Lena Van Akkeren
Lena Van Akkeren, 92, died Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse.
She was born in Sheboygan, Wis., on March 26, 1915, to Adrian and Lena (Look) Boone. She married Gordon Van Akkeren in Sheboygan on March 29, 1941, and he preceded her in death on Jan. 4, 1990.
She is survived by her son, Paul (Peggy Hayeslip) Van Akkeren of Rockville, Md.; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Gordon; one son, Douglas; and two brothers.
A memorial visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24, at Dickinson Family Funeral Home, 1425 Jackson St., La Crosse. Burial will be in Oostburg Cemetery in Oostburg, Wis.
Dickinson Family Funeral Homes and Crematory are assisting the family with arrangements.
Jean Marie (Barnes) Alexander
MADISON — Jean Marie (Barnes) Alexander, 52, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2007, at Hospice.
She was born Oct. 17, 1954, in La Crosse, the daughter of Eugene and Patricia (Daly) Barnes. Jean attended schools in West Salem, Wis. She married Thomas Ender, and they moved to Madison. They later divorced. Jean loved music, dancing, singing, art and playing board games.
She is survived by her two daughters, Rachel (Brad) Stroud and Hope (Terry) Ender-Gruchow; two grandsons, Devyn and Garrik; her mother, Patricia (Daly) Barnes; three brothers, James (Joan) Barnes, Jerry (Nicki) Barnes and John (Lis) Barnes; a sister, JoAnn Flores; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Jean was preceded in death by her father and grandparents, Virginia and Joesph Daly.
A Memorial Gathering will be held at Rachel’s home, 3024 Todd Drive, Madison, from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25. Burial will be held at a later date in La Crosse.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family.
A special thank you to the staff at HospiceCare and Home Health United, for their wonderful care and support.
Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Centers, Madison, assisted with arrangements.
David T. Blackburn
SPRING GROVE, Minn./LA CROSSE — David T. Blackburn 37, of Spring Grove and formerly of La Crosse died as the result of injuries sustained in a flash flood in rural La Crescent, Minn. David loved life so very much that he gladly gave his own to save his wife, Dawn.
In addition to his wife, Dawn, he is survived by his daughter, Jade; stepsons, David Stoen and Jacob Kraus; sons, Michael and Noah Blackburn; his parents, Derrick “Whitey” and Allie Whitehead Sr.; brothers, Thomas (Kristi) Whitehead, Derrick Whitehead Jr. (fianceé Tiffany), Allan Whitehead, Terry Whitehead and Jeff (Shelley) Fogel; sisters, Valerie Jackson and Vanessa Dixon; maternal grandmother, Peggy Blackburn; and many nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Willie McKinley and Michael Blackburn; one sister, Kimie Whitehead; his maternal grandfather, Luther Blackburn; and his paternal grandparents, the Rev. John and Ann Whitehead.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 23, at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse. Pastor Andrew Buhrow will officiate. Private family burial will take place at a later date. Friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. and again at the funeral home on Thursday from 10 a.m. until time of services. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.
Charles C. Collins
Charles C. Collins, 89, of La Crosse died Monday, Aug. 20, 2007, at Franciscan Skemp Medcial Center in La Crosse. Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Homes of La Crosse are assisting the family with arrangements. A complete obituary will follow.
Victor and Joyce Gensmer
WINONA, Minn. — Victor and Joyce Gensmer of Winona died Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007, as a result of the recent flood.
Victor was born on Aug. 28, 1927, on the home farm in Norton Township, Winona County, Minn., to John and Emma (Van Herwynen) Gensmer. He graduated from Winona Senior High School in 1945 and served his country in Germany from 1953 to 1955.
Victor farmed with his parents and brothers; worked for the Minnesota Department of Transportation; retired from Knitcraft in 1988; and owned and operated a pallet repair business.
Joyce was born on Oct. 20, 1939, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Floyd and Irene (Ladwig) Spirek. She graduated from Callender High School in Callender, Iowa, in 1957.
Victor’s hobbies included antique cars, trucks and tractors. He was a railroad enthusiast and enjoyed hiking the woods in the area.
Joyce was an avid Minnesota Vikings and Twins fan, and also a Los Angeles Dodgers fan.
Joyce was a nurse assistant at Saint Anne Extended Healthcare for 35 years.
Victor and Joyce were married at Trinity Lutheran Church, Norton, on Nov. 23, 1972.
Victor and Joyce were members of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ridgeway, Minn., where they both had also taught Sunday School.
They are survived by two sons, Bill of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., and John of Winona.
Joyce is also survived by her mother, Irene of Fort Dodge, Iowa; brother, Craig (Crystal) Spirek of Callender, Iowa; and three sisters, Sandie (Randy) Mansen of Rochester, Minn., Marlene (Jacob) Ohiyon of East Palm Beach, Fla., and Claudia (Ken) Conrad of Fort Dodge.
