OBITUARIES
Mary Margaret Balik
Mar 22, 2026
We celebrate the beautiful life of our dear sister, Mary Margaret Balik, 71 (formerly of Spillville) who passed away on March 22, 2026, at her home in New Orleans, LA.
Mary was born August 3, 1954, to the late Robert and Helen Balik of Spillville, Iowa. In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by three brothers; Robert Balik,...
Barbara Kellogg
Mar 22, 2026
Barbara Kellogg, age 84, of Decorah, Iowa passed away on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at The Highlands (Aase Haugen) in Decorah, Iowa.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 E Water Street, Decorah, Iowa with Rev. Randy Kittelson presiding.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the...
Norman Quam
Mar 17, 2026
Norman Quam, age 86, of Ridgeway, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at Evan’s Memorial Home in Cresco, Iowa.
Celebration of life will be held from 3:00-6:30 p.m. on Friday, March 27, 2026, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 E Water Street, Decorah, Iowa. Burial will be held at a later date in the Springwater Cemetery.
Norman was born on January...
Jeremy Weiss
Mar 16, 2026
Jeremy Weiss, age 48, of Calmar, Iowa, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, March 16, 2026, in Decorah, Iowa.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Calmar Lutheran Church, 200 East Street, Calmar, Iowa. Burial will be in the Calmar City Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at Calmar...
Darlene Schwamman
Mar 13, 2026
Darlene Agnes (Bulgren) Schwamman, 90, formerly of St. Lucas, Iowa, died Friday, March 13, 2026, at Faith Lutheran Home in Osage, Iowa.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at St. Luke Catholic Church, Saint Lucas, Iowa, with Father Nicholas Radloff presiding. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held from...
Mark Goulson
Mar 11, 2026
Mark Goulson, age 73, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at Ossian Care Center, after a brief, acute illness, preceded by a lifetime of battling ailments that devastated his physical body but never his vast intellect.
No formal services are planned at this time.
In Lieu of flowers, memorials may go to the Decorah Volunteer Fire Department Foundation,...
Robert Anderson
Mar 11, 2026
Robert O. Anderson, age 70, of Ridgeway, Iowa, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at his home.
A celebration of Rob's life will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, May 1, 2026, at the Ridgeway Community Center 690 County St, Ridgeway, IA 52165. All who knew and loved him are welcome to attend. Guests are...
Carolyn Spilde
Mar 9, 2026
Carolyn Spilde, age 73, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away Monday, March 9, 2026, at the Highlands after a long battle with cancer.
Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at Helms Funeral Homes, 306 E. Water Street, Decorah, Iowa, with Pastor Rafael Cruz presiding. Burial will follow at Phelps Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 4:00...
Lillian Karnik
Mar 5, 2026
Lillian Karnik, age 94, previously of Spillville, Iowa, passed away Thursday, March 5, 2026, at Humboldt Memorial, in Humboldt, Iowa.
Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, 207 Church St., Spillville, Iowa, with Father Huber presiding. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 9:30...
Randal G. Poshusta
Mar 3, 2026
Randal (Randy) Gregory Poshusta, age 77, of Calmar, Iowa, passed away peacefully from complications of pneumonia on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, surrounded by his family, after a courageous 5-year battle with cancer.
Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at St. Aloysius...
Adeline Langland
Feb 28, 2026
Adeline Langland, age 98, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away Saturday, February 28, 2026, at The Highlands (Aase Haugen).
The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 E. Water Street, Decorah, with Pastor Matthew Becker presiding. Following the lunch, there will be a burial and a short service at Highland Lutheran...
Gertrude Holthaus
Feb 28, 2026
Gertrude Holthaus, age 95, of Ossian, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at Ossian Care Center surrounded by family and on her husband Art's birthday.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 420 E Main Street, Ossian, Iowa, with Rev. Henry Huber presiding....
Donald Leistikow
Feb 26, 2026
Donald Leistikow, age 92, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away Thursday, February 26, 2026, at his home.
Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 6, 2026, at Burr Oak Lutheran Church, 2358 360th St, Decorah, IA 52101, with Pastor David Werges presiding. Burial will follow at the Burr Oak Cemetery, with full military honors.
Visitation will be from 4:00...
Doris Carolan
Feb 25, 2026
Doris Carolan, age 90, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at Gundersen Hospital in LaCrosse, WI.
Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at St. Benedict Catholic Church, 307 W. Main Street, Decorah, IA 52101, with Rev. Donald Hertges presiding. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4:00...
John Reifenrath
Feb 25, 2026
John Reifenrath, age 74, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at his home.
Funeral Services are pending at this time.
How do you begin to summarize someone who was described as larger than life, that lit up a room with his presence, that was a rock for his family. That was John Bennett Reifenrath II, 74, who passed...
Sarah Ottesen
Feb 21, 2026
Sarah Jane Ottesen, a child of God, age 89, of Decorah, Iowa died on February 21, 2026, surrounded by her family just one day shy of her 90th birthday.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Madison Lutheran Church, 2658 Madison Road, Decorah, Iowa, with Rev. David E. Schafer presiding. Burial will be in...
Col. Richard William Groux
Feb 19, 2026
Colonel Richard William Groux (Ret.), United States Air Force, a distinguished aviator, devoted husband, loving father, cherished grandfather, and brother, passed away peacefully on February 19, 2026, in Rome, Georgia, at the age of 97.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at Saint Aloysius Church, 304 N. Maryville St., Calmar, IA,...
Jennifer Blair
Feb 17, 2026
Jennifer Blair, age 54, of Treasure Island, Florida, after a courageous battle with cancer passed away surrounded by loved ones on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at St. Benedict Catholic Church, 307 W Main Street, Decorah, Iowa, with Rev. Donald Hertges presiding. Burial will be in the...
Gary Franzen
Feb 16, 2026
Gary Franzen, age 69, of Ossian, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 16, 2026, at his home surrounded by his family.
A Celebration of Life will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at the West Union Event Center, 10201 Harding Rd. West Union, Iowa, 52175. Private burial will take place at a later...
Lona Mae Anderson
Feb 14, 2026
Lona Mae (Lien) Anderson, 91, of Decorah, Iowa, formerly of Calmar, passed away peacefully at her home in West Union, Iowa, on February 14, 2026, surrounded by her sons, Steve and Jim, following a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia.
Services have been rescheduled due to inclement weather. See updates below.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February...
