Earnest E. Gillespie Sr.
Earnest E. Gillespie Sr., 71, of La Crosse passed away Thursday, June 7, 2007, at his home.
He was born Dec. 11, 1935, in Greenville, S.C. Earnest retired from the U.S. Army as a sergeant in 1977, where he served twice in Korea, twice in Vietnam, and in many other countries and in U.S. states.
He was a member of the Prince Hall Masonic Temple and the NAACP.
Earnest is survived by his wife, Willie Mae, of La Crosse; five children, Rickey (Leona) of Anchorage, Alaska, Earnest Jr. (Stacey Ann) of La Crosse, Shantel (Gillis) Fuqua of Anchorage, Sheraill (Horace) Eldridge of Yankton, S.D., and Sheri Gillespie of Milwaukee; a sister, Gladys Burke of Milwaukee; a brother, Melvin (Patricia) of Milwaukee; and an aunt, Edna Williams of Milwaukee; 21 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; four brothers-in-law, J.D. (Charlene) Hatchett, Walter (Helen) Hatchett and James Hatchett, all of Milwaukee, and Willie B. (Eartha) Hatchett of Houston, Texas; three sisters-in-law, Lena Mae Hatchett and Fannie Bell Gilmore, both of Milwaukee, and Caroline Bolds of La Crosse; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be from 8 p.m. to closing Saturday at Cognac Club, 121 S. Third St., La Crosse.
Harry W. Schultz Jr.
Harry W. Schultz Jr., 80, of La Crosse died at his home Wednesday, June 20, 2007. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse.
Harold A. Waltemath
WYEVILLE, Wis. — Harold A. Waltemath, 86, of Wyeville passed away Wednesday, June 20, 2007, at Serenity House in Tomah, Wis. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah. Burial will follow in St. John’s Cemetery in Shennington, Wis. Family and friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday and from 1 p.m. until the time of services Saturday at the funeral home. Online condolences may be offered at http://www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com
Mary M. ‘Marti’ Sandvik
LA CRESCENT, Minn. — Mary M. “Marti” Sandvik, 72, of La Crescent died at home Wednesday, June 20, 2007. Funeral services tentatively are arranged for Monday and will be announced by Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crescent.
Mark Allen Ludeking
Mark Allen Ludeking, 46, of La Crosse and formerly of Kendall, Wis., died Tuesday, June 19, 2007, at Franciscan Skemp Medical Center in La Crosse. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, Tomah, Wis. Relatives and friends may call from 10 a.m. until service time Saturday at the funeral home.
Katherine ‘Katie’ M. Schilling
ONALASKA, Wis. — Katherine “Katie” M. Schilling, 94, of Onalaska and formerly of St. Louis, Mo., died Tuesday, June 19, 2007, at Onalaska Care Center, Onalaska. Funeral services will be at 12:30 p.m. Friday at Jostad-Jandt Funeral Home, West Salem, Wis. There will be no burial. Friends may call from 11:30 a.m. until the time of services Friday at the funeral home. A complete obituary will follow in Friday’s Tribune.
Natylee R. Geary
VIOLA, Wis. — Natylee R. Geary, 5, of Viola died Sunday, June 17, 2007, as the result of an automobile accident.
On May 23, 2002, Natylee Riane Geary came into our life. She not only blessed her proud parents, Erin Kelly and Jason Geary, but an entire group of aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins. Her grandma Deane was especially excited about her first grandchild.
Natylee was a very gifted and talented little girl who loved life. She enjoyed arts and crafties, dancing, singing, gymnastics, computers and making her special “recipes,” as she liked to call them. She loved school and her friends.
You always knew when Nat was around. She was quite vocal. She never seemed to grasp the concept of “inside voice.”
Natylee was a great outdoors girl. She spent a lot of time on the family farm with her daddy — “dooder,” as she often called him. They enjoyed numerous activities together, such as camping, mushrooming, hunting and fishing. She told her dad, “Thank goodness I love fishing because digging worms is just disgusting.”
Natylee enjoyed getting under her mom’s skin. She knew how to push all the right buttons. They were so much alike. We would call her “little Erin.”
Our Natylee definitely knew how to get in trouble, though you never could stay mad for very long. She would sing, dance or shoot you her award-winning, toothless smile, or maybe you would get one of her stubborn scowls that so resembled her mom. Either way, we will never forget all of the personality and color she brought into the world. Natylee is loved and cherished by all who have been blessed by her presence. She is a bright spot in the lives of her friends and family. She will remain in our hears forever.
