Betty J. Betz
Betty J. Betz, 83, of La Crosse died Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse. Services will be announced by Woodruff-Jandt Funeral Home, La Crosse.
Dale L. Indahl
BANGOR, Wis. — Dale L. Indahl, 58, of Bangor died Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007, at Lakeview Health Center, West Salem, Wis. Funeral services will be announced by Jandt Funeral Home, Bangor.
Herbert ‘Hub’ Hugo
WEST SALEM, Wis. — Herbert “Hub” Hugo, 88, of West Salem passed away Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2007, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse.
He was born April 22, 1919, in rural West Salem to Fred and Dora (Witte) Hugo. He married Elizabeth Niesen on Dec. 27, 1939. Hub worked at Allis-Chalmers until he was drafted into the Army in July 1944 and came home in January 1946. He went back to work at Allis-Chalmers until the plant closed. Hub worked until his retirement in May 1981 for the La Crosse County Park Depart-ment. He was a member of Berg-Hemker-Olson American Legion Post 51 of West Salem. Hub enjoyed playing cards with his friends at Dutz’s and was an accomplished woodworker.
Hub is survived by his loving wife, Elizabeth “Betty;” two daughters, Joyce (Rolly) Schatz of Chiloquin, Ore., and Judith (Richard) Traister of West Salem; eight grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Fritz (Agape) Hugo of Mount Clemens, Mich., and Robert (Carol) Hugo of Bangor, Wis.; one sister-in-law, Irene Hundt of La Crosse; one brother-in-law, Frankie Niesen of Bangor; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son and daughter who died at birth; three sisters, Evangeline (Rudy) Matiak, Ione (Harold) Schmidt and Dorothy (Leo) Elsen; two sisters-in-law, Virginia Niesen and Caroline (Ted) Hemker; and two brothers-in-law, Leo Hundt and Robert Niesen.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 5, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, St. Joseph Ridge. The Rev. Francis Abuah-Quansah will officiate. Burial will be in Mormon Coulee Memorial Park Cemetery, La Crosse, with military honors by the West Salem American Legion Post 51 and the U.S. Military Funeral Honors Program. Friends may call from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the church, and also from 10 a.m. until the time of services Monday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. Jostad-Jandt Funeral Home, West Salem, is in charge of arrangements.
Thank you to Dr. David Momont and Dr. Roger Kwong for their wonderful care, and also to Gundersen Lutheran hospice staff members for their outstanding support and in-home care.
Hub was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather, and he will be missed.
Dorothy M. Holen
WEST ALLIS, Wis. — Dorothy M. (Ekern) Holen, 76, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2007.
She was married to her beloved late husband, Arnie, on March 25, 1950. She was the loving mother of David, Dale (Kathy), Daryl (Nancy) and Diana Donnelly. She was the dear grandmother of Ashlie, Dan, Katelyn, Brittany, Tom, Colin, Ryan and Carli. She was the sister of Ruby Skilbeck and Myron (Margie) Ekern. Other survivors are nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Jordahl and Olga Ekern, and a brother, Harland (Joyce) Ekern.
Dorothy was baptized, confirmed and married at Coon Valley (Wis.) Lutheran Church. She was a member of Mount Hope Lutheran Church, West Allis, and of West Allis Senior Center, Mount Hope Senior Center, Sons of Norway and the Greyhound Retreads.
She graduated from Westby (Wis.) High School in 1949. Dorothy enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren playing cards and bingo, crocheting and spending time with her family and friends. Dorothy was very proud of her Norwegian heritage.
Funeral services will be at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, at Mount Hope Lutheran Church, 8633 W. Beecher St., West Allis. Visit-ation will be from 3 p.m. until the time of services Friday at the church, and from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Vosseteig Funeral Home in Westby. Interment will be in Our Savior Cemetery, Westby. Schaff Funeral Home, West Allis, is assisting the family.
Peter J. Speerstra Jr.
