August 2015

Wed
19
Aug

LaVonne Lamphier

LaVonne Lamphier

 

 

     LaVonne C. Lamphier, 77, of Fayette, IA, formerly of Waukon, IA, died Thursday, August 13, 2015, at her home in Fayette. Funeral services will be held Thursday, August 20th, at 11:00 AM at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon with Rev. Lynn Groe officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Wednesday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.

Wed
19
Aug

Program on Aug. 29 to honor Pvt. James Lee, other Vietnam war vets

Pvt. James Marvin Lee

 

Program on Aug. 29 to honor Pvt. James Lee, other Vietnam war vets

 

 

Janell Bradley

Contributing Writer

 

 

James Marvin Lee, Fayette High School Class of 1966, will be remembered by his family, schoolmates and peers in a program set for 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, in Fayette.

            Pvt. Lee lost his life as a serviceman in Vietnam.

Wed
19
Aug

Rolan Steinlage is headed to college

 

Rolan Steinlage proudly displays his acceptance letter to Iowa Lakes Community College as he poses for a picture with his dog and cap from his graduation from West Central. 

 

Rolan Steinlage is headed to college

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

On Aug. 23, Rolan Steinlage will achieve a moment most doctors thought he would never experience, but with his faith in God, Steinlage knew they were wrong. The 18-year-old is headed off to college.

 

Steinlage will attend Iowa Lakes Community College (ILCC) in Emmetsburg, where he will continue to follow in an individualized education program (IEP) until he is ready to take on the challenges of a college curriculum and has a better idea of what career path he wants to pursue.

 

Rolan was robbed of his teenage years because of a tumor found in his brain when he was 12. It was discovered after he had complained of a massive headache a couple days after New Year’s in 2009. His parents sought treatment at Palmer Lutheran Health Center in West Union, but until the mobile CT scan unit returned a week later, there was nothing to do but wait.

Wed
19
Aug

Barbara Dennler

Barbara Dennler

 

 

Barbara J. Dennler, 82, of Elgin, Iowa died Friday, August 14, 2015 at the Good Samaritan Society in West Union, Iowa.

Barbara Jane, the daughter of William and Bertha (Hofer) Rainey, was born June 23, 1933 on her grandparent’s farm in Clayton County, Iowa. 

Barb graduated from Elgin High School in 1951.  She worked her way through high school at the Coffee Cup Café, which was operated by Cliff and Arlie Christ. She then worked at the Empress Café in West Union. 

Barb was united in marriage with her childhood sweetheart, William Paul Dennler, on December 27, 1952 at the Methodist parsonage in Elgin.  To this union, five children were born. 

Bill and Barb farmed the former Myron Chapman farm southeast of Elgin for many years.  After Bill’s death on November 26, 1982, Barb continued to live on the farm for sixteen years working as a CNA at the Elkader Care Center. 

Wed
19
Aug

Jerry Koch

Jerry Koch

 

 

Gerald David Koch, 76, of Eldorado, died Tuesday, August 11, 2015, at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah, Iowa.

 Memorial Services will be held on Wednesday, August 19, at 10:00 am, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Eldorado with visitation one hour before the service at the church.

Gerald David Koch was born on August 9, 1939, at the Winneshiek County Hospital in Decorah, Iowa. He was the son of John and Elsie (Rothmeyer) Koch.

He was baptized at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Eldorado, Iowa, on August 29, 1939. Jerry confirmed his faith on March 29, 1953, also at St. Peter, where he was a lifelong member.

Jerry graduated from West Union High School in 1957. While in school he played football and wrestled.

On December 10, 1960, Jerry was united in marriage with Shirley Weidemann at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hawkeye, Iowa. To this union two children were born, Jeffrey David and Jill Lynette.

Wed
19
Aug

Local archers shooting for national recognition

 

Echo Valley Archers  members Travis Wymer (foreground) and Spencer Koch take chainsaws and weedwackers to one of the trails for the upcoming Rinehart 100 shoot at the VRRA. The VRRA spends bout three hours per trail just mowing, but the EVA provides a lot of the manpower necessary to maintain the trails and to carve out places for the 100 targets dotting the two one-mile loops for the upcoming event. (Jerry Wadian photo)

 

Local archers shooting for national recognition

 

 

 

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

In 2005, the Echo Valley Archers (EVA) was down to 15 members. Now it has over 90 members and on Saturday through Sunday, Aug. 29-30, EVA will be thrust into the national limelight as they host at least 500, and maybe as many as 700, archers at the Volga River Recreation Area (VRRA) when the prestigious Rinehart R100 National Tour makes a stop in northeast Iowa.

Wed
19
Aug

GOP candidate Santorum visits West Union

 

Santorum and Gus Kapnisis, co-owner of Gus and Tony’s Town House, share a laugh.

 

GOP candidate Santorum visits West Union

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

GOP Presidential hopeful Rick Santorum visited with GOP supporters at a meet-and-greet at Gus and Tony’s Town House at 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16.

The former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania discussed a number of different topics from the Affordable Care Act to ISIS to immigration.

Santorum wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act. He told those in attendance that if elected he would try to repeal the law using the budget, so he would only need 51 votes in the Senate. As it stands now, the Republicans control the Senate with 54 seats, and as long as they maintain a majority, he is confident it would be passed.

Wed
19
Aug

In retirement, Kerr still influencing young lives

 

She’s been a judge of 4-H and open class projects for 25-30 years, but this summer, Norma decided to enter this beautiful needlework piece crafted with her own family in mind. Included on Santa’s list are the names of family and friends, including the names of three little neighbor boys who recently moved to Story City. (Janell Bradley photo.)

 

In retirement, Kerr still influencing young lives

 

 

Janell Bradley

Contributing Writer

 

 

There’s always a quilt in progress in the sewing room or something delicious in the oven at the home of West Union’s Norma Kerr. On a recent Sunday, Norma was preparing a peach pie and sour cream brownies for her church’s ice-cream social – and all that even after she’d crafted and donated a quilt for the event’s live auction. Yet, that’s just a small portion of this retiree’s willingness to contribute her time and talents.

Always busy doing for others, Kerr is retired from leading 4-H clubs and working as a program aide with Fayette County Extension. But that’s got her even busier as a volunteer in her community.

Perhaps that’s the best reason Kerr is be honored on Sunday at the Iowa State Fair as Fayette County’s 2015 Hall of Fame honoree. Norma will be recognized as one of 126 inductees from 92 Iowa counties at the ceremony to be held in the 4-H Exhibits Building.

Wed
19
Aug

Have a groovy time at WU-Stock

Carolyn Havenstrite, Jennifer Tobin and Dick Woodard (l-r) are ready to groove at this weekend's WU-Stock festivities. Be sure you get your picture taken as a peace-lovin' hippie downtown on Saturday. (Chris DeBack photo)

 

Have a groovy time at WU-Stock

 

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

Make sure to groove on down to downtown West Union Saturday, Aug. 22, for the Chamber/Main Street far-out WU-Stock celebration.

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