Flash Newspaper

09/25/2025

https://theflashonline.com/site/ladow/

R.I.P.

JOSEPH LADOWN

1941 - 2025

SOUTH WAYNE, WI - Joseph “Joe” LaDow, age 84, of South Wayne, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully to be with the Lord on Monday, September 22nd, 2025, at SSM Health – Monroe Hospital in Monroe, Wisconsin. He was born on November 29th, 1941, the son of Orlando and Annice (McKillip) LaDow. Joe grew up in the Argyle and Blanchardville area near Yellowstone Lake and attended Everson School. Joe was united in marriage to Helen Hammer on February 16th, 1979, at the Green County Courthouse in Monroe.

Joe lived a full and hardworking life. He was an avid stock car racing fan, rarely missing a race unless it was raining or there was a family event. In his younger years, he enjoyed deer hunting and made sure he never missed a season.

Joe had a tireless work ethic and never liked to sit idle. Whether cutting wood, tinkering in the garage, or working on old cars, he was always on the move. He especially loved taking his 1965 Mustang to car shows, where he proudly earned many trophies.

Over the years, Joe kept himself busy with many jobs and ventures. He farmed, worked for Narveson Construction in Dodgeville, Iroquois Foundry in Browntown, and Dura in Stockton, Illinois—all while running his own roofing business. He often spent his days roofing and his nights working at the factory, a true testament to his dedication and determination.

Joe is survived by his wife, Helen; two children: Bobby LaDow of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. and Billie (Derrick) Woodward of Sparta, Wisconsin.; two grandchildren: Avery and Caitlyn Woodward; his siblings: LaVerne LaDow and Lynda (Steve) Blum; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his siblings: Lois (Orville) Noble, Roy (Charlene) LaDow, Retha (Charles) Blackbourn, Jack LaDow, Mary (Frank) Skutt, and Terry and Helen, both deceased in infancy.

Per Joe's wishes, there will be no formal service, but a celebration of life will be held on November 29th, 2025 from noon until 4:00 p.m. at the Village Inn in South Wayne, Wisconsin. The Erickson Funeral Home in Argyle is serving the family. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ericksonfuneralhome.com.

09/25/2025

https://theflashonline.com/site/steffens/

R.I.P.

MARLENE STEFFENS

1940 - 2025

Stockton, IL - Marlene Steffens, age 85, of Stockton, Illinois passed away Saturday, September 20th, 2025 at Allure of Mt. Carroll. She was born in Freeport, Illinois on August 1st, 1940 to the late Walter and Hedwig (Mueller) Keller. Marlene married Burdelle “Fuzzy” Steffens on September 30th, 1961. Fuzzy passed away July 21st, 2017.

Marlene was a 1958 graduate of Lena-Winslow High School and Sterling School of Beauty Culture. She worked as a beautician for over 60 years. Marlene was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lena, church and community choirs, bell choir at church, and Concordia Women’s Group.

She is survived by her son, Lee (Eugenia) Steffens of Shoreview, Minnesota; her son-in-law, Rick Duchow of Stockton; her grandchildren, Katelyn (Daniel) Washburn of Forest Lake, Minnesota, Randall (Tiffanie) Duchow of Stockton, Jonathan (Laura) Steffens of Duluth, Minnesota, and Rebecca (Matt) Mott of Rio Rico, Arizona; her great grandson, Robert Duchow of Stockton. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Burdelle “Fuzzy”; her daughter, Penny Duchow; her sister, Ruth; and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, October 3rd, 2025 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lena at 11:00 a.m. with a visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m. Interment will take place at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Freeport. A memorial fund has been established. Condolences may be shared at www.hermannfuneralhome.com.

09/25/2025

SAYING GOOD-BYE TO AN OLD FRIEND IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

by Scott Cernek, pastor of Peace Church in Browntown, Wisconsin

The last of the old farmers in our neighborhood passed away last week. Orville Reed was a classic family man to say the least. He was honorable, kind hearted, hard working and very very helpful to area farmers for many many years. Not only did he operate his dairy farm, but he also ran a farm implement and repair shop on the home place. After he retired in 2014 he took up the hobby of restoring old lawn mowers. He took me out to his old dairy barn a while back and showed me his collection. Every stanchion in the barn had a restored mower parked in it where the cows used to stand.

What was great about Orville was that at his shop he always carried any size bolt, bearing, pipe, chain, belt or just about anything one might need to make a repair. He saved us many a trip into town that’s for sure. He also knew just what needed to be done when it came to fixing broken machinery or some other urgent problem. Whenever any of us stopped by, he always took an interest in what was going on with us and at our farms. He could have a conversation with anyone at any time about almost anything.

Over the past few years, we have said good-bye to every one of the old family patriarchs and matriarchs in our farm neighborhood. Orville is the last to leave us and to be honest it feels a little lonelier in these parts now that he is gone. It’s amazing though how every farm oozes forth memories of days gone by whenever I drive past them. When I was a kid my brothers and I would play farm with our tractors in the living room, and we would choose which of the neighbors we wanted to be. Fay always had the biggest tractor and read the Wall Street Journal every day. Carson farmed everything with his Farmall 560 and had one of the kindest hearts around. Kenny was a very hard worker and always had a story to tell. Jack was busy with his cows and never bothered anyone and my dad, well he had his hands full with seven boys and a daughter to keep busy. Orville was one of a kind though with his implement store right on the farm, he kept the whole neighborhood running smoothly.