WHITEHALL, Wis. — Peter J. Speerstra Jr., 79, of Whitehall died Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2007, at Tri-County Memorial Nursing Home, Whitehall, where he had been a resident for the past 1½ years.
Pete was born Jan. 15, 1928, on the home farm in the town of Lincoln, Trempealeau County, Wis., to Peter Sr. and Josephine (Foss) Speerstra. Pete was confirmed at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Whitehall, where he remained a lifelong member. He graduated from Whitehall Memorial High School in 1946. Peter married Marilyn (Mandy) Hauge on Aug. 26, 1950. They lived and farmed on the home farm until his retirement in 1985.
Pete was a very active member and leader of local community and farm organizations. He was a 4-H leader for 23 years; was a member of the Trempealeau-Jackson County Guernsey Breeders for 40 years, serving as board member and president; and was a member of the Wisconsin Guernsey Breeders, serving on the state board and as the state president. Pete was also a member of the Trempealeau County Farm Bureau, serving on its board of directors for many years, and was on the town of Lincoln board of directors for 23 years. He served eight years on the Trempealeau County Board of Supervisors, including three years as chairman. He was president and served on several committees and boards at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Whitehall.
In addition to a busy life of farming, Pete was employed for several years as a dispatcher at the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department, and was also a bus driver for Thompson’s Bus Service.
Pete loved meeting people and exchanging stories. He and his wife made many lifelong friends over the years. Pete cherished the time he spent with these treasured friends.
Pete is survived by his wife, Marilyn (Mandy); five children, Peter (Sherri), their two children Matthew and Larissa, of Alma, Wis., Robert (Kay) and his son Craig and two stepchildren Kelly and Clint Cohan of Whitehall, Beth Cronin (Jim) and their son Ryan of Haverhill, Mass., John “Jack” (Mary) and their children Mandy, Sam and Mary Pat of Whitehall, and Jean Speerstra of Eden Prairie, Minn.
He is also survived by two brothers, Seth of River Falls, Wis., and John (Karen) of Randolph Center, Vt.; and one sister, Carolyn Caceres of Vancouver, Wash.
In addition to his parents, a sister, Maren Donaldson, preceded him in death.
A celebration of Pete’s life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Whitehall. Pastor Thomas W. Smith will officiate. Burial will be in Lincoln Cemetery in Whitehall. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Jack Funeral Home in Whitehall, and from 10 a.m. until the time of services Saturday at the church.
Daniel W. Roesler
COON VALLEY, Wis. — Daniel W. Roesler, 82, of rural Coon Valley died Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in La Crosse. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Seland Funeral Home, Coon Valley, and from 10 a.m. until the time of service Saturday at the church. A complete obituary will follow.
Eliza ‘Tucky’ Skemp
Eliza “Tucky” Skemp, 68, La Crosse, died Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007, at her home. A complete obituary will follow. Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Homes is assisting the family.
Allen Rostad
HOUSTON, Minn. — Allen Rostad, 84, died Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, with burial in Stone Church Cemetery, both in Houston. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until services Saturday at the church. Hoff Funeral Homes-Houston Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.
Kristoffer Robert Regan
Kristoffer Robert Regan, 32, of La Crosse died Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2007, at his home.
He was born Jan. 8, 1975, in Waukon, Iowa, to Pam Love and Duane Regan.
Kristoffer attended schools in La Crosse, as well as Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. He married Meredith Richert of La Crosse on Nov. 14, 2003, in Denver.
Kriss proudly served his country as a member of the Colorado National Guard and deployed to Iraq in 2004 as a firefighter with the 1157th Engineer Company. Following his discharge from active duty, he returned to the La Crosse area and continued pursuing his love for firefighting as a member of the Fort McCoy (Wis.) Fire Department.
