Avis Wenger

Avis Wenger, 94, formerly of Elgin, Iowa passed away Sunday, December 10, 2023, at Centerville Specialty Care in Centerville, Iowa, surrounded by family.

Visitation will be Friday, December 15, 2023 from 4-6 p.m. at Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Elgin, Iowa. There will also be a one hour visitation before services at the church on Saturday.  

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 16, 2023 at Elgin Lutheran Church, Elgin, Iowa.  Reverend Adam Starrett will be the officiant. 

Interment will be held at the Elgin Cemetery, Elgin, Iowa. Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Elgin, Iowa is helping the family with the arrangements. 

Charles Baumler

Charles Kenneth Baumler, 91, of rural Wadena, died Saturday evening, December 9, 2023, at Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital in West Union.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, December 15, 2023, at Bethel Presbyterian Church in West Union with Rev. Don Best officiating. Burial with military rites will follow the luncheon at Lima Cemetery, rural Wadena. Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, December 14th at Becker & Son Funeral Home in Fayette and for one-hour preceding services at the Church on Friday. Becker & Son Funeral Home in Fayette is assisting Chuck’s family. Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com. 

E. W. (Bill) Matthiesen

E.W. (Bill) Matthiesen, 95 years old, died at his home in Wadena, IA on December 3, 2023. Bill Matthiesen was born in Everly, IA on July 10, 1928.  He was the son of Peter Daniel Matthiesen and Lucy Jewel Wohlenburg Matthiesen.  He had 2 brothers and 4 sisters.  He married Dona Mae Helen Skiles on May 11, 1952. Bill and Dona began raising their family in Dysart, IA.  They moved to Wadena in 1962.  Together they built an amazing family.  

Bill was a farmer.  They had various kinds of livestock over the years including pigs, chickens, dogs, goats, and llamas although his focus and passion were horses.  Bill was a founding member of the Northeast Iowa Saddle Club Association (NEISCA) and many years of our summer weekends were filled with family and friends at horse shows.  He was also a judge at various horse shows.  

D'Elda Mae Erickson

D’Elda Mae Erickson, 95, Gunder, Iowa, died Saturday December 2, 2023 at the Elkader Care Center, Elkader, Iowa. She was born on May 9, 1928 to Arthur and Esther (Lenth) Palas in Luana, Iowa. D’Elda graduated from Luana High School in 1945. She also attended the University of Dubuque for two years, majoring in music and graduated from Luther College in 1970 with a BA in education.