News Center newsletter

Delores Marie Needham Fee was born October 5, 1938 in Waukon to Leo and Ethel (Burckart) Needham. She passed away March 4, 2021 at the hospital in Newton, KS. A memorial service will be held at a later date in the Waukon area.

Delores “Dee” Fee grew up in the Monona area most of her life. She married Clarence “Pete” Fee August 8, 1958 in Waukegan, IL. Two sons were born into this marriage, Craig and Brian. The marriage ended in 1978.

Dee continued to live around the Waukon and Lansing area where she worked many different types of jobs. She retired from Cabela’s in 2016 after 17-plus years.

Dee loved the outdoors. She could be found horseback riding, hunting, camping, fishing, looking for ginseng, feeding her birds, making s’mores or grilling a juicy steak. She also loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ann J. Haney, 80, of Waukon died Friday, March 12, 2021 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Private family graveside services will be held at Iowa River Cemetery in rural Dorchester with Pastor Bryan Robertson officiating. Cards and condolences may be sent to Karen Henning at 1646 Valdres Road, Decorah, IA 52101. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Ann Jeanette Haney was born December 10, 1940 in Wisconsin to Arnold Orlando and Olga Marie (Galstad) Lunde. When she was nine years old, they moved to Spring Grove, MN where she also attended school. December 20, 1958, Ann married Reginald “Skip” Fillmore Haney at Trinity Lutheran Church in Spring Grove. The couple raised their family in the rural areas of Decorah and Waukon.

Two weeks ago, a direct mailing was sent out to the entire Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) service area outlining the current renovation project for the new Medical Clinic the hospital will be opening in May. The former Mayo Clinic building, which is adjoined to and is now owned by Veterans Memorial Hospital, is the site for this clinic.  With the loss of the Mayo Health System Waukon Clinic a year ago, accessibility to local family practice providers has been dangerously limited.

Veterans Memorial Hospital and Allamakee County Public Health would like to alert the public that they will receive a phone call to schedule an appointment for their second dose approximately two to seven days before it is due; do not sign up online for that second shot.

For those 65 years of age and older who want to receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, Veterans Memorial Hospital encourages use of the online sign-up option to join a waiting list. When vaccine is available, those on the list will be called to schedule an appointment.

Specific directions will be given as to the location of the vaccination clinic, as well as an appointment time.

Note that Veterans Memorial Hospital’s and Allamakee County Public Health’s phone numbers come up as “Unknown” on a Caller-ID system. We are asking those who are waiting to be contacted regarding their COVID-19 vaccination to answer their phones if they receive an “Unknown” telephone call.

by Jill Fleming, MS, RD/LD, Veterans Memorial Hospital

You may have heard about Green Smoothies, but have you ever tasted one?  If not, you may want to reconsider.  Here is a short list of why you will gladly add a Green Smoothie to your daily diet. We have provided two recipes for you to try.  Feel free to substitute any of your favorite fruits or vegetables.

To Lose Weight: When I work with weight loss patients, one of the easiest ways for them to start losing weight is to add more fruit,  vegetables and water to their daily diets. My most successful weight loss clients are now eating a total of eight to 10 servings of fruit or vegetables daily. To easily reach this goal; eat more vegetable-based soups, make omelets loaded with vegetables and drink green smoothies often.

Veterans Memorial Hospital was made aware last week of an email scam involving the hospital name.  The email subject line states, “Your credit card has expired” and has the name, Veterans Memorial Hospital, at the top of the email.  Veterans Memorial Hospital does not have any association with this email and wishes to warn anyone who receives it to delete it immediately.   In fact, spam emails such as this should never be opened or forwarded to anyone.  They should just be deleted.

For any questions on any emails or phone calls you may have suspiciously received from the hospital, please feel free to call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411 for more information.

The Caregiver Support Group meetings that were held monthly at Veterans Memorial Hospital, continue to be held through conference calls during COVID-19.  Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A) is offering weekly Caregiver Support Group conference calls every Monday from 10-11 a.m.

To join a call, just dial 1-800-264-8432. Then enter the participant code 961847# to be connected to the support group conference call, joining other caregivers.

Jessica and Paul Wagner of Waukon announce the birth of their daughter, Vienna Kate Wagner, born February 23, 2021 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She weighed 7 lbs. 7 ozs. and measured 19 inches in length at the time of her birth. She joins siblings, Kylie (13), Zachary (10) and Brias (1).

Grandparents are Bonnie and Ray Wagner of Lansing and Paula and Greg Schwartzhoff of Dorchester. Great-grandparents are Bruce and Sharon Bion of Onalaska, WI.

Eric and Lane Rich of Waukon announce the birth of their daughter, Catherine Anne Rich, born February 25, 2021 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She weighed 8 lbs. 1 oz. and measured 19-1/2 inches in length at the time of her birth. She joins sisters, Knightley (8) and Natalie (6).

Grandparents are Mark and Deb Palmer of Waukon and David and Vicky Rich of Algona. Great-grandparents are Wayne and Sandra Fish of Waukon.

To the Editor:

Trump’s dangerous big lie - that the 2020 election was  rigged, stolen and fraught with voter fraud - had  deadly consequences.  For weeks before and after the election, Trump repeated the big lie. Trump supporters were enraged and followed Trump’s directives to march to the U.S. Capitol January 6. Their intentions were to break into the Capitol to stop the certification of Joe Biden as president, and threats were made to harm Vice President Mike Pence, Democratic leaders and anyone who stood in their way.

With our own eyes, we saw the rioters beat Capitol Police officers. We saw the noose this mob erected. We heard them shout, “Hang Mike Pence!” With horror, we saw the mob break  into the Capitol and the Trump flags hanging from the  balcony. Rioters wore Trump hats and Trump t-shirts, and waved Trump flags.