News Center newsletter

James Louis McKee, 76, of Necedah, WI passed away at the Tomah VA Medical Center Friday, July 16, 2021. Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday, July 20 at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Necedah, WI. Burial with full military honors took place Wednesday, July 21 in the Gethsemane Catholic Cemetery in Lansing. The family has asked that memorials be given in memory of James to their charity of choice.

Jim was born August 3, 1944 to Richard James and Evelyn M. (Knopf) McKee in Churchtown. Following high school, Jim enlisted with the United States Army where he served for several years. December 17, 2016, he married Donna Mae (VanHoof) Hirt. Together they made their life in Necedah, WI and were active members of the St. Francis Catholic Church.

Benjamin J. Kerndt, 26, of rural Lansing died Thursday, July 15, 2021 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI. Memorial services will be held Tuesday, July 27 at 11 a.m. at Zalmona Presbyterian Church in rural Waukon with Pastor Tom Buresh officiating. Burial of ashes will be at Lansing Ridge Cemetery, rural Lansing.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Monday, July 26 at Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon. In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorials may be made to the Waukon Fire Department, Zalmona Cemetery or Lansing Ridge Cemetery.

by Tara Reisinger, RN, Infection Control Manager, Veterans Memorial Hospital

Tara Reisinger, RN, Infection Control Specialist at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, urges vaccination for everyone after losing her father to the COVID-19 virus. She explains in her own words, as an infection control specialist, why the need for vaccination against COVID-19 sooner rather than later is so important.

“The COVID-19 virus will continue to change and create variants to allow for its survival. We don’t have many options to treat patients with COVID and the few options we have are already becoming ineffective against the variants. For example, if you test positive for COVID-19 and have health issues that put you at risk for developing moderate to severe symptoms, we can administer an infusion of monoclonal antibodies to give your immune system a boost. Last year, we had the antibody infusion we referred to as ‘bam,’ or the bamlanivamab infusion.

The new Veterans Memorial Hospital Waukon Medical Clinic has received a donation of artwork compliments of local artist Val Miller and her husband, Josh, owners and operators of Steel Cow in Waukon. Eighteen pieces of Val’s artwork were donated and are on display throughout the clinic. Pictured above, at left, is Val Miller, along with Clinic Director Laura Baxter, RN and Michael Coyle, Veterans Memorial Hospital CEO.

Move over gazpacho, there’s another refreshing cold summer soup made with zucchini and avocado. Just as gazpacho makes delightful use of summer’s bounty of tomatoes, this soup showcases zucchini and avocado, also abundant during the summer.

Zucchini has soft skin and edible seeds. Usually dark or pale green, zucchini has a delicate, almost sweet earthy flavor, but overripe zucchini can have a more bitter taste. Newer varieties include golden which have a slightly milder flavor than the green type. Look for fairly small zucchini that are firm and heavy for their size. Do not wash them until ready to use. Peeling is not necessary.

Allamakee County Public Health does have a good supply of COVID-19 vaccine and is highly encouraging everyone age 12 and over to receive it. Vaccine clinics are readily available every Friday afternoon for both prime and boost doses for Moderna. Currently, Johnson and Johnson one-dose vaccine is also available. These vaccine clinics are held at the main entrance of Veterans Memorial Hospital. Call 563-568-5660 to schedule an appointment.

The vaccine will also be available at the Allamakee County Fair each evening of the fair from 6-8 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Hospital booth located in the Fairgrounds Pavilion. Call 563-568-5660 to schedule an appointment for any of those evenings. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Lorna Thune by Sigurd and Barb Ness, John and Sheryl Prestemon, Tom and Karen Regan, and Jerry and Linda Siegrist.

Memorials were also received in memory of Cherie Dandurand by Brian and Karen Burke and Chuck and Lois Votsmier; in memory of John Irwin by Dean and Lynn Sorensen; and in memory of Rose Marie Winters by Don and Joyce Bakke, Vicky Phipps and Brad and Erin Berns.

In addition, the Foundation received memorial donations for Edward “Ed” Roed by Patsy Kerndt, Jim and Jill Kiesau, Maury Mooney, and Ernie and Donnalee Osland.

The family of Kevin and Ann Quillin of Waukon are celebrating the couple’s 50th wedding anniversary with a card shower. The couple was united in marriage July 10, 1971 at St. Patrick Catholic Church  in Waukon.

Their family includes three children, Jason (Melissa Sorum), Erin Pals (Dan) and Joe (Kim Turnbull). Their grandchildren include Jake, Anna, Andrew, Regan, Devin, Charlie and Jack.

In honor of the occasion, cards and well wishes may be sent to 600 Third Avenue SE, Waukon, IA 52172.

Rob and Julie Goddard of Chicago, IL, parents of the bride-to-be, and Larry and JoAnn Gelo of Waukon, parents of the groom-to-be, announce the engagement and upcoming wedding of their children, Emily Goddard and Shawn Gelo.

The bride-to-be is a graduate of the University of Iowa in Iowa City with a degree in French and Anthropology, in addition to achieving a Masters degree in Elementary Education. She is employed as a fourth grade teacher at Mendota Elementary in Madison, WI.

The groom-to-be is a graduate of the University of Iowa in Iowa City with a degree in Management Information Systems (MIS). He is employed as the Information Technology (IT) Director for the University of Wisconsin - Madison School of Nursing.

The couple will exchange vows Saturday, July 23, 2022 near Madison, WI.

The 62nd annual reunion of the Bulman, Hartley and Beardmore families is slated for Sunday, July 18 at the Community Center in Eitzen, MN. A potluck meal will be served at 12:30 p.m. with a meeting to follow.

The five Bulman ancestors who came to America from Little Thetford, England in the 1850s were Thomas, George, William, John and their sister, Mary Bulman Sadler. All descendants of these early settlers are cordially invited to attend this reunion meal.

Beverages will be provided. Those planning to attend are asked to bring food to share, their own table service, family pictures and stories. This year a scanner will be available for copying photos, negatives and slides. There will also be room behind the center to show off collector vehicles and there will be door prizes.

A Sunday morning church service will be held at the family’s “home church,” Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church located in rural New Albin, at 9 a.m.