Daniel J. Becker
Daniel J. Becker, 57, of La Crosse died peacefully Saturday, July 21, 2007, at the VA Medical Center in Madison.
He was born Dec. 18, 1949, in La Crosse to Edward and Rose (Tiffany) Becker. Dan was raised in
La Crosse and was a 1968 graduate of Central High School. He served in the U.S. Navy with the river patrol in Vietnam from 1970-1972. Dan was a recipient of the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Star and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device. Dan married Mary Graw on Aug. 4, 2006. He was an avid fisherman and reader and was a member of the Roy Vingers American Legion Post 52, La Crosse.
He is survived by his wife, Mary; a stepson, Joe Tylinski; a stepdaughter, Jeanette (Clint) Barnes; four stepgrandchildren; four brothers, David (Elenor) Becker, Don (Barbara) Becker, Paul Becker and Joe (Carol) Becker; one sister, Marilyn Snow, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, DeLyle and Merle.
Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 27, at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse. The Rev. Lawrence B. Berger will officiate. Burial with military honors will be in Pine Creek Cemetery, rural La Crescent, Minn. Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 5 to
8 p.m. and again on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until time of services.
Angela M. (Williams) Hale
WESTBY, Wis. — Angela M. (Williams) Hale, 53, of Westby died Sunday, July 22, 2007, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Westby. Burial will be in Our Savior’s Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to
6 p.m. Thursday at Vosseteig Funeral Home in Westby. Online condolences may be offered at www.vosseteigfuneralhomes.com. A complete obituary will follow in Wednesday’s Tribune.
Margaret N. Koch
WAUKON, Iowa — Margaret N. Koch, 88, of Waukon died Monday, July 23, 2007, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. A prayer service will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon. Burial will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at Wisconsin Memorial Park Cemetery in Brookfield, Wis. Friends may call from 4 p.m. to services Wednesday at the funeral home.
Ian Arvid Mortensen
CEDAR VALLEY, Minn. — Ian Arvid Mortensen, 24, of Cedar Valley died Friday, July 20, 2007.
Ian was born April 21, 1983, in Winona, Minn., to Arvid and Gaylene (Watson) Mortensen. He is a 2001 Winhawk graduate of Winona Senior High School and a 2006 graduate of Edgewood College in Madison, Wis., where he studied business.
He was a partner with his friend, Dane Gonzales, in the Bluffland Bloom and Brew Store in La Crosse.
Ian was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Watson; paternal grandfather, Lawrence Tiede; and uncle, Mark Watson.
He is survived by his parents, Arvid and Gaylene of Cedar Valley; sister, Alia of St. Paul; paternal grandmother, Evelyth Tiede of Alden, Minn.; maternal grandfather, Ray Watson of Mesa, Ariz.; loving aunts, uncles and cousins; and a large and ever growing circle of friends and fellow dreamers.
A gathering of family and friends will be held after 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 25, at Cedar Valley Lutheran Church, where a memorial service to celebrate Ian’s life will be held Wednesday, July 25, at 4 p.m. at Cedar Valley Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Jeff Forbes officiating. Food and fellowship will follow the service.
Memorials may be directed to Witness for Peace, Habitat for Humanity or Crossroads at Antiqua.
Ian embraced the diversity in the world and encouraged all to be excellent to each other.
Martin-Myhre Funeral Home of Winona is in charge of arrangements.
Elthear M. Rieck
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. — Elthear M. Rieck, 87, of Prairie du Chien died Sunday, July 22, 2007, at Memorial Hospital in Prairie du Chien following a long illness.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Thornburg-Hanson Funeral Home in Prairie du Chien, with burial at Alma, Wis., at 4:30 p.m.
Friends may call today from 4 to 8 p.m. at Thornburg-Hanson Funeral Home. There will also be visitation from 3 to 4 p.m. Wednesday at the shelter in Rieck’s Park in Alma.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given.
