Obituaries

Patricia A. Powell, 90, of Luana died Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. A private burial will be held at a later date in Smithfield Cemetery, rural Luana. A celebration of life will also be held at a later date. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

A full obituary will appear in the May 22 edition of The Standard. You can subscribe to The Standard's print edition or e-edition by clicking here.

Garvin Keene Larson, 90, of Ankeny passed away May 16, 2024. He was born May 26, 1933, the son of Floyd and Helen (McClintock) Larson, in Waukon.
A private graveside service will be held at Ankeny Memorial Gardens. In lieu of a funeral, a celebration of life will be held on Garvin’s birthday, May 26, at his daughter, Shelly Larson’s, house from 2-5 p.m.
Full obituary can be found online at www.MemorialServicesOfIowa.com.

Sarah Christine Welsh, 91, of Waukon joined eternity surrounded by her family Monday, May 13, 2024. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, May 21 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. John Moser officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Lycurgus Cemetery, rural Waukon.
Friends may greet the family from 4-8 p.m. Monday, May 20 at Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Patrick Catholic School in Waukon, Veterans Memorial Hospital, and Good Samaritan Society - Waukon.

A full obituary will appear in the May 22 edition of The Standard. You can subscribe to The Standard's print edition or e-edition by clicking here.

Virgil L. Opfer, 91, of Waukon died Monday, May 6, 2024, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 25 at 11 a.m. at Salem United Church of Christ in rural Waukon with Pastor Sue Klimstra officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Friends may greet the family from 9 a.m. until the time of services Saturday, May 25 at the church. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Virgil Leonard Opfer was born in Postville May 11, 1932, the son of Leonard and Viola (Koehring) Opfer. He was baptized and confirmed at Zalmona Presbyterian Church in rural Waukon, and graduated from Waukon High School in 1950. June 25, 1951, he married Betty Henning at Salem United Church of Christ in rural Waukon.

Throughout his life, Virgil farmed and drove bus, which he enjoyed very much. He enjoyed playing baseball, bowling, playing cards, and dancing.

MaryEllen Politowitz, age 83, of Waukon, formerly of Gays Mills, WI, died in her home December 7, 2023. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, May 25 at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon. Lunch will be served following the service.

Laurel Jean Nordheim, age 66, of Decorah passed away Friday, May 10, 2024, at Linn Haven Rehab and Healthcare in New Hampton. Funeral services were held Tuesday, May 14 at Helms Funeral Home in Decorah. Burial will be at a later date in the Big Canoe Cemetery. The Helms Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Laurel Jean Nordheim was born in Decorah. She graduated from Waukon High School in 1975.

She moved around after high school, making her home for a time in Wisconsin, Mississippi, Colorado, and Alaska. She returned to Decorah after her 40-year trek through life.

She was employed in the telecommunications industry for many years and worked at The Depot in Decorah for several years.  During her three years in Alaska, she worked on a large soil remediation project.

Richard James Plein, 75, of Marion passed away Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at Living Center West in Cedar Rapids. A Graveside Service was held Monday, May 13 at Oak Shade Cemetery in Marion.

Richard was born April 9, 1949, in Waukon, the son of James and LaVerne (O’Donnell) Plein. He was a 1967 graduate of St. Patrick Catholic School in Waukon. Richard worked in construction for Delaney and Kelley Concrete until his retirement in 2008. He was an avid sports fan, especially of the Chicago Cubs, and enjoyed listening to music. In his earlier years, he enjoyed hunting. His greatest joy was spending time with family and friends. Richard will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Jim Driscoll, 90, of Harpers Ferry died Saturday, May 4, 2024, at his home. Services are pending with Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home in Lansing.
 

Sharon K. Hageman, 82, of Waukon, formerly of Frankville, passed away surrounded by her family Thursday, May 2, 2024, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Thursday, May 16 at 11 a.m. at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah. Burial will be at Freeport Cemetery. Friends may greet the family from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services Thursday, May 16 at the church.

Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to WinnMed Hospice in Decorah or to Freeport Cemetery.

Sharon Kay Hageman was born November 24, 1941, in LeRoy, MN, the daughter of D. Clair and Viola Louise (Tieskotter) Palmer. Throughout her life, she lived in Ostrander, MN, and Freeport, Frankville, Decorah and Waukon. Sharon attended the one-room schoolhouse in Freeport before going to Decorah High School.

Ken L. West, 79, of Waukon passed away Friday, May 3, 2024, at his home in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Friday, May 10 at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon with Pastor Bryan Robertson officiating. Friends may greet the family from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, May 9 at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon. Burial with military honors will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Lewis Monday, May 13.

Kenneth Lee West was born January 31, 1945, in Oakland to Floyd and Ruth (Taylor) West. He graduated from Oakland High School and enlisted in the U.S. Army. After serving three years stateside and in Germany, he returned to Iowa.