Arthur L. Arntsen
MADISON — Arthur L. Arntsen, 75, of Madison died peacefully in his sleep at HospiceCare Center in Fitchburg, Wis., on Saturday, July 7, 2007.
Art was born Jan. 20, 1932, to Arthur R. and Harriet (Manske) Arntsen in La Crosse. He contracted polio at age 13, which cost him the use of his legs, however he never let illness or disability stop him or slow him down. He graduated from La Crosse Central High School and then attended the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse before graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with an accounting degree in 1954. He worked as an auditor for the Wisconsin Department of Revenue for 37 years, retiring in 1991. Art took great pride in his work and received numerous awards and recognitions for his job performance. He also contributed to his community, serving as a member (1971-1973) and president (1973) of the Middleton City Council, and chaired the finance committees of Madison Elks Lodge 410 and the Marbella Condominium Association for many years. He was an avid stamp collector and faithfully supported the Badgers and Packers, in good times and bad.
He was a great father to his children, Allen of Madison, Andrew of Baraboo, Wis., Peggy (Derek Popp) of Mount Horeb, Wis., Pete of Stevens Point, Wis., and Amy of Interlochen, Mich.; and a wonderful grandfather to his grandchildren, Quinn, Rose, Tara, Lia and Arlo Arntsen, and Alex and Mariah Popp, all of whom survive him.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Donna Lou (Mitchell) Arntsen; his parents; and his five sisters, Irene Morehouse, Dorothy Smith, Helen Peterson, Mert Spah and Leoni (Lani) Hole.
Special thanks to all of those who supported Art in his struggles with polio and cancer, especially the staff at Independent Living Inc. and John McNally, and to the caregivers at the HospiceCare Center, who made his last days so peaceful and comfortable.
Memorials may be made to Easter Seals-Camp Wawbeek, N9888 Hwy. 13, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965, which Art attended in his youth and supported throughout his life.
A memorial service and celebration of Art’s life will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 14, at Marbella Condominium Clubhouse, 6320 Mineral Point Road, Madison.
Cress Funeral & Cremation Service, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison, (608) 238-3434, assisted with arrangements.
Margaret ‘Margie’ Bierman
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. —Margaret “Margie” Bierman, 99, of Prairie du Chien passed away Saturday, July 7, 2007, at Prairie Maison Care Center.
She was born April 7, 1908, in Cuba City, Wis., daughter of William and Martha (Vondra) Schollmeyer. She married Walter Bierman on Oct. 22, 1929, at the Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Dickeyville, Wis. He preceded her in death on Oct. 14, 1986. She and her husband farmed in the Brodtville, Wis., area and enjoyed a good card game especially euchre and 500. She was a very devout Catholic and a great cook. Margie was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend and will be sadly missed by her family and many friends.
She is survived by a son, Lyle (Frances) Bierman of Sauk City, Wis.; two daughters, Darlene (James) Gerke of La Crosse, and Patricia Heer of Bagley, Wis.; a brother, Paul Schollmeyer of Dubuque, Iowa; 10 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; six brothers, Charles, Irvan, Vernon, Bernard, Joe and Paul; along with two sisters, Dorothy Nihles and Marie Wallenhorst.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 10, at Garrity Funeral Home Chapel, the Rev. James Warosh S.J. officiating, with burial in Evergreen Cemetery, both in Prairie du Chien. Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday, July 10, from 10 a.m. until time of services. www.garrityfuneralhome.com.
Juanita Dennison
VICTORY, Wis. — Juanita Dennison, 86 of Victory, rural De Soto, Wis., died Sunday, July 8, 2007. Funeral arrangments will be announced by Thorson-Reetz Funeral Home of Viroqua, Wis.
Ruth I. Hall
VIOLA, Wis. — Ruth I. Hall, 99, of Viroqua, Wis., and formerly of Viola died Sunday, July 8, 2007, at Vernon Manor Nursing Home in Viroqua. Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced by Vosseteig Funeral Home’s Henthorn Memorial Center in Viola.
Ed Langowski
ARCADIA, Wis. — Ed Langowski, 87, of Arcadia died Sunday, July 8, 2007, at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare Nursing Home in Arcadia. Wozney-Killian Funeral Home of Arcadia will be assisting the family with arrangements.
Richard ‘Woody’ G. Mekvold
Richard “Woody” G. Mekvold, 54, of La Crosse died Saturday, July 7, 2007, at Franciscan Skemp Medical Center in La Crosse. A celebration of Woody’s life will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 14, at Hillbilly’s Bar & Grill, 1322 La Crescent St., French Island, Wis. Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Home-Nelson Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.
George ‘Pudge’ R. Myer
George “Pudge” R. Myer, 75, of La Crosse died Saturday, July 7, 2007, at Franciscan Skemp Medical Center in La Crosse.
