Probituaries

• Verne Koenig
  Verne Koenig, a long time resident of Decorah, started his career in radio at KFJB in Marshalltown, IA. Eventually, he settled in Decorah and became co-owner of KDEC radio along with Ken Bjerke. He still lives in Decorah with his wife Ardith. They've been married for 68 years.
• Paul Hexom
  Paul Hexom lives a life of service, laughter, and passion. Interview and foreword by Sondra Carver. "I've lived in Decorah long enough to know that everywhere I go, Paul is there volunteering. He is still a cowboy at heart and farms a 40 acre tree farm. I thought he was an excellent person for this honor."
• Mary Henry
  In 1988 Mary Henry was working as a home care aide, taking care of clients who were younger than her! The funny thing about this was that Mary had to have a physical signed by an MD every year to make sure she was in good enough health to work. She retired when she was 77. Since that time Mary has been very busy helping family, friends and neighbors. Mary is now 92, still active, drives daily, cooks daily, and makes Sunday dinner for several of her neighbors in her apartment complex – every Sunday!
• Gale Ludeking
  Gale Ludeking, 84, is an army veteran with a lot of great tales and a great memory to store them! The Waukon, Iowa, resident is incredibly interesting to talk to and, according to Ron Henning (Aryn's dad and the interviewer) he seems like a content guy with a lot of good life stories that he’ll talk to you about if you ask!
• Anna Iverson
  Anna (Rohm) Iverson lived her whole life on Oak Street in Decorah, Iowa, up until her recent move to Wellington Place in nearby Freeport, Iowa. Up until that point, she was Inspire(d)’s across-the-street neighbor. The 92-year-old is smart and practical and has a memory like a safe-deposit box. She can recall the name of every family that lived in every house on Oak, Sunday community concerts at Phelps Park, and a time when gypsies rolled through town.
• Joyce Cote
  Joyce (Hewett) Cote grew up swimming endless hours in Lake Michigan between Sheboygan and Milwaukee. She has always loved being close to ‘the water’ whether in Lake Michigan, on the Mississippi, or at the Decorah & Waukon public pools. Joyce married Paul Cote in 1947, and had four kids; Mary, Paul (Jr.), Lisa, and Luke. She now resides in the assisted living wing of the Aase Haugen Home in Decorah, but her joie de vivre is to be out raising a ruckus and making your acquaintance.
• Duane Bruening
  Duane Bruening, husband of Eileen, Father of eight, Grandfather of 17, and Korean War Veteran reflects on eight decades of life....What was the best advice anyone has offered you? The Marines instilled in me a sense of how to manage men- how to earn their trust and loyalty by first giving them mine! I took this and many other lessons and used them in one way or another in our family business.
• Ambrose 'Spec' Wilmes
  Spec Wilmes is a living history book; a father and Grandpa, a veteran, entrepreneur, and a heck of a guy. From hopping freights to singing for barn dances, surviving The Great Depression or fighting in WWII, “Spec” is not short of stories. All it takes is the slap of your arm and the statement “Hey, have I ever told you of the time…” and suddenly you are there, in another world, sharing the memories of a man who no one could call dull.
• Orville Magnus Running
  An Inspire(d) Probituary in honor of the great artist, mentor, role model, educator, and spiritual leader as he enters his 99th year. Running’s artwork has been shown across the world and can frequently be seen throughout the Luther College Campus and in private collections across the upper Midwest. He now resides at the Aase Haugen home in Decorah.
• Agnes Forde
  What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you? Just be myself. How about the worst? When they took my car keys away. I had already decided to give up driving, but… What did you want to be when you grew up? A nurse. I finished the 8th grade. I lived in a log house and went to a log school.What do/did you do? I had several jobs. Worked at the Greenhouse for 14 years, worked in the textile building at the fair, cleaned at the firestation and cleaned at Vesterheim for 18 years (I happen to know that Agnes did more than just clean at Vesterheim. Through the museum she met the king of Norway, Maria Von Trapp, and the Princess of Iceland. Plus she raised 3 children.)
• Betty (Thomson) Piggott
  Betty (Thomson) Piggott, 90 years old on August 5, 2009, has always been the real matriarch of our extended family. Heading over to her house on Sundays, we would be greeted by a table all set and a meal – usually some kind of meat and potatoes – ready to go. Feisty and fun, we played board and card games when I was a little girl. She could often beat me in Chinese checkers, but the game Concentration – I had that in the bag. And she makes the best apple pie in the world.
• Robert (Bob) Hunt
  What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you? I have two: (1) Nothing will happen unless you make it happen (this was from my brother, Richard–he ended up being a millionaire). (2) When your expenses are greater than your income, don’t cut down on your expenses, increase your income (this was from a gangster who hung out in one of the bars on the corner of California St. & Hyde St in San Francisco–I don’t know how he ended up).
• Callista Susan Groff Wallmark
  What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you? The best advice anyone ever gave me was when I was about 22 years old. I went to Sioux City and purchased a silver fox fur. When I got home with it, my father asked me how I had paid for it. I told him I planned to pay for it in installments. He told me to take it back and only purchase it when I had enough money to pay for it outright. This is advice young people today really benefit from hearing.
