August 14, 1936 – May 22, 2025 The world lost a creative and beautiful soul on May 22, 2025, when Roma Leone Adair Michel – artist, mother, grandmother, and friend – passed away peacefully at the age of 88 years old, at Evans Memorial Home with her loving family by her side. Roma was born on a hot summer day, August 14, 1936, in Waverly, Iowa, to Marian (Bowen) and … [Read more...]
Conrad Clement
Conrad was born June 11, 1944, to Tag and Irene Clement and grew up on the family farm in rural Newton, Iowa. Conrad died May 6, 2025, at his home in Decorah, Iowa. Conrad was a 1962 graduate of Newton High School. In 1964, he was united in marriage to Patsy Fisher; they were later divorced. Ever the entrepreneur, he had his first business at 16, a tire repair shop. After … [Read more...]
Ramon “Ray” Wickett
Ramon “Ray” Wickett, 89, of Decorah, Iowa, formerly of Canton and Mabel, Minn., died Monday, November 11, 2024, at Barthell Eastern Star Home. Ray was born August 11, 1935, in Canton, Minn., to Frank and Beth (Torgenrude) Wickett. In 1954 he graduated from the Canton High School and on November 30, 1956, was united in marriage to Lorraine Hagen at the Mabel First Lutheran … [Read more...]
Cory L. Folstad
Cory L. Folstad, age 53, passed away unexpectedly at his home in Decorah on Wednesday, October 16, 2024. He was born April 13, 1971, in Decorah, Iowa, to Marvin and Linda Folstad. Cory was baptized and confirmed at Hesper Lutheran Church. He attended Decorah High School and graduated with the Class of 1989. His interest in hunting, fishing and the outdoors led him to … [Read more...]
Marvin Hovden
Marvin Hovden, age 93, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at Ossian Senior Hospice in Ossian, Iowa. A cele-bration of life will be held for Marv on Thursday, June 20, 2024, from 3-7 p.m. at the Winneshiek County Fair Community Building. Burial will be in the Russell Cemetery at a later date. Marvin Hovden was born on April 5, 1931, to Carmen and … [Read more...]
Shirley Ann Casterton
Shirley Ann Casterton, 86, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away January 15, 2024. Funeral services will be held at Waterloo Ridge Lutheran Church in rural Dorchester, Iowa, on April 20, 2024, at 11 a.m., with visitation one hour before the service. Burial will be at the Highland Lutheran Cemetery in rural Decorah, Iowa. The Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel is assisting with … [Read more...]
Gerald Roger Halse
Gerald Roger Halse, known as “Jerry,” passed away on January 31, 2024, at Winn Med, Decorah, Iowa, at the age of 71. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at Decorah Lutheran Church, 309 Winnebago St., Decorah, Iowa, with Rev. Peter Kowitz presiding. Visitation will be from 5–7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, at Helms Funeral Home, … [Read more...]
Evelyn Louise Bock
Evelyn Louise Bock, age 98, of Decorah, Iowa, died on Thursday, January 11, 2024, at Eastern Star Nursing Home in Decorah, four days after her 98th birthday. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at the Helms Funeral Home, 306 East Water St, Decorah, Iowa, with Rev. Doug Bryce presiding. The burial took place in the Freeport … [Read more...]
Robroy Barthel Kelly
Robroy Barthel Kelly, 70, of Canton, Minn., formerly of Mankato, Decorah and Kansas City, died Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at WinnMed in Decorah. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. A full obituary will be posted at a later date at www.mengisfuneralhome.com. The Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel is assisting with arrangements. … [Read more...]
Beverly Innetta (Treangen) Stoskopf
Beverly Innetta (Treangen) Stoskopf, age 77, of Rochester, Minn., (formerly of Decorah) passed away on Saturday, October 22, 2022, at Samaritan Bethany Home in Rochester, Minn. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 28, 2022, at Decorah Lutheran Church, with Rev. Peter Kowitz presiding. Burial will be at Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah. Visitation will be … [Read more...]
Upcoming Decorah craft sale a great start to holiday shopping
The 36th Annual Northeast Iowa Holiday Craft and Bake Sale, sponsored by the Decorah Music Boosters, will be held on Saturday, October 29 and Sunday, October 30 at Decorah High School, 100 Claiborne Drive, Decorah. Doors will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. This is one of the largest craft sales in the Tri-State … [Read more...]
End the month of July by attending Nordic Fest and Houston Hoedown
Experience all things Scandinavian at Decorah’s Nordic Fest celebration, July 28 through July 30. The Luren Singers and Nordic Dancers kick-off the festivities on Thursday evening. Take in all that the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum has to offer including the Skjaldborg Viking Encampment, folk art exhibits and demonstrations, and the 12- historic buildings in the … [Read more...]
Darrell R. Sinclair
Darrell R. Sinclair, 79, of Stewartville, Minn., formerly of Rochester, Minn., died on Saturday, May 28, 2022, at his home, following a lengthy illness with Parkinson’s Disease. Darrell Robert Sinclair was born on September 9, 1942, to Alfred and Ida (Thompson) Sinclair. He grew up in Decorah, attended Decorah schools, graduating from Decorah High School in 1960. He enlisted … [Read more...]
Francis “Jr.” Bouska
Francis “Jr.” Bouska, age 77, of Decorah, died on April 4, 2022, at Wellington Place in Decorah, Iowa. Francis “Jr.” Bouska was born on October 11, 1944, the son of Francis and Pauline (Frana) Bouska in Decorah. He attended grade school in Protivin and Rudolphinum High School, also in Protivin. Francis then enlisted in the United States Navy from 1964-1968 where he served … [Read more...]
Convergence CiderWorks A celebration of local
By Tanya O’Connor Convergence CiderWorks is a great spot for “a date night in tennis shoes,” says co-founder Natalie Naber. But there’s more. Naber’s quick to add that Decorah’s growing cider house also serves as a stop while biking, a family getaway, somewhere for “noshing on good eats” or looking for live music. It is, she says, about “just enjoying each other’s … [Read more...]