He is survived by his wife, Meredith; son, Konnor; mother, Pam Love of Denver; father, Duane Regan of Milwaukee; sister, Tiffanie (Andrew) Peters, and nephews Lewis and Edward of St. Charles, Minn.; half-brother, Ryan Regan of Milwaukee; half-sister, Kara Regan of Milwaukee; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Tom and Mary Kay Richert of La Crosse; brother-in-law, Scott Richert of Arlington, V.; aunts Sandra “Beecher” (Randy) Robertson and Jason of De Soto, Wis., Lisa (Ben) Wagner and Merranda (Nickolos) Boardman, Travis and Ashley of Lansing, Iowa; and Cindy Love of Denver; uncle, John (Sharlene) Regan of Yampa, Colo.; aunt, Ginger (Stan) Wilkinson of North Carolina; and grandmother, Fran Regan of De Soto.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in La Crosse. The Rev. David Olson will officiate. Family and friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Dickinson Family Funeral Home, 1425 Jackson St., and from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the services Saturday at the church.
Kristoffer had a passion for all things Irish, his profession, hockey, hunting and fishing, the Green Bay Packers, his friends and especially his family. His son, Konnor, was the joy and light of his life. He will be remembered as a good and caring man who was always willing to help others — be it friend, family or neighbor. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Konnor Regan Trust Fund.
Jerry E. Holstad
WHITEHALL, Wis. — Jerry E. Holstad (the Flying Farmer), 67, of rural Whitehall died Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2007, at his home.
Jerry was born Jan. 29, 1940, in Whitehall to Hiram and Ella (Hanson) Holstad. He attended grade school in Coral City, Wis., and high school in Whitehall. He served four years in the U.S. Navy and was stationed in Kodiak, Alaska, and on the USS Hancock aircraft carrier.
Jerry farmed in the Whitehall/Pigeon Falls, Wis., area and was an owner/operator truck driver. He enjoyed flying, riding cycles, socializing and playing cards. Jerry was an avid Packers, Badgers and NASCAR racing fan.
Jerry married Ellen Girtman on Feb. 15, 1964, at Chimney Rock Lutheran Church, rural Strum, Wis. They later divorced. He married Cynthia (Roskos) Elstad on July 30, 1982, at SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Independence. She died Oct. 28, 2004.
Jerry is survived by his children, Jerilyn (Robin) Olson of Strum and their daughters, Amber Olson of Winona, Minn., and Bailey Olson of Strum, Julie (Cory Berg) Holstad and daughter, Danielle of Taylor, Wis., and Jill (Dan) Geske and their daughters, Jennifer and Jessica of Fall Creek, Wis.; his mother, Ella Holstad of Whitehall; three sisters, Barbara (Howard) Olson of Pigeon Falls, Wis., Carol (Verdell) Helstad of Whitehall, and Lois (Ken) Neperud of Whitehall; a brother, Rick (Deb) Holstad of Whitehall; four step-children, Robin (Tom) Fonfara of Sun Prairie, Wis., Joseph Elstad of Independence, Wis., Cmdr. John (Theresa) Elstad of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Mary Catherine (Bruce) Anderson of Whitehall. Jerry is further survived by stepgrandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Jerry was preceded in death by his father and wife.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at Pigeon Creek Lutheran Church, Pigeon Falls, with the Rev. Dale Moe officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Military rites will be conducted by Hutchins-Stendahl American Legion Post 191 of Whitehall.
Friends and family may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Edison Funeral Home, Independence, and from 10 a.m. until the time of services Saturday at the church.
Erma M. Ender
SPARTA, Wis. — Erma M. Ender, 93, of Sparta passed away Monday, Oct. 29, 2007, at Rolling Hills Rehabilitation Center, Sparta.
She was born in Monroe County on Dec. 16, 1913, to Paul and Augusta (Schulz) Knoll.
Erma married Elmer Ender on March 14, 1936, at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sparta. She lived in the Sparta area for most of her life with the exception of 12 years in Racine, Wis. She worked at Spartek until her retirement. Elmer passed away March 14, 1999.