A life so precious
A smile so bright
Our lives have been touched
By a shining light
The memories that are spoken
Between everyone she knew
Will hold us together
And carry us through
As each day passes
And the pain begins to fade
We will treasure every moment
That we ever made
And when a soft wind blows
And a new flower begins to grow
We will think of her laughter
And then we will know
That love never dies
And we will never be apart
From the laughter and the joy
Because it will always fill our hearts.
Donations may be made to the Natylee Riane Geary Memorial Fund at Citizens First Bank in Viola.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Viola United Methodist Church. Pastor Doris R. Simpson will officiate. Burial will be in Viola Cemetery. Friends may call Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Vosseteig Funeral Home’s Henthorn Memorial Center in Viola. Online condolences may be offered at http://www.vosseteigfuneralhomes.com.
Vosseteig Funeral Home’s Henthorn Memorial Center in Viola is serving the family.
Norman L. Larson
GALESVILLE/MENOMONIE, Wis. — Norman L. Larson, 90, of Menomonie and a former Gale-Ettrick High School coach, teacher and principal in Galesville, died Tuesday, June 19, 2007, at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Minneapolis/St. Paul. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church, Galesville. Burial of the cremains will be in Pine Cliff Cemetery, Galesville.
Amy A. Kowitz
NORWALK, Wis. — Amy A. Kowitz, 56, of Norwalk passed away Wednesday, June 20, 2007, at Franciscan Skemp Medical Center in La Crosse. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at Norwalk Community Center. Burial will follow in Pilgrim’s Home Cemetery in Norwalk. Family and friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at St. Jacob’s Lutheran Church in Norwalk. Torkelson Funeral Home in Cashton, Wis., is assisting the family. Online condolences may be offered at http://www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com
Raymond Bagniewski
WAUMANDEE/FOUNTAIN CITY, Wis. — Raymond Bagniewski, 86, of rural Waumandee died Tuesday, June 19, 2007, at his residence in the presence of his loving family.
Ray was born April 4, 1921, in Fountain City to John and Marie (Balzer) Bagniewski.
On June 22, 1944, Ray was united in marriage to Mercille Deck at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Waumandee.
Ray began his career in farming in rural Fountain City before purchasing a farm in Waumandee, where he farmed until his son, Tom, took over daily operations. Ray would continue to assist with the many farm duties until fall 2006, when he was diagnosed with cancer. Ray was a faithful member of St. Boniface Catholic Church in Waumandee, where he was active on the church council and an usher for more than 50 years. He also was a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters and was its youth director. He was involved in many community organizations, such as the Waumandee Volunteer Fire Department, for many years, and served on the Garden Valley Co-op Board of Directors. Ray will be long remembered by his family as a gentleman farmer with a great deal of patience and appreciation for hard work. He truly was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather.
Ray will be sadly missed by his wife of 63 years, Mercille; their seven children, Sr. Janet Marie of Pocatello, Idaho, Raymond “Buzz” Jr. of Waumandee, Jim (Carolyn) of La Crosse, Ruth (Jim) Carroll of Winona, Minn., Tom (Jodie) of Waumandee, Therese (Larry) Ballweg of Onalaska, Wis., and John (Patty) of Holmen, Wis.; 15 grandchildren, Abe (Anne), Erin, Anna and Ned (fiancée Laurie) Bagniewski, Nancy (Jeremy), Judy and Tim (Katie) Carroll, Nicole (Jason) Fischer, Kelly, Ben and Becca Bagniewski, Jessica and Heidi Ballweg, and Jenna and Jared Bagniewski; six great-grandchildren; two sisters, Alice Wollman of Casa Grande, Ariz., and Margaret Wera of Winona; and one brother, Eugene (Lucille) Bagniewski of Fountain City.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Alois and Roman; a sister, Marie; and two special uncles, Otto and Fred Balzer.
Due to the restoration project at St. Boniface Catholic Church at Waumandee, the Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fountain City with Father Michael Klos, pastor at St. Boniface Catholic Church, as celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery, Waumandee. A time of visitation and support will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today and one hour prior to the Mass on Friday, all at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Fountain City. A prayer service at 7 p.m. and a rosary at 8:30 p.m. will be Thursday at the church. Talbot Family Funeral Home, Cochrane (Wis.) Chapel, is assisting the family.