Victor was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Arnold, Albert, Reinhold and Edmund; and a sister, Esther.
Joyce was preceded in death by her father, Floyd.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24, at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ridgeway, Minn., with the Rev. Joseph Crabtree officiating. Burial will be in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Norton Township.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Martin-Myhre Funeral Home in Winona and at the church on Friday from noon to 2 p.m.
Memorials may be directed to Home and Community Options.
Jane L. Konrad
Jane L. Konrad, 92, of La Crosse died peacefully following a short illness Saturday, Aug. 18, 2007, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse.
She was born Jan. 10, 1915, in Akron, Ohio, to Lewis and Estelle (Crapper) Morrison and graduated from Evansville (Wis.) High School in 1933. Following her graduation she moved to Madison and on June 15, 1938, she married W. Grey Konrad in Madison and he preceded her in death on March 18, 1999. The family lived in Madison until moving to Columbus, Wis., and then to Sheboygan, Wis., in 1942. In 1946 they moved to La Crosse, where they have resided since.
Jane was a founding member of the La Crosse Community Theatre. She served as a costume designer and received the Dionysus Award for costume sewing. She was an avid tournament bridge player, enjoyed sewing and quilling paper crafts. She especially loved entertaining with dinner parties.
Jane is survived by two sons, John (Violet) Konrad of Fitchburg, Wis., and Richard “Dick” (Barbara) Konrad of Onalaska, Wis.; five grandchildren, Mark (Brenda) Konrad of Westby, Wis., Linda Konrad of Onalaska, Marnie (Chris) Zander of Sun Prairie, Wis., Brian (Kristin) Konrad of Madison, and Dan Konrad of Southeast Asia; great-grandchildren, Finley and Brody Konrad, Samuel, Sydney, Hannah and Coby Zander and Nicole Konrad.
In addition to her husband, Grey, she was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Betty Rahmlow and Virginia Gerlach.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22, at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse with Deacon Frank Abnet officiating. Entombment will follow in St. Francis of Assisi Mausoleum at the Catholic Cemetery in La Crosse. Friends and family may call at the funeral home on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until time of services.
Geneva Fay Larson
Geneva Fay Larson, 90, of La Crosse died Monday, Aug. 20, 2007, in her home. Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Homes of La Crosse are assisting the family with arrangements. A complete obituary will follow.
John Robert and Shirley Jean Micheel
LEWISTON, Minn. — John Robert Micheel, 67, and Shirley Jean Micheel, 66, both of the Arches in rural Lewiston died Saturday evening, Aug. 18, 2007, near Stockton, Minn., as a result of flooding. A Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Lewiston. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the church Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. Hoff Funeral Home of Lewiston is assisting the family with arrangements.
Marguerite (Hess) Pittenger
WAUKESHA/LA CROSSE, Wis. — Marguerite (Hess) Pittenger, 86, of Waukesha and La Crosse passed away Aug. 5, 2007. Memorial services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Faith Baptist Church, 3615 28th St. S., La Crosse.
Kenneth J. Schwinefus
ONALASKA, Wis. — Kenneth J. Schwinefus, 92, passed away Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007, at Onalaska Care Center.
He was born March 18, 1915, in Decorah, Iowa, to Louis and Rose (Imholt) Schwinefus. He attended a country school and later farmed with his brother on his father’s farm in Ostrander, Minn. Kenneth married Helen Gingels on Dec. 3, 1941, and they later divorced. They moved to La Crosse in 1954, where they purchased and ran the 400 Club. Kenneth eventually sold the club and went to work for Norplex. He later worked a short time at Cooler Company and then went back to work for Norplex before retiring.
In 1976 Kenneth married Marie Eastman and she preceded him in death on June 7, 2006. Kenneth loved bowling and watching the Milwaukee Brewers and Green Bay Packers on TV. He also liked to joke with the employees at Onalaska Care Center.
Kenneth is survived by two sons, James (Mary) Schwinefus of Galesville, Wis., and Ronald (Kathy) Schwinefus of Richland Center, Wis.; a daughter, Judy Schwinefus of Phoenix, Ariz.; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one brother, Robert (Lois) Schwinefus of Ostrander, Minn.; and one sister, Roselyn (Raymond) Engel of Neilsville, Wis.
In addition to his wife, Marie, he was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Shirley; and two brothers, Donald and Richard.
The family would like to thank Onalaska Care Center (including Pete) and the Dialysis Unit of Gundersen Clinic for the wonderful care given to Ken.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1031 Main St., Onalaska. Father Patrick Umberger will officiate and burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, La Crosse. Family and friends may call at the church on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until time of services.
Dickinson Family Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements
John ‘Jet’ E. Turner
ONALASKA, Wis. — John “Jet” E. Turner, of Onalaska passed away Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007, at Franciscan Skemp Medical Center in La Crosse. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Schumachern Kish Funeral Home.
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