Obituaries

Linda Sue Lerch Vitek, 69, passed away Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at the Elkader Care Center. She was born June 16, 1949, in Oelwein, to Lawrence and Erma (Stannard) Lerch. She completed grades K-12 at Oran and Elkader Schools, graduating with the Central Class of 1967. Following graduation, she went to St. Luke’s School of Nursing, graduating in 1970. She worked 3- plus years at St. Luke’s on 3 West and 5 Central, and later at Gastroenterologists, P.C. She was a very sweet, caring, loving person and her personality certainly helped her be an awesome nurse.

She married John Bateman and to this union, son Mike Bateman, was born. The couple later divorced. Linda met Gary Vitek and was married on May 6, 1978, and to this union, son Joe Vitek was born. She had much pride and love for her family, especially her three granddaughters. She enjoyed many a conversation with her special friends and classmates over the years.

Noraline Milda Lydia Lamborn, age 95, of Monona, passed away July 28, 2018, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, Iowa, following a brief illness. Noraline M. L. Borcherding was born February 26, 1923, in Osterdock, Iowa, the daughter of Gustav and Mabel (Lundt) Borcherding. She was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Guttenberg on April 29, 1923, confirmed at Highland Lutheran Church in Elkader on December 18, 1938, and attended rural Clayton County Schools. Following her schooling, she worked as a housekeeper for rural area families. She also worked at the Battery Factory in Dubuque, Iowa before marrying Lloyd V. Lamborn.

Clark J. Pahlas, age 89, of Ripon, WI, came to the end of his journey on Tuesday, July 10, 2018, at Barrett House in Ripon.
Born on June 4, 1929, Clark was raised in Elkader, IA by his loving parents Julius and Clara Pahlas. He liked to share many fond memories of growing up in this small rural town. Upon graduating from high school, Clark spent four years in the Navy. He then married his high school sweetheart, Grace Crider. Together they moved to Yankton, SD where Clark attended Yankton College. He went on to earn a Masters of History and a Masters of Education from the University of South Dakota in Vermilion. Next stop was Rochester, MN where Clark became the Director of the Olmsted County Historical Society. The next challenge he took on was becoming the General Manager of Palmer Method Handwriting in Chicago, IL.

Miya Isabella Erickson, 14, daughter of Michael and Caroline Erickson and Amy and Walt Zehr was called home to her heavenly father on Sunday, July 8th, 2018.
Miya was born on December 29, 2003, in West Union, Iowa.  She was baptized into St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on February 1, 2004, and received her first holy communion on April 22, 2012. Miya was an incoming freshman and had attended Central Community Schools. She was active in both concert band and pep band where she played the flute and piccolo and was selected for Honor Band. Miya also participated in track, enjoyed gymnastics, was a member of the supreme honor roll and was football manager. She attended many Central sporting events supporting her brothers and cousins.