He was born Jan. 20, 1932, to George C. and Lillian (Hagen) Myer. George graduated from Onalaska (Wis.) High School in 1950 and served with the U.S. Navy as a Gunner’s Mate 1st Class. He married Ruth Bezpaletz on May 29, 1954, in St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Onalaska. George had worked at T.C. Esser for 31 years and then at St. Rose Convent for 13 years, retiring in 1993. George enjoyed bowling and golfing and was an avid Green Bay Packers fan. He was a member of the Onalaska American Legion Post 336.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth; a son, Greg (Paula) Myer of Longwood, Fla.; his granddog, Otto; special friends, Brent and Sue Turner and their children Alex and Tim, of Hastings, Minn., Ben Odegaard and Salley Bezpaletz-Weber of Fairmont, Minn., Doug and Mary Anderson and their children Chelsea and Ben “Grasshopper,” of La Crosse and Jim and Betsy Scherr and their children Beth, Kara and Jered, of Trempealeau, Wis.; and an aunt, Audrey Hagen of Florida.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Suzie; a son, John Martin “Johnny,” two brothers, Richard and Dwain; and his mother- and father-in-law.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 14, at Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman in La Crosse. The Rev. Michael Gorman will officiate. Burial with military honors will be in the Catholic Cemetery, La Crosse. Friends may call at the church on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until time of services.
Memorials may be given to the Franciscan Skemp Cancer Center and 7th Floor ICU.
Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse is in charge of arrangements.
George’s family would like to thank Dr. Ujda, Cunningham, Novotny, Minehan and Groshek, the nurses and staff at the Cancer Center and 7th Floor ICU at Franciscan Skemp Medical Center and to Carol Jones for all her goodies.
Ramona F. Pfaff
STODDARD, Wis. — Ramona F. Pfaff 78, of Stoddard died Saturday, July 7, 2007, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center La Crosse.
She was born in La Crosse on May 1, 1929, to Darrell and Fern (Murray) Every. In 1945, she married George Oyer, and they later divorced. She married Arleigh Pfaff in 1956. Ramona’s greatest joy in life was her family and the time they spent together. She was also a proud member of the “State Road Gang.”
In addition to her husband, Arleigh; she is survived by her 12 children; Judith Oyer of La Crosse, Margaret (LeRoy) Kile of La Crosse, Cheryl (David) Kocimski of Coon Valley, Wis., Lynda (David) Loeffler, Georgia (Richard) Amundsen, Elizabeth (Michael) Wing, Randy (Myra) Oyer, Jean Moe and Jacquelyn Pfaff (David Johnson), all of La Crosse, Arleigh Pfaff Jr. of Stoddard, Jeri Pfaff of La Crosse and Eric Pfaff of Stoddard; 25 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Avis Czechowicz of La Crescent, Minn., and Marilyn (Donald) Bott of La Crescent; two brothers, Clayton “Jim” (Dorothy) Every of Onalaska, Wis., and Jerry (Sharon) Every of La Crosse; her sister-in-law, Jean Every of Onalaska; and her granddog, “Emma.”
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Arnold Every, and two infant granddaughters.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 11, at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse. Ramona’s grandson Dennis Kile will officiate. Burial will take place in the Mormon Coulee Memorial Park Cemetery, town of Shelby. Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday from 4 until 7 p.m. and again on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until time of services.
Memorials may be directed to Children’s Miracle Network c/o the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation.
Cyril Skroch
ARCADIA, Wis. — Cyril Skroch, 97, of Arcadia died Sunday, July 8, 2007, at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare Nursing Home in Arcadia. Wozney-Killian Funeral Home of Arcadia will be assisting the family with arrangements.
Delores J. Smith
Delores J. Smith, 79, of La Crosse died Sunday, July 8, 2007, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse.
She was born July 28, 1927, in Mindoro, Wis., to Fred and Dorothy (Lebert) Hoyer. She married Warner L. Smith on Oct. 12, 1963, in First Evangelical Lutheran Church. Delores and Warner owned and operated Smith’s Wagon Wheel in Burr Oak, Wis. She also had worked at the Radisson Hotel in La Crosse. Delores was a member of the American Legion Post 52 Auxiliary in La Crosse and First Evangelical Lutheran Church. Delores loved her flowers and garden.
She is survived by three children, Sandra (Douglas) Bey, Philip (Barbara) Braun and Stanley (Barbara) Braun; five grandchildren, Kirk (Cynthia) Bey, Kelly (Randy) Schwarz, Amy Braun, Terrence Braun and Nathan Braun; two greatgrandchildren, Brandon Braun and Nolan Bey; a brother, Arnold (Helen) Hoyer; a sister, Mildred (Russell) Rankin; and a brother-in-law, Howard Snell.
She was preceded in death by six brothers and sisters, Adelila Haxel, Charolette Knutson, Leonard Hoyer, Donald Hoyer, Dorothy Snell and Frederick Hoyer.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 11, at First Evangelical Lutheran Church. Pastor Roger Sachs will officiate. Burial will be in the Mormon Coulee Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call at the church Wednesday from noon until the time of services.
Memorials may be given to Gundersen Lutheran Hospice Program.
Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Delores’ family would like to thank Dr. Christine Miller and the hospice nurses for their wonderful care.
Online condolences may be sent to schumacher-kish@centurytel.net.
Advertisement