She is survived by her daughter, Joyce (Verdell) Anderson of Sparta; her sons, Michael (Gerry) Ender of Sparta and Conrad (Beverly) Ender of Tallahassee, Fla; seven grandchildren, Brent Anderson, Jason, Scott, Allan, Eric and Brandy Ender and Cindy Culpitt; 10 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Esther Gurgel of Sparta, Violet (Maurice) Good of Sparta and Elsie Letson of New Richmond, Wis.; five brothers, Floyd and Herman of Sparta, Elmer of Bangor, Leonard of Florence, Ore., and Eugene (Bernice) of McConnell, Ill.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a grandson; her sisters, Martha Isensee and Alberta Gilbertson; and her brothers, Herbert and Erwin.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, with the Rev. Matthew E. Toso officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Sparta. Family and friends are invited to call at Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, from 5 to 7 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. until the time of services Friday. Online condolences may be offered at www.lanham-miller.com.
Memorials may be given to the Alzheimer’s Association of La Crosse or to a charity of your choice in Erma’s memory.
Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting the family with arrangements.
Rebecca A. Armstrong
BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. — Rebecca A. Armstrong, 50, of Black River Falls died Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2007, in her home in the town of Brockway, Jackson County, Wis. Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Torgerson’s Funeral Home, Black River Falls. Burial will be in Sechlerville Cemetery, rural Hixton, Wis. Relatives and friends may call from 1:30 p.m. until the time of services Saturday at the funeral home.
Richard W. Pliner
HILLSBORO, Wis. — Richard W. Pliner, 78, of Sparta and formerly of the Yuba, Wis., area, died Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007, at his residence. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Picha Funeral Home in Hillsboro. Burial will be in Czech’s National Cemetery near Yuba. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until the time of services Saturday at the funeral home. For online information, go to http://www.pichafuneralhomes.com.
Julie MacDonald
PLYMOUTH, Mich. — Julie MacDonald, 58, formerly of La Crosse, passed away in Plymouth. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in St. Francis of Assisi Mausoleum in the Catholic Cemetery, La Crosse. The Rev. Mark Pierce will officiate. Dickinson Family Funeral Home of La Crosse is assisting the family with arrangements. Funeral services were today in Plymouth. Memorials may be made to the Julie MacDonald, RN, Nursing Scholarship Fund at Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Maxine M. Thurow
VIROQUA, Wis. — Maxine M. Thurow, 48, of Viroqua died unexpectedly Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse.
She was born Sept. 12, 1959, in Richland Center, Wis., to Ransom and Esther (Rood) Bass. She attended Viroqua High School and graduated with the class of 1977. Maxine worked at Bethel Home in the housekeeping department for a number of years. On Nov. 5, 1994, she married Tim Thurow at Living Faith Church, Viroqua.
Maxine loved to spend time with her family. She enjoyed going for car rides with her husband. Maxine loved fishing but had to have her rubber gloves on. When she was a little girl she liked to sit under the kitchen table and eat butter. Maxine was a wonderful mother, aunt and grandmother. She loved spending time with her 13 brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews. Maxine especially loved her daughter and son-in-law and her grandson, Natas. She was also known for loving her cats very much.
Maxine is survived by her husband, Tim Thurow of Viroqua; daughter, Leanna (Marty) Gabel of Pueblo, Colo.; grandson, Natas Gabel; two brothers, Ray (Sue) Bass of Hillsboro, Wis., and Arlen Bass of Kendall, Wis.; four sisters: Mary Bass of Viroqua, Sadie (Howard) Burch of Hillsboro, Laura Thompson of Wilton, Wis., and Lorene Crouch of Tomah, Wis.; and nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Wayne and Ransom Bass III; and two sisters, Ramona Downing and Karen Grim.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 2, at Thorson-Reetz Funeral Home, Viroqua. Officiating at the service will be Pastor Kathy Ingbritsen. Burial will follow at Burr Ridge Cemetery, Ontario, Wis.
The family will greet relatives and friends at Thorson-Reetz Funeral Home, Viroqua, from 9 a.m. until the time of services at 11 a.m.
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