News Center newsletter

The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, August 20, at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Large Conference Room, located on the lower level of the hospital.

This diabetes class is open to everyone who has diabetes or has a friend or loved one with diabetes.  For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, call Angie Mettille, RN, Certified Diabetes Educator at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

The local Grief Support Group will again be holding their monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital Thursday, August 6, from 5-6 p.m. in the Meditation Healing Center, located just inside the main entrance of the hospital. Nancy Haberichter will be facilitating the meeting.

This informal meeting is open to anyone suffering from any type of loss whether it be death, divorce, illness or some other grief. Feel free to attend and bring a friend.  This grief support will continue meeting the first Thursday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.

Ron and Susan (Decker) Troendle of Waukon will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. The couple married August 2, 1986.

Their children and family include Nick Troendle (Chelsea Winter) and Ted and Kori Troendle. Grandchildren include Ryan, Lindy, Tierney, Juniper and Ava Troendle.

The couple’s 40th wedding anniversary celebration will take place Saturday, August 8 from 2-11 p.m. at The Shed, 303 Burgess Street, Luana, IA 52156.

For those not able to attend, cards and well wishes may be sent to 790 NorthFork Hollow Road, Waukon, IA 52172.

Marilyn Hamm of Waukon will be celebrating her 90th birthday August 9. 

In honor of this milestone birthday, cards and well wishes may be sent to her at Good Samaritan Center, 21 East Main Street, Room 211 Waukon, IA 52172 or stop by for a visit.

The Brainard Family Reunion was held Saturday, July 25 at the Jaycees Shelter in the Waukon City Park with over 20 family members present during the event. Descendants of Amos and Cora (Ewing) Brainard in attendance at the Brainard Family Reunion are pictured above. Submitted photo.
 

The 66th Bulman Reunion was held July 19 at the Eitzen Community Center. About 47 people were in attendance, plus a few kids on the playground. Organizers were Grace Bulman and Deb Harguth. The meeting was led by Vicki Bulman Roeske. Collection for the day was $277, with a balance of $374.51 after the rent and paper were paid.

Jenny Sward attended for the first time and received a door prize along with Kate Bulman for driving furthest from Illinois, and Grace Bulman for being the oldest.

Vicki Bulman Roeske agreed to be the new president, LeeAnne Bulman will continue as secretary, Laina Ford as historian and Lori Hover as treasurer.

Photos were on display as well as the story of the tragic deaths of 1919: Joseph Hartley and his son, John, Alice, Mable, and Ben Bulman, Rev. Robert Paden, and Nellie Bulman Weymiller.

Harley and Jaedyn O’Hare of Waukon announce the birth of their daughter, Jovie Lou O’Hare, born July 27, 2026 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She weighed 6 lbs. 9 ozs. and measured 18 inches in length at the time of her birth. Grandparents are Craig and Barb Lensing and Brad and Susan O’Hare, all of Waukon.

Frances “Franny” L. Byrnes, 91, of Waukon passed away peacefully into the arms of Jesus at the Good Samaritan Society in Waukon Monday, July 27, 2026, with family around her. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 8 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Ben Valentine officiating. Burial will be at St. Patrick Cemetery Hanover, rural Waukon.

Friends may greet the family from 10 a.m. until time of services at the church Saturday. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is assisting the family with arrangements.

Frances Lois Peterson Kelly Byrnes was born the youngest of six children August 6, 1934, in Decorah, the daughter of Albert and Hattie (Dinger) Peterson. Franny graduated from Decorah High School. In school, Franny was quite the roller-skater, spending hours at the rink, and even made homemade root beer at the drive-in where she worked.

Monica Monserud, 78, of Waterville passed away peacefully Saturday, August 1, 2026, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. A celebration of life will be held Friday, August 7 from 2-5 p.m. at the Waterville Community Center with a meal served throughout. A prayer service will follow at 5:30 p.m. with Pastor Bryan Robertson officiating. A private family graveside service will be at Waterville Cemetery. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Monica Mary Rose Monserud was born September 24, 1947, to Joe and Alberta (Hammell) Troendle. She was the sixth of 12 children, growing up in a large, close-knit family, where she learned the importance of hard work, loyalty, resilience, and always looking out for one another. She attended country school before graduating from St. George High School in Lansing, carrying those small-town values with her throughout her life.

Jay A. Schneider, 71, of Waukon died Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at his home in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Thursday, August 6 at 1 p.m. at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon with Pastor Grant VanderVelden officiating. Inurnment will be at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon. Friends may greet the family from 12 p.m. until time of services at the funeral home Thursday.

Jay Allen Schneider was born December 27, 1954, in Iowa to parents Lloyd and Helen (Hartong) Schneider. He was baptized and confirmed at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon. Jay graduated from Waukon High School in 1973, and attended NIACC in Mason City for a degree in auto mechanics.