OBITUARIES
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...
Caryl Sharp
Feb 9, 2026
Caryl Lee Sharp, 86, of Decorah, formerly Spring Valley, MN, passed away at Highland Place (Aase Haugen) under Hospice care on February 9, 2026.
A remembrance service will be held at 11:00 on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at The Senior Citizens Hospitality Center, 806 River Street, Decorah, Iowa, with a celebration of life to follow until 2:00 p.m. Burial will be...
Dennis C. "Denny" Boyer
Feb 9, 2026
Dennis C. “Denny” Boyer, age 90 of St. Lucas, passed away on Monday, February 9th, at his daughter’s home in his beloved hometown of St. Lucas.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at St. Luke Catholic Church, St. Lucas, Iowa, with Rev. Nick Radloff presiding. Burial to follow in the church cemetery...
Joyce Ode
Feb 8, 2026
Joyce Ode, age 81, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at Wellington Place in Decorah, Iowa.
Memorial service will be held at 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 E. Water Street.
Celebration of life will follow the memorial service from 1:00 p.m. until 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at...
Joyce Langreck
Feb 7, 2026
Joyce Marie Langreck, age 80, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, after a short illness.
A celebration of life will be held from 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at the Ridgeway Community Center, 690 County Street, Ridgeway, Iowa. A private burial will be held at...
Bill Dotseth
Feb 5, 2026
Bill Dotseth, age 66, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away Thursday, February 5, 2026.
Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at Helms Funeral Homes, 306 E. Water Street, Decorah, Iowa.
There will be no formal services at this time.
Burial will be held at the Lutheran Cemetery at a later date.
In Lieu of flowers, memorials...
Leo Macal
Feb 4, 2026
Leo Leroy Macal, age 86, of Decorah, Iowa, died on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at Accura Health Care Center in Cresco, Iowa.
Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at Decorah Lutheran Church, 309 Winnebago St., Decorah, Iowa, with Pastor Peter Kowitz presiding. Burial with military rites will follow at the Freeport Cemetery. Lunch served...
John Dale Meyer Jr.
Feb 2, 2026
John Dale Meyer Jr., age 63, of Orlando, Florida, passed away on February 2, 2026, at his home.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 304 N. Maryville St. Calmar, Iowa, with Rev. Henry Huber presiding. Burial to follow in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 10:00...
Gertrude Olson
Feb 2, 2026
Gertrude Muriel “Trudy” Olson (née Kolstad), age 93, passed away peacefully on February 2, 2026, in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.
Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 701 Iowa Ave, Decorah, Iowa. Private burial will be held at Lutheran Cemetery.
Memorials may be made in Trudy's name to ELCA World Hunger, a...
James "Jim" Mensen
Jan 31, 2026
James (Jim) Francis Mensen, 79, of Decorah, IA, passed away peacefully at his home on January 31, 2026, after a short battle with cancer.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 6, 2026, at St. Benedict Catholic Church, 307 W Main Street, Decorah, Iowa, with Rev. Donald Hertges presiding. Burial will be in the church...
Dennis Woodhouse
Jan 29, 2026
Dennis Woodhouse, age 70, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away Thursday, January 29, 2026, at Ossian Care Center in Ossian, Iowa.
Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 16, 2026, at St. Benedict Catholic Church, 307 W Main St, Decorah, IA 52101, with Rev. Donald Hertges presiding. Burial will follow at the St. Benedict Catholic Cemetery.
Visitation...
Loren Kiel
Jan 26, 2026
Loren Kiel, age 78, of Decorah, Iowa, and Scottsdale, Arizona, passed away at his home in Decorah on January 26, 2026.
A celebration of life will be held from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 E Water Street, Decorah, Iowa.
Memorials may be given to WinnMed Hospice in gratitude for their compassionate care.
Loren was...
Dennis Olejniczak
Jan 24, 2026
Dennis Olejniczak, age 86, of Decorah, Iowa passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at Barthell Eastern Star Nursing Home in Decorah. He lived with a passion for all that he touched. Faith, Family and Servant Leadership. Dennis’ legacy, “empowering people to achieve their fullest potential thru coaching and encouragement.”
Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February...
Gary Drievold
Jan 22, 2026
Gary Lee Drievold of Richfield, Minnesota, and formerly of Decorah, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 22, at the age of 77.
Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 27, 2026, at Decorah Lutheran with Pastor Eric Thiele presiding. Burial with full military rites will take place at a later date.
Service will be livestreamed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fRE2JBUFpc
There will be no...
Lawrence Jensen
Jan 22, 2026
Lawrence Jensen, age 91 of Decorah, Iowa (formerly of New Hampton), passed away Thursday, January 22, 2026, at The Highlands (Aase Haugen) in Decorah, Iowa.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at United Methodist Church, 302 W. Broadway St., Decorah, Iowa, with Rev. Cat Stokes presiding.
Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m....
Steven Langland
Jan 16, 2026
Steven Langland, age 68, of Decorah, Iowa passed away on Friday, January 16, 2026, at The Highlands (Aase Haugen) in Decorah, Iowa.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 E Water Street, Decorah, Iowa with Rev. Matthew Becker presiding. Burial will be at the Highland Lutheran Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from...
John Matter
Jan 13, 2026
John Matter, age 79, from Decorah, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at the Highlands Nursing Home.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1638 Big Canoe Road, Decorah, Iowa, with Rev. Randy Kittelson presiding. Burial will be in the Locust cemetery at a later date.
Visitation will...
James Weis
Jan 13, 2026
James "Jim" Weis, age 93, of Decorah, Iowa passed away on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at his home in Decorah, Iowa.
Funeral services will take place in the summer of 2026, TBD.
James (Jim) Alvin Weis was born to Alvin H. and Pauline L. (Koester) Weis on October 1, 1932, in Dubuque, Iowa. He was the third of ten children. Jim attended...
