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Gordon “Gordy” Wayne Vongroven, 75, passed away Saturday, June 11, 2022 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. A celebration of life will be held Friday, June 17 at 11 a.m. at Waterloo Ridge Lutheran Church, rural Dorchester. Pastor Diane Odermann will officiate. Military rites will be provided by American Legion Post # 249 of Spring Grove, MN.

Friends may call from 10-11 a.m. prior to services at the church. Roble Funeral Home of Spring Grove, MN is assisting the family with arrangements.

Gordy was born in Spring Grove, MN April 23, 1947 to Norman and Julia (Lasseson) Vongroven. He grew up on the family farm, and later joined the Navy to fight in the Vietnam war. Though he didn’t speak much of the war itself, he told tales of being the captain’s driver, jumping off the ship to swim in the ocean, and accidentally sounding the alarm for what turned out to be jellyfish rather than enemy submarines.

Ralph Arneson, age 96, of Decorah passed away Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah. At Ralph’s request, a private family service will be held at a later date. Burial will be in the Big Canoe Cemetery with full military rites. Memorials can be sent to Linda at 320 Lakeshore Drive, Nashua, IA 50658.

Ralph Eugene Arneson was born August 14, 1925 to Martin and Nora (Grindeland) Arneson in Pleasant Township, rural Winneshiek County. He was baptized and confirmed at Big Canoe Lutheran Church. Ralph attended the Sattre Country School No. 8 through eighth grade and graduated from Decorah High School with the Class of 1943.

Alex James Heller, 33, of Waukon died Thursday, June 2, 2022 at his residence in Waukon. No service will be held.

Alex was born January 11, 1989 in Guttenberg to Timothy and Dawn (Rufenacht) Heller. Alex lived at Woodward in Des Moines for a number of years and then moved to his current residence, Mosaic in Waukon, where he resided for the past seven years. He truly enjoyed his home and loved all of his staff and caretakers.

Alex was a happy guy who loved Disney movies, Hot Wheel cars, trains, spending time with his brother, Andrew, and he especially liked giving hugs.

He is survived by his parents, Tim Heller and Dawn Heller; his brother, Andrew Heller; his half-brother, Bryce Heller; his grandmothers, Anita Heller and Coleen Soddy; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Alex was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Lawrence Heller and James Rufenacht.

Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Elkader assisted the family.
 

Scott Theodore Spinner died May 6, 2022 peacefully in his home of natural causes. Scott will be cremated and laid to rest in his family burial plot at Cherry Mound Cemetery, Harpers Ferry. Memorial services will be held 8:30 a.m. July 2 at Cherry Mound Cemetery.

Scott was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore Peter Spinner and Helen Frances Spinner (née Bogue).

Scott is survived by his elder brothers, Richard Gene Spinner of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and Michael Lee Spinner of McGregor; one sister, Barbara Marie Olivia of Mobile, AL; his nephews: Joshua Kenneth Spinner, his wife Peggy June and their children, Bodie Jon Spinner, Breyda Bleu Spinner and Keota Bogue Spinner, and Dominic Piunno and Carmen Piunno; his niece, Simone Frances McKenna Spinner; and his son, Jordan Theodore Jayko Spinner, all of Colorado; and many cousins, aunts, uncles and friends. He is also survived by his two loyal dogs, Jax and Hawkeye.

Judy L. Diersen-Ashbacher, 79, of Lansing passed away peacefully Tuesday, June 7, 2022 at Crossing Rivers Health in Prairie du Chien, WI. Memorial services were held Tuesday, June 14 at Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home in Lansing with Pastor Todd Krueger officiating. Burial of ashes will be at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Spring Grove, MN. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements.

Judy Lucille Diersen- Ashbacher was born the 10th child in a family of 12, in Spring Grove, MN to Alphy and Benora (Harstad) Solberg. Though she was born July 3, 1942, she was a firecracker nonetheless.

After graduating from Spring Grove High School in 1960, Judy worked at the high school as a librarian for a few years. She married Bernell Diersen; they later divorced. She worked for many years at the Lansing Button Factory and Northern Engraving.

The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation’s 29th Annual Three-Person Best-Shot Golf Tournament will be held Monday, June 20. The tournament will be held at the Waukon Golf and Country Club with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m.

Thanks to Wade Bucknell, Andy Moore and Caitlin Johnson, agents of Farm Bureau Financial Services, Waukon, the first person hitting a hole-in-one during the first round at the tournament will be awarded a new Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Also, thanks to Waukon Implement, anyone hitting a hole-in-one during the second round at the tournament will be awarded a new John Deere riding lawn mower. As always, many other gifts and prizes will be awarded to all the golfers participating.

Every three years, Veterans Memorial Hospital is required to survey the residents of Allamakee County and the surrounding area served by the hospital to collect a list of the health needs residents feel are most important. Community Health Needs Assessments gather information to help guide and direct health planning activities. The hospital is still conducting that survey from now through June 30 and more input is needed from all the area communities in the county.

“Welcome to Medicare” is a free, two-hour seminar offered by the Veterans Memorial Hospital Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) counselors for those nearing Medicare age. This program will be held Tuesday, June 21 from 5-7 p.m. in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital.

“Welcome to Medicare” will cover Medicare Part A and Part B benefits, the prescription drug benefit (Part D), Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare supplement insurance.

SHIIP, the Senior Health Insurance Information Program, is a service of the State of Iowa. Local SHIIP counselors Russ Hagen and Nancy Schoh are trained by the State and do not sell or promote any insurance companies, policies or agents.   Veterans Memorial Hospital is a local sponsor for SHIIP in Allamakee County.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care/Allamakee County Public Health are offering all doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, plus the additional booster dose, at their weekly immunization clinics each Wednesday throughout the month of June. These vaccinations are by appointment only and are held each Wednesday afternoon, with extended hours available the first and third Wednesdays of each month.

These vaccinations are available at the main entrance of the hospital in the Meditation Healing Center. To make an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccination, in June and beyond, call Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care at 563-568-5660.

Jeremy and Lana Troendle of Waukon and Tom and Connie Hellmann of Ankeny announce the engagement and upcoming wedding of their children, Keisha Troendle and Tyler Hellmann, both of State Center. The couple will exchange vows Saturday, July 9, 2022 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon.