Raymond Scott Ekern
VIROQUA, Wis. — Raymond Scott Ekern, 64, of Viroqua, beloved husband, father, grandpa, brother and friend to many died Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2004, at Vernon Memorial Hospital in Viroqua.
He was born June 20, 1940, in La Crosse to Paul Harold Ekern and Ingrid Seneva Sanwick. He was baptized and confirmed at South West Prairie Lutheran Church. He graduated from Viroqua High School in 1958. On Feb. 24, 1962, he was united in marriage to the love of his life, Eldoris Marie Swenson. Raymond and Eldie farmed together on their 200-acre dairy farm in Sag City until their retirement to their Liberty Pole home in 1995. He got great enjoyment posting messages in his front yard along Hwy. 27. In recent years he hauled rabbits for Bakkom Rabbitry. He was a lifelong member of the South West Prairie Lutheran Church, holding a variety of church offices throughout his lifetime. Raymond was a good farmer, an avid sports fan (especially his Twins), a loyal and wonderful friend and a practical joker without parallel and will be sadly missed by everyone he encountered during his life.
He is survived by his wife and best friend of 42 years, Eldoris of Viroqua; two sons, Brian (Jane) of Viroqua and Brent (Sharon) of Oviedo, Fla.; and five grandchildren, Brooks and Kendall of Viroqua, Brandon, Austin and Cannon of Oviedo; three sisters, Pauline (Ron) Brudos of De Soto, Wis., Alice (Harold) Olson of Viroqua and Christine (Robert) Netwal of San Diego, Calif.; one brother, Duane Ekern of Madison; and brothers and sisters-in-law, Roger and Karen Swenson of Viroqua and John and Mary Solverson of Viroqua.
Funeral services will be held Monday, Dec. 27, at 11 a.m. in South West Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Viroqua. Pastor Helen Johnson will officiate, with burial in the South West Prairie Cemetery. Friends may call at the Larson Funeral Home in Viroqua on Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m., with a 7 p.m. prayer service. Visitation is at the church Monday after 10 a.m.
The family requests that memorials be given to South West Prairie Lutheran Church. Blessed be his wonderful memory.
Yvonne M. (Marson) Johnson
Yvonne M. (Marson) Johnson, 70, of La Crosse died Friday, Dec. 24, 2004, at the Franciscan Skemp Medical Center.
She was born on June 4, 1934, in Eau Galle, Wis., to Reuben and Edna (Christiansen) Marson. She married Raymond B. Johnson on Sept. 4, 1954, in La Crosse. He preceded her in death on Oct. 29, 1992.
Yvonne had worked at St. Francis Medical Center for many years as a nurse's aid and had recently worked at the southside Wal-Mart. Yvonne loved doing paint by numbers.
She is survived by two sons, Michael R. (Kathy) Johnson of West Salem, Wis., and David A. Johnson and his fiance' Beth Schneider of Franklin, Wis.; four grandchildren, Chad (Tara) Johnson, Melissa Johnson and her fiance Brandon Fry, Janae Johnson and Skylar Johnson; nine brothers and sisters, Kenny (Helen) Marson of La Crosse, Rhea (Donald) Breidel of La Crosse, Wanda (Rod) Clark of Onalaska, Wis., Gary Marson of Onalaska, Geneil Strassberg of Charles City, Iowa, Sandra (Don) Post of Cameron, Wis., Robert (Coreen) Marson of Tulsa, Okla, Janet (Neil) Kleinschmidt of Onalaska and Audrey (Walter) Gilbertson of La Crosse; and a sister-in-law, Shirley Marson of La Crosse.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a brother Eugene Marson and a sister Beverly Cooper.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, Dec. 27, 2004, at 11 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. The Rev. Lawrence B. Berger will officiate. Entombment will be in the Gardens of Peace Mausoleum, Mormon Coulee Memorial Park. Friends may call at the church on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of services. The Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse is in charge of arrangements.
Donald E. Swords Sr.
Donald E. Swords Sr., 89, of La Crosse died Monday, Dec. 20, 2004, in St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester, Minn.
He was born in La Crosse on Nov. 10, 1915, to Charles and Nellie (Bogardt) Swords. He married Helen Mae Runice on Oct. 3, 1938, in St. Mary's Catholic Church, La Crosse. Donald was a graduate of Aquinas High School class of 1933. He was the manger of the Elks Club in La Crosse and was a salesman for the Grain Belt Brewery. He will best be remembered by his quick wit, friendly smile and faithfulness as a husband and provider.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Helen Mae, of La Crosse; two daughters, Nancy (Jerry) Hendrickson of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Mary Elizabeth (James) Blair of Ozawkie, Kan.; one son, Donald E, Swords Jr. of Chicago, Ill., and eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He is further survived by two sisters, Marie Schmidt of La Crosse and Margaret Stephens of Oshkosh, Wis.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister and one brother.
Memorial services will be held 1 pm Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2004, in Bethany Riverside Chapel, 2527 So., Seventh St., La Crosse. The Rev. Roger Scheckel will officiate.
The Blaschke Funeral Home-Nelson Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.
Robert G. Michaels
ONALASKA, Wis. — Robert G. Michaels, 65, of Onalaska died peacefully at his home on Thursday, Dec. 23, 2004.
He was born on July 31, 1939, in La Crosse to Raymond and Regina (Heinz) Michaels. He married Vivian Reineke on Sept. 24, 1960, and they later divorced in 1980. He then married Dawn Grimsled, and they later divorced but remained very close friends.
Don was a very successful businessman in his life. He never finished high school, quitting to help his dad as a mechanic. He started working at SM Supply Company and then moved on to work at United Auto Supply. His dad helped him build his wrecker, and in 1969, he started Michael's Wrecker Service. In 1974, he started Michaels Hoist and also had a crane service. He was founder and President of River City Ready Mix, which he started in 1988. He also had several businesses on the side, including The Candy Man Vending Company, B&S Saloon and Michaels Properties.
Bob loved to travel and enjoyed Nascar racing. He also loved to fish. He was proud that he achieved his three goals he set for himself in life. He rode the cable cars in Switzerland, he walked the Great Wall of China, and he bought a Ferrari.
Bob is survived by his son, Kevin (Lorie); three grandsons, Travis, Kody and Garrett, all of Stoddard, Wis.; his brother, Richard (Mary) Michaels of Wilton, Wis; several nieces and nephews; his ex-wives, Vivian Michaels of Onalaska and Dawn Michaels of La Crosse; and a favorite companion of Bob's, his dog Tuey.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister.
Private family memorial services will be held. The Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be given to the Franciscan Skemp Medical Foundation Elder Services for Stroke and Dementia.
Bob's family would like to thank the many caregivers who took care of Bob over the past six years. A special thank-you to Muriel Barth, who was a caregiver from the very start.
Dianne M. Richardson
Sparta, Wis. — Dianne M. Richardson, 59, of Sparta died Thursday, Dec. 23, 2004, at Rolling Hills Rehabilitation Center, Sparta. Funeral services will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Sparta. Burial will be in the Woodlawn Cemetery, Sparta. Friends may call at the Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta on Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. and at the church on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of services.
Sister Joleen Van Dyke, FSPA
Sister Joleen Van Dyke, FSPA, 68, died Thursday, Dec. 23, 2004, at Appleton Medical Center, Appleton, Wis., as a result of smoke inhalation from a house fire.
Sister Joleen was born on Jan. 24, 1936, the oldest of six children of Leo and Betty (Geilenkirchen) Van Dyke in Lindsay, Neb. She entered the Franciscan Sisters of Charity, Manitowoc, Wis., making her profession on Aug. 15, 1954.
Having earned a bachelors degree from Silver Lake College, Manitowoc, and certification in liturgy from St. Joseph College, Renssalaer, Ind., Sister Joleen taught music in grades K-12 and was organist for 36 years in parishes and schools in Michigan, Nebraska, and Wisconsin, including six years at St. Philips, Green Bay, Wis.
In 1994, Sister Joleen transferred to the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. From 1995 to 2000, she served as Pastoral Musician/Liturgist at St. Margaret Mary Parish, Neenah, Wis. After volunteering for a year with the Native American Alliance Project, Hartland, Wis., Sister Joleen went to Kellnersville, Wis., where she ministered as parish liturgist until the time of her death.
Sister Joleen is survived by her Franciscan community; her mother, Betty Van Dyke, Columbus, Neb.; two sisters, Betty Van Dyke, Columbus and Joleen (Ray) Parolek, Lincoln, Neb.; three brothers, Dale (Barb) Van Dyke, Columbus, Dick Van Dyke, Colorado Springs, Colo., and Kenneth (Judy) Van Dyke, Manitou Springs, Colo.; and nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father, Leo; and a sister-in-law, Pauline Van Dyke.
Visitation for both Sister Joleen and Sister Marlene Greatens (who also died in the fire) will be at Proko-Wall Funeral Home on East Mason in Green Bay on Sunday, Dec. 26, from 4 to 8 p.m.
Visitation will continue at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Kellernsville, on Monday, Dec. 27, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. The Most Rev. David Zubik, Bishop of Green Bay, will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph's Church at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 27.
Following the service, S. Joleen's body will be transported to La Crosse. Friends may call after 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 29, when the body will be met at St. Rose Convent. A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in Maria Angelorum Chapel. The Rev. Jude Weisenbeck, SDS, La Crosse, will celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, Dec. 30, at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, La Crosse.
Memorials may be sent to Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, 912 Market Street,
La Crosse, WI 54601-8800.
Blaschke Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.
Marjorie A. Warner
WHITEHALL, Wis. — Marjorie A. Warner, 86, of Whitehall died Friday, Dec. 24, 2004, at Tri-County Memorial Nursing Home, Whitehall. Services are Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church, Whitehall. Visitation is one hour prior to services. Jack Funeral Home of Whitehall is assisting the family with arrangements.
Lois Wise
VIROQUA, Wis. — Lois Wise, 80, of Viroqua died Thursday, Dec. 23, 2004, at the Morrow Memorial Home in Sparta, Wis.
She was born in Duluth, Minn., on Feb. 3, 1924, to Harry and Alma (Anderson) Sykes. She was united in marriage to Howard Wise on Jan. 10, 1948. The greatest joys in Lois' life were her family and all the kindergartners she taught for 40 years, both in Viroqua and Westby, Wis. She was a member of the Viroqua United Methodist Church and the Viroqua VFW Auxiliary.
She is survived by her son, Robert (Cyndi) Wise of Sparta; one daughter, Barbara (Dennis) Stewart of Eau Claire, Wis.; five grandchildren, Brett and Derek Wise, Tricia, Jim and Melissa Stewart; two sisters, Phyllis (Stanley) Heins of Redwood Falls, Minn., and Donna (Bill) Bierwirth of Sheboygan, Wis.; two brothers, Harry (Evelyn) Sykes of Stewartville, Minn., and Roger (Betty) Sykes of Hoover, Ala.; and nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Howard on Aug. 12, 1989; a daughter, Deborah Wise, on Sept. 3, 1969; one grandson, Tyler Wise, on July 26, 1995; and one sister, Lorraine Cartier.
The funeral service for Lois will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28, in the Viroqua United Methodist Church. The Rev. Ki Sung Kim will officiate, with burial in the Viroqua Cemetery. Friends may call at the Larson Funeral Home in Viroqua on Monday from 4 to 7 p.m., and at the church Tuesday after 10 a.m.
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