She is survived by a son, Jerry (Pauline) Rieck of Garnavillo, Iowa; nine grandchildren, Jeff and Dan Tesar of Alaska, Bonnie Sue Tesar of Arizona, Brandi (Mike) Whitt, Tim (Lisa) Rieck and Scott Rieck, all of Prairie du Chien; Paul (Janette) Rieck, George (Katie) Rieck and Marypat Rieck, all of Garnavillo, Iowa; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Elthear Mary Jane was born Oct. 13, 1919, to Albert and Harriet (Hubbard) Vanderbilt at Lynxville, Wis. She married George Rieck, who was working on the Lynxville Dam on Sept. 11, 1937, at Decorah, Iowa. They had four children to this union: Georga Kay, Janet Jane, Bruce Lee and Jerry Albert. They lived in the Lynxville area, later moving to the Alma, Wis., area and in August 1948 they moved to Prairie du Chien. Elthear worked at the National Dec in Prairie du Chien for several years. In her middle years, she wrote the Serviceman’s Corner for the local paper in Prairie du Chien during the Vietnam War. On the CB radio, she was known as Granny at the Nuthouse base. Elthear volunteered for many years at the Opportunity Center, Forward Handicaps, and was a co-founder of the Drug Education and Prevention Group.
George died on Dec. 28, 1981. Also preceding her in death were her parents; three children, Georga Kay as an infant, Janet on Sept. 6, 1969, and Bruce on April 15, 1999; and two brothers, Theo and Floyd Vanderbilt.
Eileen M. Schultz
Eileen M. Schultz, 92, of La Crosse died Sunday, July 22, 2007, at Bethany-St. Joseph Care Center in
La Crosse.
She was born July 5, 1915, in La Crosse to William and Clara (Buchda) Besch. Eileen graduated from La Crosse Central High School in 1933. She continued her education at La Crosse Business College, now Western Technical College. Eileen worked as a secretary for Northern Engraving in La Crosse for many years. On Nov. 29, 1941, she married Theodore Schultz at First Lutheran Church in La Crosse, and he preceded her in death on Aug. 31, 1981. After raising her children, Eileen worked for Rice Grocery in La Crosse for over 10 years. She then was employed as a secretary for Viterbo University until her retirement in 1980.
Eileen is survived by her daughter, Barbara Schultz of La Crosse; a son, Richard (Dayle) Schultz of Osceola, Wis.; nieces and nephews; and her special dog, Licorice.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and a brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Janaan Besch.
Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 26, at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 26th Street S. and Ward Avenue, La Crosse. Pastor Jonathan E. Rimmert will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, La Crosse. Friends may call at the church on Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. and also on Thursday from noon until the time of service. Memorials are preferred to Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Woodruff-Jandt Funeral Home of La Crosse is in charge of the arrangements.
The family would like to thank their friends and care providers.
Archie E. Sokolik Jr.
ONALASKA, Wis. — Archie E. Sokolik Jr., 91, of Onalaska passed away Sunday, July 22, 2007, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse.
He was born in La Crosse on July 8, 1916, to Archie Sr. and Ella (Alleman) Sokolik. Archie married Katherine Fauver in La Crosse on Sept. 2, 1937, and she preceded him in death on July 28, 1986. Archie was a very talented man. He could make something out of nothing. Archie was into weaving, astronomy, woodworking, machine building, plants —everything interested him. He was also a ham radio operator.
He is survived by seven children, Ann (Larry) Kosiba of Chicago, Archie Sokolik III of Ettrick, Wis., Samuel (Janet) Sokolik of Holmen, Wis., Kathryn (George) Jolivette of Oregon, Wis., Carol (Tom) Vanderpool of White Bear Lake, Minn., Mary (Joel) Xavier of Geneva, Minn., and Stanley Sokolik of Galesville, Wis.; 14 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Charles; and a sister, Bette.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 26, at Dickinson Family Funeral Home, 515 McHugh Road, Holmen, Wis. The Rev. Joel Xavier will officiate, and burial will be in Asbury Cemetery. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. Memorials are preferred to the charity of donor’s choice.
