OBITUARIES
Paul Johnson
Feb 15, 2021
Everybody is a wonderin' what and where they all came from Everybody is a worryin' 'bout where They're gonna go when the whole thing's done But no one knows for certain and so it's all the same to me I think I'll just let the mystery be
– Iris Dement.
Surrounded by his family in the post-and-beam farmhouse room he designed and...
Alice Puffer
Feb 15, 2021
Alice Puffer, age 93, of Spillville, IA died on Monday, February 15, 2021 at Accura Healthcare in Cresco, IA. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 22, 2021 at the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Spillville with Rev. Robert Gross presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the...
Jane Bullard
Feb 13, 2021
Jane Katherine Anundsen Bullard, 87, passed away in the early morning of February 13, 2021. Over the past several months she dealt with a series of health issues with quiet courage and grace, including finally, Covid-19. She had most recently been a resident at Barthell Eastern Star Nursing Home in Decorah. Memorial Services be later in the spring at Decorah...
Mary Ann Madrigal
Feb 11, 2021
Mary Ann Madrigal, age 85, of Decorah, IA, passed away peacefully at her home with her family by her side, on Thursday, February 11, 2021. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 18, 2021 at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah with Rev. Donald Hertges officiating. Visitation will begin on Thursday at 10:00...
Gloria Mashek
Feb 11, 2021
Gloria Mashek, age 74, of Bettendorf, IA formerly of Spillville, IA died on Thursday, February, 11, 2021 at the Clarissa Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf, IA. Mass of Christian Burial will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday, February 20, 2021 at the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Spillville with Rev. Robert Gross presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will...
Erick Fadness
Feb 10, 2021
Erick J. Fadness, age 20, of Decorah, Iowa, died Wednesday, February 10, 2021 in a motor vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 26 northwest of Portland, Oregon. Memorial Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 20, 2021 at the Decorah High School Gymnasium with Pastor Don Holmertz and Pastor Randy Scheil officiating. The service on Saturday will be livestreamed...
Darla Bakken
Feb 7, 2021
Darla Louaine (Anderson) Bakken passed away peacefully at Barthell Eastern Star Home in Decorah, Iowa on February 7, 2021. Darla was born in Decorah, Iowa on February 18, 1934 to Leon and Tinka (Haaland) Anderson. Darla attended country school in Madison Township and there she met her husband-to-be, Gerald Bakken. They dated in high school and married on January 2,...
Duane Jacobson
Feb 7, 2021
Duane E. (Jake) Jacobson, 84, of Belvidere, Illinois, formerly of Decorah, Iowa, passed away Sunday, February 7, 2021 at Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center in Rockford, IL. A walk through visitation will be held at the Anderson Funeral and Cremation Services in Belvidere from 3:00 to 5:00 pm Thursday, February 11, 2021. A second walk through visitation will be held from...
Keith O. Lawrence
Feb 7, 2021
Keith O. Lawrence died February 7th, 2021, from COVID-19 while in hospice care at Aase Haugen in Decorah, Iowa. He was 95. Despite the quarantine, his daughters were at his side as he peacefully slipped away. Born April 7, 1925 in Mount Ayr, Iowa, to Fairy Belle and Conrad Lawrence, Keith and his older brother Richard were raised on a...
Paul "Coach" Schmitz
Feb 4, 2021
Paul “Coach” Schmitz, age 73, of Mabel, MN (Formerly of Festina, IA) died on Thursday, February 4, 2021, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 9, 2021, at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Festina, Iowa, with Rev. Donald Hertges officiating. Burial will be in the...
Grace Nockels
Feb 3, 2021
Grace Nockels, 94, of Mason City passed away peacefully of natural causes on February 3, 2021. She was laid to rest October 26,2022 next to her beloved husband Alvin at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church cemetery in Spillville, Iowa. Grace Rose was born July 23, 1926, to Stella and Alois Shevik in Spillville, Iowa. She grew up on the family farm...
Katherine Germann Johnson
Feb 1, 2021
Decorah native Katherine Germann Johnson died February 1, 2021 at her home in Austin, Texas. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, James and Sue Updegraff, her daughter, Margaret Updegraff Lalk; grandchildren, Geoffrey Lalk (Sarah), Kathryn Lalk Shults, Anne Updegraff and Sarah Updegraff (Steve Murray); by great grandchildren Alayna and Russell Armentrout, Cade, Jenna and Westen Murray, and Julia...
Barbara Mckenzie
Jan 31, 2021
Barbara Frances McKenzie, aged 79, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 31, 2021, at Good Samaritan Society in Postville, Iowa. She was born September 9th, 1941 in Roswell, New Mexico to Kenneth Sexe and Violet (Jones) Sexe. She was a graduate of Pocahontas (IA) High School. Barbara married Jerome McKenzie on June 13th, 1962 at Trinity Lutheran Church in rural...
Fred Gerleman
Jan 31, 2021
Fred Gerleman, age 63, of Highlandville, IA, died on Sunday, January 31, 2021 at Methodist Hospital in Rochester, MN. Visitation will be from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 4, 2021 at the Schluter-Balik Funeral Home, 604 South Ave in Decorah. A private family graveside service will take place on Friday, February 5 with Rev. Donald Hertges presiding. Everyone...
Pauline Fossum
Jan 29, 2021
Pauline Fossum, age 95 of Decorah, Iowa passed away on Friday, January 29, 2021, at Wellington Place in Decorah. A private family service will be held at Big Canoe Lutheran Church with Pastor Stacey Nalean-Carlson officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Pauline was born on February 2, 1925, the daughter of Perry and Nora (Helgerson) Olson at the...
Theola Haugen
Jan 29, 2021
Theola Haugen, age 82, of Decorah, IA, died on Friday, January 29, 2021, at the Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah, IA. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 3, 2021, at the Decorah Lutheran Church, with Rev. Peter Kowitz presiding. Burial will be in the Lutheran Cemetery in the Spring. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m.,...
Lance Sbiral
Jan 25, 2021
Lance Sbiral, 76, of Spillville, IA, died on Monday, January 25, 2021 at his home outside of Spillville surrounded by his family. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 30, 2021 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Spillville, IA with Deacon Dan O’Brien presiding. Burial will be in the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Cemetery with full...
Frances Sullivan
Jan 22, 2021
Frances I. Sullivan, age 89, of Decorah, IA, went home to be with her Lord Friday morning, January 22, 2021. Frances Irene (Hull) Sullivan was born on January 15, 1932 to Leo and Agnes (Palmer) Hull in Russell, Iowa. She was raised on a farm there with brothers Howard and Carl, both deceased, and younger sister Pauline. She graduated from...
Donald O. Johnson
Jan 21, 2021
Donald O. Johnson, age 88, of Decorah, IA, died Thursday evening, January 21, 2021 at Wellington Place in Decorah. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 28, 2021 at Decorah Lutheran Church with Rev. Peter Kowitz officiating. Burial will be in the spring in Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah with Military Honors. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m....
Jean Corrigan
Jan 20, 2021
Jean Corrigan, age 87, of Decorah, IA, died on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, at the Barthell O.E.S Home in Decorah, IA. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Tuesday, January 26, 2021, at St. Benedict Catholic Church, 307 West Main Street, Decorah, IA, with Rev. Donald Hertges presiding. Burial will be in St. Benedict Catholic Cemetery,...
