OBITUARIES
Harold Poppe
Jul 6, 2026
Harold Poppe, age 85, of Decorah, Iowa passed away on Monday July 6, 2026 at Gunderson Hospital in LaCrosse, WI.
Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday July 18, 2026 at Washington Prairie Church 1725 Washington Prairie Rd., rural Decorah with Rev. Eric Thiele presiding, burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m....
Vernon Gavle
Jul 1, 2026
Vernon Gavle, age 83, of rural Decorah, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at his home in Decorah, Iowa.
A private funeral service will be held at Big Canoe Lutheran Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family of Vernon requested memorials to be sent directly to Helms Funeral Home at 306 E Water Street, Decorah, Iowa 52101.
Vernon...
Darlene Vine
Jun 26, 2026
Darlene Ruth Thompson Sacquitne Vine’s life was defined by her Faith, her Family, and her friends. She passed away at the age of 93 on June 26th at home.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at Glenwood Lutheran Church, 1197 Old Stage Road, Decorah, Iowa, with Pastor Randy Kittelson presiding. Burial will be held...
Diane "Lynne" Folkedahl
Jun 22, 2026
Diane Folkedahl, age 77, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away on Monday, June 22, 2026, at Accura Health Care in Cresco, Iowa.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 3, 2026, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 E Water Street, Decorah, Iowa with Pastor Randy Kittelson presiding. Burial will be in Union Prairie Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 10:00...
Allen "Big Al" Monroe
Jun 22, 2026
Allen “Big Al” Monroe, age 81, of Freeport, Iowa, passed away on Monday, June 22, 2026, at the Ossian Care Center.
A Celebration of Life will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at the Ossian Community Center, 123 W. Main St., in Ossian, Iowa. Family and friends are invited to gather to share stories,...
Charles "Chuck" Casterton
Jun 20, 2026
Charles "Chuck" Casterton, age 69, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at his home in Decorah.
A private family ceremony and burial will be held.
All are welcome to a Celebration of Life to honor Chuck at the Winneshiek County Fairgrounds Community Building on Monday, June 29, 2026 from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Charles Bernard Casterton was born...
Gaylan Benda
Jun 16, 2026
Gaylan Benda, age 88, of Waterloo, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at Pillar of Cedar Valley in Waterloo, Iowa.
Graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, June 19, 2026, at the Calmar Lutheran Church cemetery.
Gaylan Valerian Benda,
Born Jan. 29, 1938
Died June 16, 2026, at the age of 86 in Waterloo, Iowa.
Gaylan is survived by sister...
Margie Hageman
Jun 16, 2026
Margie Hageman, age 83, of Ossian, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at Ossian Care Center in Ossian, Iowa.
Memorial Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 420 E. Main St., Ossian, IA 52161, with Rev. Nicholas Radloff presiding. Burial to follow at the...
Joseph "Joe" Mueller
Jun 15, 2026
Joseph Willard Mueller, age 59, of Elkader, Iowa, passed away on June 15, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer. He faced his disease with a strong faith and a positive attitude that was an inspiration to all.
Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, June 20, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 330 S 1st St,...
Kent Finanger
Jun 12, 2026
Dr. Kenton “Kent” Earl Finanger, 93, formerly of Decorah, Iowa, passed away peacefully of natural causes on June 12, 2026, at Trillium Woods Life Care Services in Plymouth, Minnesota, surrounded by the love of family and the legacy of a life well lived.
A pre-service Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 28, 11AM - 1PM at The Center for Faith...
Lloyd Fleshner
Jun 10, 2026
Lloyd Fleshner, age 76, of Ridgeway, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at his home.
Celebration of life will be held from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at TnA’s Lounge, 625 Railroad Street, Ridgeway, Iowa..
Lloyd enjoyed hot rods, car shows, bowling, golf, and spending time with family & friends. Lloyd was a Newspaper Distribution Manager...
Marjorie Wharton
Jun 9, 2026
Marjorie Wharton, age 81, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Gundersen Hospital in La Crosse, Wisconsin, after a short illness, with Julia by her side, reading the Evening Prayer.
Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 22, 2026, at First Lutheran Church, 604 W. Broadway St., Decorah, Iowa, with Reverends Marion Pruitt-Jefferson...
Elizabeth "Betty" Hanson
Jun 6, 2026
Betty Hanson, age 87, of Decorah, IA, passed away on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at WinnMed in Decorah.
Funeral Services will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the Glenwood Lutheran Church, 1197 Old Stage Road with Rev. Bryan Robertson presiding. Burial will be in the Pontoppidan cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m., on Friday, June 12,...
Stephen Christensen
Jun 1, 2026
Stephen Christensen, age 86, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away Monday, June 1, 2026, at WinnMed Hospital in Decorah, Iowa.
Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 26, 2026, at St. Benedict Catholic Church 307 W. Main St. Decorah, Iowa, with Fr. Donald Hertges presiding. Burial will follow at Phelps Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the...
Inez Eddy
May 30, 2026
Inez Eddy, age 77, passed away on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN.
A graveside service will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at Freeport Cemetery, 2518 River Rd, Decorah, IA 52101, with Pastor Rafael Cruz leading the service.
Full obituary to follow.
David Dinger
May 29, 2026
David Dinger, age 83, of Decorah, Iowa passed away on Friday, May 29, 2026, at Wellington Place in Decorah, Iowa.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 5, 2026, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 E Water Street, Decorah, Iowa with Rev. Michael Wilker presiding. Burial will be in Canoe German Methodist Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 1:00...
Yvonne Linnevold
May 29, 2026
Yvonne “Vonnie” Linnevold, 101, passed away peacefully at home in Decorah, Iowa, on May 29, 2026.
Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 5, 2026, at First Lutheran Church, 604 W Broadway St, Decorah, IA 52101, with Pastor David Severtson presiding. Burial will take place at Washington Prairie Lutheran Cemetery following the lunch.
Visitation will be held from...
Jolayne Winkie
May 27, 2026
Jolayne Winkie, age 79, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at Barthell Eastern Star Home, Decorah, Iowa.
Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 19, 2026, at Decorah Lutheran Church 309 Winnebago St, Decorah, Iowa, with Pastor Peter Kowitz presiding. Burial will follow at the Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah, Iowa.
Visitation will be from...
Edith Rollins
May 26, 2026
Edith Rollins (55) of Decorah IA passed away at her home on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
Celebration of life will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 26, 2026, at Helms Funeral Homes, 306 E. Water Street, Decorah, Iowa.
Ede was the wife of Mark Rollins, with whom they shared 16 years of marriage together.
Ede was born to...
Anthony "John" Novshek
May 25, 2026
Anthony “John” Novshek, age 85, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away on Monday, May 25, 2026, at Wellington Place in Decorah.
There will be no services at this time.
John was born September 25, 1940, to Anthony and Hildegard (Watry) Novshek. He grew up in Port Washington, Wisconsin, with his siblings Kathleen, Carol, William, and Sandra. John graduated in 1958 from Port Washington...