In lieu of flowers, contributions are appreciated to any of the following: St. Boniface Catholic Church present and future restorations, Winona Area Hospice, or Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, 2098 Truchville Road, Pocatello, ID 83204. Memories and condolences may be directed to http://www.talbot-poeschel.com
Earl Francis Nigon
FORT ATKINSON, Wis. — Earl Francis Nigon, 64, of Fort Atkinson died Monday, June 18, 2007, at his home.
Born Feb. 14, 1943, to Edwin and Dorothy (Renne) Nigon, he married Karen Grimslid on June 12, 1965, in Waukon, Iowa. She preceded him in death Oct. 31, 1999.
Earl served two years in the Vietnam War and was a decorated war veteran, receiving a Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal and a Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars.
Earl provided more than 30 years of service to APV Crepaco, Lake Mills, Wis., before retiring in 2002. He enjoyed spending time up north hunting and fishing and attending Packers or Badgers games.
Survivors include two daughters, Michelle (Mike) Wallace of Sun Prairie, Wis., and Nicole (Kevin) O’Connor of Lake Mills; one son, Paul (Dee Lynn Heiser) Nigon of La Crosse; his mother, Dorothy Nigon of Rochester, Minn.; two sisters, Barb (David) Kocer of Rochester and Peggy Nigon of Owatonna, Minn.; two brothers, David (Caroll) Nigon of Anoka, Minn., and Dennis (Sandy) Nigon of Rochester; and nieces, nephews and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his father; and his sister, Mary Kay Nigon.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1650 Endl Blvd., Fort Atkinson. Friends may call at the church Friday after 8:30 a.m until time of service. A full military burial will follow Mass at Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Atkinson.
The family suggests memorials to the VFW of Fort Atkinson, WI 53538, or to a charity of your choice.
Nitardy Funeral Home, Fort Atkinson, is assisting the family. http://www.nitardyfuneralhome.com
Karl Adolf Friedrich Ruebel
CHARLOTTE, N.C./STODDARD, Wis. — Karl Adolf Friedrich Ruebel, formerly of Stoddard, died peacefully in his home in Charlotte, N.C., on Sunday, June 17, 2007.
He was born in Saarbruecken, Germany, in 1930. After earning translator’s certification at Ruprecht-Karls-Universitaet Heidelberg, and a Ph.D. in economics at Karl-Franzens Universitaet, Austria, he taught French at Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina, and then German at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse for 25 years. He also taught English and French as an exchange professor at the Guangxi University for Nationalities in Nanning, China. In addition, he ran a small family farm for years.
He loved music, literature and meeting people from all walks of life. He led a private life and was devoted to his family. He will be fondly remembered for his sharp wit and buoyant sense of humor and for the deep compassion he had for those who suffer from hunger, poverty and war. He was dedicated to helping organizations that are working for peace.
He is survived by his wife, June (nee Ishimoto); six children, Roland (Ruth) and Birgit (Gunter Wuttke) of Germany, Nicole (Ali Imam) of Charlotte, Tamara (Raju Basnyat) of Greensboro, N.C., Hans (Jane) of Toledo, Ohio, and Katharina of Rochester, Minn.; and four grandchildren, Lucas and Jonathan Wuttke, Alexander Imam and Kai Ruebel-Brown.
A private service will be held Friday in Charlotte at McEwen Funeral Service-Mint Hill Chapel in Charlotte. Memorial contributions may be directed to local food banks.
Dwight Mathias Roll
ONALASKA, Wis. — Dwight Mathias Roll, 73, of Onalaska passed away peacefully Wednesday, June 6, 2007, at St. Joseph’s Rehab Center in La Crosse.
He was born in Regent, N.D., on June 17, 1933, to Nick and Catherine (Bayer) Roll. He married Ramona Schauer on Oct. 6, 1952, in Pierre, S.D.
Dwight worked in management for Cenex in North Dakota and Minnesota for 37 years. After retiring from Cenex and moving to Eagan, Minn., he accepted a computer technician supervisor position for AgChem in 1985. He retired from AgChem in 1998 and moved to Onalaska in 1999. He enjoyed farming, woodworking, gardening and his grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his three children, Elizabeth (Robert) Eisenberg of Duluth, Ga., Peggy (David) Hinsverk of La Crosse and Wesley (Terry) Roll of Detroit Lakes, Minn.; four grandchildren, Jessica Roll, Michael Roll, Lauren Eisenberg and David Eisenberg; a sister, Donnella Koppinger of Dickinson, N.D.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Home, 1501 West Ave. S., La Crosse, with visitation one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. The Rev. Jude Weisenbeck will officiate the service. Interment will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, La Crosse.
Blanche C. Wilkinson
Blanche C. Wilkinson, 82, of La Crosse died Wednesday, June 20, 2007, at Bethany-St. Joseph Care Center, La Crosse.
She was born in Liberty Pole, Wis., on Dec. 20, 1924, to Henry and Eva (Reagan) Higgins. Blanche graduated from high school in 1942. She married Richard Wilkinson on Sept. 8, 1951, and he preceded her in death June 10, 1989. Blanche worked in the Pentagon while serving in the U.S. Navy during WWII. She loved watching the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers and the Green Bay Packers. Her favorite summer day was when the Cubs played the Brewers. Before retirement, Blanche worked as a bookkeeper for La Crosse County.
She is survived by one daughter, Sue Wilkinson of La Crosse; one son, Stanley (Ginger) Wilkinson of Mount Holly, N.C.; stepsons, Gary and Dennis Wilkinson and their families; a sister; Helen of Vancouver, Wash.; one grandchild, Jennifer (Kenneth) Dellinger of Gastonia, N.C.; and one great-grandchild, Zachary Dellinger.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; four sisters, Loretta, Ruth, Mary and Alberta; and one brother, Paul Higgins.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Dickinson Family Funeral Home, 1425 Jackson St., La Crosse. The Rev. Michael Morning will officiate. Family and friends may call from 10 a.m. until time of services Saturday at the funeral home.
Layne Ray Stilwell
FERRYVILLE, Wis. — Layne Ray Stilwell, 75, of rural Ferryville passed away Tuesday, June 19, 2007, at his home following a brief battle with leukemia.
He was born in De Soto, Wis., on Oct. 28, 1931, to Irvin and Emma (Twite) Stilwell. He married Ardis Ross on Nov. 10, 1951, at Retreat (Wis.) United Methodist Church. They farmed near Retreat, rural Ferryville, since 1953. After retirement, Layne and Ardis enjoyed dancing and visiting family and many friends. They looked forward to Friday nights at Huckleberry’s in Prairie du Chien, Wis. He liked doing crossword puzzles and making chains for the pedal tractors his grandchildren rode.
Layne is survived by his wife, Ardis, of rural Ferryville; two daughters, Robbin (Bruce) Henchen of Stoddard, Wis., and Aline (Steve) Trussoni of Waunakee, Wis.; one son, Ronald (Amy) Stilwell of Stoddard; one daughter-in-law, Judy Stilwell of Victory, Wis.; five grandchildren, Michael and Matthew Henchen, Nicholas (Christy) Trussoni and Douglas (Julie) Trussoni, and Kristal Stilwell; two stepgrandchildren, Laurie (Geoff) Wells and family of Elmwood, Wis., and Jeff Dobrunz and family of Appleton, Wis.; three great-grandchildren, Erik, Emily and Addisyn; three brothers, Jack (Janet) Stilwell of Genoa, Wis., Dick (Imogene) Stilwell of Viroqua, Wis., and Ted Stilwell of Sparta, Wis.; six sisters, Del Rae Wolfe of Genoa, Marjorie (Cecil) Parsons of Virginia, Diane (Don) Worman of De Soto, Patsy (Neil) Oliver of Brice Prairie, Wis., Ellen (Ken) Sawyer of Iowa, and Lilly (Ronnie) Dach of Tennessee; and numerous nieces, nephews and many friends.
He was preceded in death by a son, Robert “Bob” Stilwell in August 2006; his parents; two brothers, Irvin “Bunny” Stilwell and Gerald “Dude” Stilwell; and two sisters, Amelia “Molly” Stilwell and Mary Tryggestad.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Thorson-Reetz Funeral Home in Viroqua, with Pastor Bill Busch officiating. Burial will be in Walnut Mound Cemetery at Retreat, rural De Soto. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today and after 8 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.
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