• Carl F. Nichols, “The Capon King”
  What do/did you do? I started working for the Independence Produce Company in the 1939 and ran the Decorah branch for many years until I purchased it in 1958. I was the owner and operator of Wapsie Produce for 40 years, which is now a third generation family business run by my sons Marc and Paul and grandson Craig. We are the largest producer of capons in the United States and most likely the world.
• Dee Kuhlman
  What did you want to be when you grew up? I grew up during the depression – I had to help support my family, I didn’t have a choice. When I was 10 I said I could go out and work. My dad – previously a successful and wealthy businessman in Chicago – couldn’t stand the idea that I would be a working girl. Finally, he said, “You’re not going to work with your hands, you’re going to work with your head.”
• Richard & Mildred Dinger
  Both Richard and Mildred (Nordheim) Dinger grew up in the Decorah area. Through grown up in the depression years in Northeast Iowa and having spent their lives here, they are a wealth of local information, history, and a joy to talk with. They were married July 18, 1941, at Big Canoe Church in rural Decorah and Richard served with the 445 Bombardment Group (H) based from Tibenham Field, Norfolk, England in WW II. (Richard was also part of the same division as actor Jimmy Stewart!) Mildred also started the Nisse Nursery school in Decorah where yours truly went to pre-school.
• Grace Torresdal
  What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you? It’s better to earn your own way through life than to expect other people to support you. How about the worst? I can’t really think of any bad advice I’ve received.  I suppose it was when Lester (my husband) told me how great the farm was. What did you want to be when you grew up? I was raised during the Depression years so I didn’t think about choosing a particular career; I was more concerned with finding any job where I could earn enough money to support myself.
• Marjorie Moe
  I first met Marj when I moved next door to her in 2003. She brought over a gift basket brimming with delicious baked goods – the first of many home cooked treats she would share with us over the years. One of the first things I learned about Marj is that she loves moose! She has many moose collectibles in her home and yard. She is a cancer survivor – she was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2003, won the battle, and has been cancer free going on six years now.
• Phyllis (Johnson) Leseth
  “My Mother always said I was one of the first babies born at the old hospital,” says Phyllis Leseth from the heart of her historic home on Rural Avenue in Decorah. Speaking with her, it is apparent that this charming woman has more stories than one can imagine. At 92, Phyllis speaks eloquently about her experiences being among the first group of women to attend Luther College (class of ’39) and of being one of the first females to work on the Luther Newspaper & News Bureau.
• Regina Cecelia Broghammer
  Regina Cecelia Broghammer (nee Knox) Born at home “on Groundhog’s Day” (February 2), 1908 in Plymouth Rock Parish in Winneshiek County, Iowa. Regina is the eldest of nine children: eight girls and one boy. 1908 was the year of a devastating hailstorm that struck the area in June. “My parents were at the ‘Old Settlers’ Picnic’ in Burr Oak when the sky grew dark as night. We went home to put the chickens in the henhouse, and my folks left me in the baby buggy while they corralled the hens. The weather grew so bad, however, they decided to take me into the storm cellar. When we emerged a while later, my buggy was full of glass: the windows on the North and West sides of the house had shattered. They had to use horse blankets and scoop shovels to clean up the mess.”
• Rita (Leibold) Hackman
  What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you? Honesty. Don’t speak badly about others, and never say a “bad” word! What did you want to be when you grew up? After I graduated the eighth grade I lived with my parents until I was married. Both my parents passed away just a few years after that – I really just wanted to get married and raise a family of my own. What are you most proud of in your life? I’m a proud mother of 13 children – and all the grand and great-grand kids. I’m also a life long member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Ft. Atkinson.
• Sandy Osler
  What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you? Keep on trying. Do your best! What have been your greatest difficulties in life and how did you face them? That happened during my high school years. I had 14 people in my class and they didn’t understand about my condition (cerebral palsy). So I got bullied and called some names. Thanks goodness that is behind me! I guess I just didn’t really that it was as bad as it was at the time.
• Stephen Lensing
  The first memory I have of my grandpa is me sitting on his lap, in amazement, as he told me tall tales of how Pocahontas was his girlfriend, before he met Grandma of course! Still, even now, I can always count on my grandpa to make me laugh. I can sit and goof around with him like I would with my closest friends. He’s battled so many health issues and still he refuses to give into the bitterness of growing older. He continues to posses the spirit and determination of an adolescent!
• Sylvester Carolan
  Born on June 20, 1909 in Canoe Township near Decorah, Sylvester was one of 11 siblings, and began a career in farming early in life. After marrying Vivian Gossman in 1938, the Carolans had six children: Vernelle, Patrick, Kathleen, Gretchen, Dean, and Joan. Their family farmed in various places throughout rural Decorah including their farm just north of town near Coldwater creek. Sylvester is now a resident of the Barthell Order of the Eastern Star home in Decorah and will turn 100 on June 20! Drop him a line at the following address or stop by for a game of cards!
• Virginia Zotalis
  It’s so interesting how things come around. I will have two new grandchildren by spring.  Their great grandma, Virginia, will not have the privilege of knowing them. A chapter ends and another begins. The cycle of life. “I’ll take my periscope and watch them from beyond,” Virginia promised. I have no doubt. Best Advice? Moderation in all things. What did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be a traveler. From our farm on the Missouri River bottoms, I’d climb a hill and watch the cars on the highway. I would wonder where they were going, imagining myself riding along. I’m like my oldest granddaughter that way.