Mary Louise (Ball) Van Sickle
SPARTA, Wis. — Mary Louise (Ball) Van Sickle, 81, of Sparta passed away on Friday, July 20, 2007, after living courageously and consciously with cancer for 16 months. With song, prayers, celebration and sacred silence, she died at home, surrounded and held by many of those who cared for her and loved her.
The seventh of eight children, she was born at home on Aug. 7, 1925, her beloved mother’s birthday, in Black River Falls, Wis. Her parents were Mary (Bowen) and Arthur Ball. Many of Mary’s positive attributes were cultivated under the influence of material poverty that she and her family, along with countless others, endured with the Great Depression,
followed by the hardships and losses of World War II. Creativity, thriftiness, generosity, songs sung from the heart, ever-ready gratitude and deep faith were embodied and sustained throughout her life. She graduated in 1944 from Black River Falls High School. She married Clair (Van) Dillman Van Sickle, Jr. on June 10, 1945.
Her only living sibling is Alice (Ball) Manke (her dear “Sissy,” whose lengthy visits, letters, phone calls and prayers were a constant source of support and joy for Mary). Her cherished sisters-in-law, Flossy Ball and Myrtle Ball, and brother-in-law, John Van Sickle, survive as well. Other survivors include her four children, Darla McGuire (Mike), Marsha Nakowicz (John), Andrea Van Sickle (Susan Schmidt) and Reid Van Sickle (Sierra Arceneaux). All four partners of her children helped to care for and support Mary, and their loving contributions were immeasurable. She is survived by five grandchildren, Jennifer (Mueller) Mitchell, Michael Nakowicz, Kaleena Nakowicz, Michelle (McGuire) O’Neill and MJ McGuire; and great-granddaughter, Maddy O’Neill. She was rich in nieces and nephews, as well.
Mary learned from her mother, who learned from her parents (Grandma and Grandpa Bowen) about “Family of the Heart,” those dearest friends who become our chosen family and with whom we share all that life brings. Mary is survived by a large family of the heart that includes many individuals who dedicated steady time, energy and love to journey with her to the end of her life. Mary loved Kathy Graham and Nancy Bumgarner like daughters. Wednesdays were guaranteed to be better days with the visits of Dolores Graham and Gladys Eternicka. Cherished also were Becky and Amanda Woodard and her friends of decades, Bev Kish and Del Krueger (“my Delphinia”). The presence and support of countless others, who live distances away, was always palpable, as they called, wrote letters, or held her in meditation and prayers. The support of the Diamond Heart group was immense. She was touched by the gift of harp music offered by Julie Mosher, songs sung to her by Kim Mahlum and her children, and the heartfelt support of Kathryn Hietbrink, and Diane Graham who brought her beautiful children to see Mary often. Mary and her family deeply appreciated the compassionate care provided by Carrie Lapham, Dr. Brasic, Dr. Oettel, Dr. Endrizzi, Dr. Berger, nurses Priscilla and Doris, Chaplain Dean and the rest of the Palliative Care, Neuroscience Pain Clinic and Hospice teams.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, five brothers and one sister.
Mary left a legacy of love to those in her many circles to which she gave freely of her time, energy and love, with much joy. She walked through life spreading unconditional love to all who crossed her path. She was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church’s Shalom Circle and the quilting group. Over the years, this group made hundreds of quilts for Lutheran World Relief. She also spent countless hours volunteering with RSVP and reading with elementary-age children. For seven years, she was one of the main caregivers of her dear friend, Margaret Bumgarner.
A memorial service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sparta on Sept. 22, at 2 p.m. The Rev. Jeff Miller, whom Mary loved very much, will officiate. The family prefers memorials to the Sparta Area Cancer Group. (SACS Inc., P.O. Box 130, Sparta, WI 45656).
Blessed Be …
Berlie Bernard Witham
VIROQUA/ONTARIO, Wis. — Berlie Bernard Witham, 86, of Viroqua and formerly of Ontario passed away Sunday, July 22, 2007, at Bethel Home in Viroqua. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Torkelson Funeral Home with burial in Hilltop Rest Cemetery, both in Ontario. Family and friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday and from 10 a.m. until services Thursday, both at the funeral home. Online condolences may be offered at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
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