bench near Dorchester and settling there around the hill called “The Elephant”.

President Bruce Bulman of Caledonia, MN led the business meeting following the meal. This year, 44 persons were in attendance. The families of Grace and Dean Bulman and Debbie and Brad Harguth set up the meal. Jan Ruben, Sue Kruse and Laina Ford were at the registration table. Carol Gangi took the minutes.

Janet (Larsen) Snitker of Waukon will be celebrating her 80th birthday July 27. A celebration with family was held July 8.

In honor of the occasion, cards and well wishes may be sent to 1006 Third Avenue NW, Waukon, IA 52172.
 

Donna Beneke and Jason Devine wish to announce their engagement and upcoming wedding to take place September 9, 2017 at St. Luke’s United Church of Christ in Eitzen, MN. A reception will follow at the New Albin Community Center.

The bride-to-be is the daughter of Keith and Faye Beneke of rural New Albin. She is employed as a registered nurse at the Onalaska Care Center as well as operating her own therapeutic massage center, also located in Onalaska.

The groom-to-be is the son of John and Linda Devine of La Crosse, WI and is employed as a conductor with the BNSF Railroad.