You know what’s kind of funny is that all these men outlived their wives except for two of them. Well, there is just one wife left now from all the old neighbors and that’s my dear mother. She is a spry ninety and still going strong unless, of course, she’s not feeling so well from time to time which I guess is pretty normal for someone that old. Mom never had a bad thing to say about any of our neighbors. I think that has kept her heart so soft and her spirit so blessed over the years. It’s strange how we kids are now the old guys in the neighborhood. Heck, I even puff a little on my pipe when I write these articles sometimes.

Orville has always been active in his church, and he’s made it clear in recent conversation that he understood the importance of receiving and loving Jesus Christ as Savior in order to be saved. I’m sure he’s up in heaven today swapping stories with my dad and filling him in on what’s been happening in the neighborhood the past couple years. Hebrews 10:23 says, Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Until next week, God bless.

09/25/2025

09/25/2025

https://theflashonline.com/site/senator-andrew-chesney-presents-scales-mound-high-school-trap-team-with-500-scholarship/

SENATOR ANDREW CHESNEY PRESENTS SCALES MOUND HIGH SCHOOL TRAP TEAM WITH $500 SCHOLARSHIP

Freeport, IL - Senator Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) recently surprised students and coaches from the Scales Mound Trap Team with a $500 scholarship to help support the school’s trap program. The scholarship was made available by the Illinois Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus.

“The Illinois Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus plays an important role in advancing policies that protect and promote hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife management in Illinois,” said Chesney. “As a member, I was proud to once again support these efforts by awarding a $500 scholarship to a local school. Trap shooting takes dedication and skill, and I was pleased to help the Scales Mound High School Trap Team offset costs associated with their program.”

According to Chesney, the Illinois Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus is the largest and one of the oldest caucuses in the General Assembly, and includes membership from the Senate and House. With regard to trap shooting, Illinois is home to about 500,000 recreational shooters, and trap shooting is a sport that can be enjoyed by sportsmen and women of all ages.

“We participate in the Illinois State High School Clay Target League through USA High School Clay Target League,” said Scales Mound Trap Coach Jeremy Williams. “The support we receive from Senator Chesney does not go unnoticed nor does the support from our community. All these athletes work hard to accomplish goals during every spring and fall trap shooting season. Thank you very much to Senator Andrew Chesney and the Illinois Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus for this $500.00 grant.”

The Scales Mound Hornets Trap Team competes annually in competitions at the local, regional, and state level.

09/24/2025

https://theflashonline.com/site/st-johns-lutheran-church-upcoming-events-11/

ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN

CHURCH UPCOMING EVENTS

PEARL CITY, IL - St. John’s Lutheran Church, Pearl City will celebrate time after Pentecost on Sunday, September 28th. The Chancel Choir will be providing special music during the service. If you can't join us in person, check us out on Facebook Live!

Everyone is welcome to come to St. John's to play dominoes in Luther Hall on Tuesday, October 7th at 9:00 a.m. They are also welcome to come to St. John's to play cards and dominoes on Thursday, September 25th at 1:00 p.m.

The Healthy Wolves group will be packing backpacks on Thursday, September 25th at 3:15 p.m. If you are interested in donating to this ministry, reach out to the church office for more information.

Pastor Len will be hosting a bible study every Wednesday beginning Wednesday, September 24th going through November 12th at 6:00 p.m. The bible study and conversation will focus on the Gospel of Matthew. We need to order books for each participant, so please contact the church office or Pastor Len if you are interested. We look forward to preparing for the coming church year where Matthew will be the primary source of our Gospel readings.

The October Grace Meal will be on Sunday, October 19th. The menu will be pork chops, baked beans, red-hot applesauce Jello, and carrot cake. Reservations are due in the church office by Thursday, October 16th. Meals can be picked up at the church on October 19th between 11:00 a.m. and Noon. This meal is partially funded by donations from the Foundation of Northwest Illinois, the Pearl City Lions Club, Fischer Excavating, and Pearl City community members. If you are interested in donating to this ministry, reach out to the church office for more information.

If you have anything for the October newsletter, please get it to the church office by Wednesday, September 24th.

The next Men's Breakfast will be on Wednesday, October 1st at 7:30 a.m. at the Beltline Cafe in Freeport.

St. John’s Lutheran Church of Pearl City is an ELCA parish and is located at 229 First Street in Pearl City. We are handicapped accessible. If you need to contact the pastor or church, you may call 815-443-2215 for information.

09/24/2025

Enjoy the Pumpkin Festival!!

09/24/2025

https://theflashonline.com/site/area-student-graduates-from-clarke-university/

AREA STUDENT GRADUATES

FROM CLARKE UNIVERSITY

DUBUQUE, IA - Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa, extends a warm congratulations to the following Class of 2025 August graduate:

Galena, Illinois

Natalie Mitchell, Associate of Arts, Summa Cum Laude

Founded in 1843 by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Clarke University is located near the Mississippi River in Dubuque, Iowa. The University believes learning is lifelong and life-changing. Our community inspires intellectual curiosity, cultural engagement, professional preparedness, spiritual exploration, and a commitment to contributing to the common good in a global society. Academic offerings include over 45 undergraduate majors and minors, ten pre-professional programs, and five graduate degree programs.