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Wed
25
Jan

Word for Word 1/25/23

Pastor Laura Gentry
Pastor Laura Gentry

Are you a member of a church?

Lots of people aren’t. A 2020 Gallup poll found that only 47% of U.S. adults belonged to a church. It’s not the norm anymore.

Nevertheless, many people find great value in belonging to a church. Let me share with you some of the important benefits.

Sense of community
Personal connections are vital to our health. High social relationships can lower rates of anxiety and depression, heighten self-esteem, and even increase longevity by 50%. Historically, churches have provided people with a sense of community, friendship and belonging. According to an article in Psychology Today, feeling that you belong is most important in seeing value in life and in coping with painful emotions. Research also shows that it improves your motivation, health and happiness. After the isolation caused by the pandemic, our need for community is greater than ever.

Wed
25
Jan

Letter to the Editor by Mark Jacobson

To the Editor:

Thousands of creative and imaginative minds helped our country grow and prosper. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if those brilliant minds could come up with a solution for substance abuse and addiction?

If so, what kind of changes would occur in a society without drug-related crime, people dying from overdose, and the resulting financial burdens? It may seem like a utopian dream that can’t come true, but let’s try to imagine what life in a drug-free society would look like.

The following are some of the most noticeable changes we could expect if substance abuse and addiction didn’t exist:

Wed
25
Jan

Letter to the Editor by Osmund “Ozzie” Quandahl

To the Editor:

The Democrat Party has been taken over by the devil. They are anti-American and openly anti-Christian, our national debt is a disgrace, and it happened with Democrat programs and some RINOs (Republicans in name only).

They built 105 Planned Parenthood buildings and they want to defund our police and military. The states that have Democrats for governors are riddled with crime and in debt big time. Also, cities with Democrat mayors, ditto to the above.

They won’t support English only in our schools, they ban anything Christian in our schools - the Bible and 10 Commandments. Christian teachers could not wear a cross. Clergy could not be active in politics or they would lose their tax exemption status. These facts should make you sick, and to think the Republican Party helped them. I can not express how badly we need to clean the swamp in the Republican Party to make it great again.

Mon
23
Jan

John Conway

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.

Mon
23
Jan

Lynn Bjerke

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.

Fri
20
Jan

Linda Handke

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.

Fri
20
Jan

Arlene Jacobson

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.

Thu
19
Jan

Robert Heimer

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.

Thu
19
Jan

Ronald Ashbacher

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.

Thu
19
Jan

Sylvia Huffman

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.

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