News Center newsletter

Jill Marie Sharon, 48, of Eitzen, MN gracefully made her way to her Eternal Home Wednesday, March 2, 2022. She died at her home surrounded by family and loved ones after a courageous 21-month battle with cancer.

Visitation will be Friday, March 11 from 4-7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Dorchester. Funeral is scheduled for Saturday, March 12 at 10:30 a.m. with visitation an hour prior. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. McCormick Funeral Home, Caledonia, MN is assisting the family and online condolences may be given at mccormickfuneralhome.net.

Merlyn Klocke, 85, of Waterloo died Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home in Waterloo. Memorial Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 12 at Unity Presbyterian Church, Waterloo with military rites by Hudson AMVETS and Iowa Army National Guard Honor Guard.

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Friday, March 11 at Locke on 4th, located at 1519 West 4th Street in Waterloo. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Merlyn was born July 4, 1936 on the family farm in Waukon, son of Reuben and Margaret (Miene) Klocke. He attended Waukon schools and then moved to Cedar Rapids working at Wilson Packing Plant for several years before enlisting in the United States Army (1959-1961), where he was stationed in Germany. After his honorable discharge, he farmed with his parents.

Helen F. Knuppe, 77, of Waukon died Monday, February 28, 2022 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Thursday, March 3 at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waukon with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating and with burial in the church cemetery. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements.

Helen Frances Knuppe was born March 18, 1944 in Des Moines, the daughter of Lester Brainard and Rita Knuppe. She spent some of her early years at various children’s homes in the Des Moines area until 1961, when she moved to rural Waukon to live with her mother, Rita, and Harold Severson.

Helen received her education from a number of sources at the various places she lived while growing up and continued learning throughout her life. After living with Rita and Harold, Helen lived in an apartment on her own in Waukon for several years before moving to Makee Manor in Waukon. She has been a resident at the Good Samaritan Society since 2009.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions will be offering an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course in Waukon beginning at the end of March. This 138-hour course will conclude near the end of July.

This will be an in-person class held right here locally in Waukon, which is a huge advantage to students attending in comparison to taking an online class.  NICC has received a grant to cover 70% of the tuition for this course, so generous tuition assistance is available, keeping the class costs under $400.

by Amy Rolfs, RN, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Veterans Memorial Hospital

Stress is a natural part of life. Short-term stress is useful for accomplishing difficult tasks, meeting deadlines, dealing with major life events, and is necessary for survival in life-threatening situations.

Chronic stress is not healthy. This kind of stress is the underlying level of stress that we feel throughout our day. Chronic stress can be caused by work pressures, family issues, financial difficulties, overextending ourselves, and the pressures of our fast-paced lives.

In a state of stress, our bodies release hormones that increase blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar levels. These hormones disrupt our immune system, digestion and reproductive system. They alter our mood, motivation and put us in a constant state of high alert.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care/Allamakee County Public Health will continue to offer walk-in clinics for all doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, each Friday afternoon, continuing through the entire month of March, from 1:30-3:45 p.m. in the ICN Conference Room located on the southeast side of the hospital. Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be available.

Parking is available by the orange cones along the golf course for easy access to the vaccine location. Flu shots will also be available and can be safely administered at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.   Be sure to wear a mask and bring your insurance card and vaccination card if you are coming for your second or booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Both Hartig Drug and Nightingale Pharmacy in Waukon have vaccine available for ages 12 and older. Parental/guardian consent is required. Call them ahead of time to schedule an appointment.

How many people know just how much blood is needed by certain patients? Here are some facts from the LifeServe Blood Center on the need for blood:

• Cancer patients can use up to eight units of blood a month.
• Bone Marrow Transplant patients can use up to two units a day.
• Cardiovascular Surgery patients can use between two and 25 units.
• Liver Transplant patients can use up to 100 units.
• Auto/Trauma Accident patients can use from five to 100 units.
• Premature infants can use up to one to four units.
• Burn victims can use up to 20 units of platelets.
• Heart surgery patients can use up to three to eight units of red cells and one to 10 units of platelets.
• Organ transplant patients can use 10-30 units of blood.

Numerous memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Jerry Siegrist by Jim Klenske, Randy and Karen Loeb, Dave and Laurie Martin, JoAnn Peake, Jim and Linda Ryan, Angeline Schulte, Tom and Lynn Thomson, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Ron and Nancy Adam, Marilyn Anderson, Audrey Angel, Keith and Carol Bakkum, Brad and Erin Berns, Chuck and Maxine Bloxham, Ron and Nancy Brandt, Sandra Bresnahan, Gary and Karen Bristle, Wayne and Joan Burk, Jane Butler, Carl and Betty Christianson, Sheila Clair, Dave Davies, Betty Decker, Gayle and Carol Decker, Dave and Cheryl Duncklee, John and Shelly Elliott, Matt and Amy Garrett, Mike and Cindy Gibbs, Nan Grangaard, Lee and Gran Gruenhaupt, Jon and Amy Hagen, Dr.

Jim and Renea Johanningmeier of Waukon announce the birth of their son, Christian David Johanningmeier, born February 21, 2022 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. He weighed 10 lbs. and measured 21-1/2 inches in length at the time of his birth. He joins siblings, Kaia (22), James (16), Charles (15), Mary (13), Ashton (12), Edward (10), Samuel (8), Thomas (5), Claudia (3), and Grace (turns 2 March 3).

Grandparents are Gary and Linda Johanningmeier of Waukon, the late Charles Andregg and Mary Ann Andregg of Lansing.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
Mar. 11: General CRP Signup
Mar. 15: ARCPLC Program Deadline
Mar. 25: Dairy Margin Coverage Program