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Gary LaVern Johnson, age 79, of Dubuque passed away July 21, 2026, at 12:47 p.m., at MercyOne Dubuque after a brief illness. Family and friends will gather Sunday, August 16 from 12-3 p.m. at the Waterville Church for a celebration of life.

He was born a twin October 18, 1946 in Waukon to Melva Adeline (Grangaard) Johnson and Donald Milton Johnson. His twin brother James Alan died shortly after birth. His mother and younger brother David passed in a car accident in December of 1958. His father Don then passed in June of 1970, “just when he was getting interesting”.

He graduated from Dubuque Senior High, Class of 1964. Gary then entered the Navy at age 17 and proudly served aboard the USS Bristol (DD-857), returning home and marrying his high school sweetheart, Sandra K. Good, in November of 1967. Their son James was born in 1972. Sandra and Gary later divorced in 1977.

Deadlines/Dates
August 2: Primary Nesting Season Ends
August 12: Deadline to submit an SDRP application
September 30: Office Fiscal Year Rollover

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team has released four new technical resources designed to facilitate partnership-based dairy operations that benefit both beginning and retiring farmers. The publications are available for download at no cost from the ISU Extension Store.

High capital requirements, land costs and volatile milk prices often create significant barriers for new producers attempting to enter the dairy industry. These resources advocate for moving beyond traditional “straight cash rent” agreements to Dairy Share Agreements, a model that allows individuals to share land, labor and capital to achieve economic goals that might be unattainable on their own.

The Present Moment

The air was already hot and humid. Even though it was still early morning, my  hair stuck to the back of my neck.

I was kneeling in a small garden, next to a single oil bean tree, its dried pods scattered like spiraled ribbons on the ground. There were no flowers or grass, only some weed clusters at the base of the 12-foot concrete wall topped with rolls of barbed wire, that surrounded our compound in inner-city Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

After years of talking about Africa, planning to go to Africa, I’d finally arrived.  I had my entire 10-year plan laid out after I returned home, but it all changed that morning. “Joanna, all the plans you have are your plans, not Mine.” That was it - so simple, yet so thoroughly and completely destructive to the future I had all mapped out.

The annual Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) membership drive is now on.  The members of the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital are actively recruiting new and returning members to join them during this annual membership drive.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital is devoted to providing the hospital and its patients and visitors with many services. In addition to their annual membership drive, they host several events each year including the Women’s Health Day which will be held the evening of September 1 this year; the feather pillow ‘Pillow Perk,’ as well as their spring garage sale, all in addition to the gift case items located just inside the main entrance to the hospital. 

Thanks to the generosity of donors supporting the Veterans Memorial Health Care  Foundation, the hospital’s Surgical Suite has purchased a new surgical tourniquet system for the operating room. This advanced technology is designed to enhance patient safety while providing surgeons with improved precision during upper and lower extremity procedures.

“Our commitment is to continually invest in technology that improves the surgical experience for both our patients and our healthcare team,” said Jessica Jones, OR Manager. “Adding this new tourniquet system is another step toward providing safe, high-quality surgical care close to home.”

The new tourniquet system offers enhanced pressure monitoring and individualized pressure settings, helping to minimize the amount of pressure applied while maintaining a bloodless surgical field. This allows surgeons to perform procedures with greater visibility and accuracy while supporting optimal patient care.

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Community and Home Care/Allamakee Public Health and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) are reminding all parents to ensure their children are up to date on all immunizations. It is important to schedule an appointment with their healthcare provider or public health agency as soon as possible.

In the state of Iowa, all children in licensed childcare, elementary and secondary schools (including middle and high school), in the absence of a valid exemption, must be adequately immunized against:
• Measles and rubella (MMR)
• Tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (DTaP/Tdap)
• Polio (IPV)
• Varicella (chicken pox)
• Hepatitis B

As people age, they often focus on what has changed rather than what still brings meaning and joy. Practicing self-kindness can make a big difference in emotional well-being.

Being kind to oneself might involve taking things one day at a time, giving grace during difficult moments, or staying connected with others who understand a similar experience.

Mental health support can provide a safe space to reflect, heal, and move forward with compassion for oneself.

Veterans Memorial Hospital’s (VMH) Senior Life Solutions (SLS) supports older adults experiencing depression, anxiety, grief, or loneliness, offering care and understanding at every stage of life. Call 563-568-5560  or visit Senior Life Solutions on the Veterans Memorial Hospital website at https://www.veteransmemorialhospital.com/services/senior_life_solutions/ to learn more.

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Monday, August 3, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. 

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.