Brenda L. (Buchholz) Bradley
ONTARIO, Wis. Brenda Lee Bradley, 49, formerly of Sparta, Wis., and La Crosse went to be with her Lord Oct. 31, 2007, at the home of her parents after enduring a long and courageous battle with cancer. At the time of her passing, she was surrounded by family and enveloped by the love and prayers of many.
The eldest of four children, Brenda was born July 16, 1958, to Earl and Carol (Dickau) Buchholz of Ontario. Many of her early years were spent being a “tomboy” and keeping her younger brothers in line. In 1976, she graduated valedictorian of her class at Brookwood High School. Brenda attended UW-Platteville, graduating summa cum laude in 1980 with a bachelor of science degree in technical communications and an art minor. On June 14, 1980, she married Robert Bradley with whom she was blessed with a son, Ian.
Brenda joined Trane in February 1981 as a technical writer in service literature. She moved to product literature in 1985 and the applications engineering group in 1989 as an information designer. She worked on the office transformation team evaluating literature for almost two years. In 1993, she returned to the applications group. Brenda was one of the initiators of electronic publishing at Trane in 1988, which streamlined the way Trane created literature for customers. She was the editor for over 16 years of the “Engineers Newsletter,” a quarterly publication with over 40,000 subscribers globally. In 2001, the newsletter won a certificate of excellence from the International Society for Technical Communicators. Brenda won the monthly Trane “Going Above and Beyond” award 14 times and received the annual Trane “Best of the Best” in 1993 and 1999 for her work. Brenda relished taking a thorny engineering concept and conveying it to the reader in an elegant, understandable manner. She will be greatly missed by all who worked with her.
In 2006, due to declining health, Brenda took medical leave from Trane and eventually moved from La Crosse to Ontario. There she spent the remainder of her time in the company of her parents and rediscovered her church family at the Community Baptist Church. Although her body was losing its battle with cancer, her spirit never yielded. Her strength and calm acceptance was an inspiration to others and a witness to the power of God’s love and grace.
Besides her work, Brenda enjoyed spending time with family, friends and the characters of a good book. She had a knack for interior design and eclectic tastes in the arts, music and dining.
Those mourning her loss include her son, Ian Bradley of Waunakee, Wis.; parents, Earl and Carol Buchholz of Ontario; brothers, Steven (Joan) Buchholz of McDonough, Ga., David (Debra) Buchholz of Tomah, Wis., and Dean (Kim) Buchholz of Jefferson, Wis.; a grandmother, Ellen Dickau of Viroqua, Wis.; special friend, David Roark of Clarksville, Tenn.; former husband and friend, Robert Bradley of Sparta, Wis.; three nephews; and two nieces; and other relatives and friends.
Friends and family may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at Torkelson Funeral Home, Ontario. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, at Community Baptist Church of Ontario, with Pastor Bruce Milleman officiating. Burial will follow at Hilltop Rest Cemetery, Ontario.
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Psalms 30:5 (NKJV).
Terrance T. Tim’ Plunkett
Terrance T. “Tim” Plunkett, 49, of La Crosse died Saturday, Nov. 3, 2007, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center.
He was born in Mason City, Iowa, on Oct. 15, 1958, to Gerald and Netah (Decker) Plunkett, and graduated from West Salem High School in 1976.
Tim worked in construction throughout his life. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed deer and pheasant hunting, fishing for trout, walleye and salmon, trap-shooting and hunting for morels. He was well-known for his partridge planks and pheasant casserole, and also for his “love” for cats.
Tim is survived by his daughter, Cassandra Ray; and his former wife, Julie Ray; both of La Crosse; his father, Gerald Plunkett, living in Florida; his fiancι, Linda Gerke Frick of La Crosse; and her children, Carolyn, Robert and Joseph; five brothers, Brien (Renee) Plunkett, Christopher Plunkett, Peter (Brenda) Plunkett, Michael (Karen) Fisher and Stephen (Jacqueline) Fisher; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Netah (Plunkett) Bjornson, on July 11, 2006.
A memorial gathering for family and friends will be held from 5 until 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home, La Crosse. There will be no formal services. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse is assisting the family.
Irene Mari Hegland
ETTRICK, Wis. Irene Mari Hegland, 91, of Ettrick died Friday, Nov. 2, 2007, at Marinuka Manor, Galesville, Wis. A funeral Mass will be offered at noon Saturday at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church, Ettrick. Burial will follow in St. Bridget’s Catholic Cemetery, Ettrick. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until the time of service Saturday at the church. Zwickey Funeral Home, Galesville Chapel, assisted the family.
Edward Erdmann
WINONA, Minn. Edward “Eddie” Erdmann, 53, of Winona passed away Friday, Nov. 2, 2007, of cancer, at his home.
Eddie was born on Jan. 6, 1954, in Winona to Gerhard and Diane (Habeck) Erdmann. He graduated from Winona Senior High School in 1973 and went on to complete the Machine Tool and Die program at Winona Area Technical College. He married Laurie Hale on Aug. 30, 1986, at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ridgeway. He worked at Lake Center Industries before joining his brother, Gary, on his father’s farm. He returned to TRW, where he worked for more than 20 years.
Eddie was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, fishing, trips to Alaska and other outdoor travel with family and friends. He loved spending time with his grandchildren at his 22-acre home in Ridgeway, where he entertained with bonfires, six-wheeler rides and numerous outdoor activities. He enjoyed gardening, winemaking, gold panning, flint-napping and sharing his knowledge with others. He was a jack of all trades who enjoyed tinkering and fixing things.
He was preceded in death by his father, Gerhard, on Oct. 18, 1991.
Eddie is survived by his wife, Laurie; sons, Erik (Amy), Josh and Edward Ethan; daughters, Autumn (Nate) Warden and Erin (Adam) Spreeman; eight grandchildren, Moranda, Owyn, Ashton, Marshall, Winona, Estes, Jacob and Sedona; mother, Diane Erdmann; brothers and sisters, Becky Erdmann, Gary Erdmann, Linda Steinfeldt, and Tom (Wendy) Erdmann.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ridgeway, with the Rev. Joseph Crabtree officiating. Burial will be in Bush Cemetery, Ridgeway. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Martin-Myhre Funeral Home and at the church after 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Eddie was a wonderful husband, father, son, grandfather and friend a true diamond in the rough.
Alvin O. Franson
WHITEHALL, Wis. Alvin O. Franson, 84, of Whitehall, died on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2007, in the Tri-County Memorial Nursing Home in Whitehall. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Grace Lutheran Church in Pleasantville, Wis. Burial will be in the Bruce Valley Cemetery in rural Strum, Wis., at a later date. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in Jack Funeral Home in Whitehall and also one hour prior to the services Thursday at the church.
Patricia Fogel
WEST SALEM, Wis. Patricia Fogel, 67, of West Salem died Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007, at Lakeview Health Center in West Salem. Arrangements are pending with the Olson Funeral Home in Menomonie, Wis. To express condolences online, please visit obituaries at www.olsonfuneral.com.
Joseph William Zebell
WEST SALEM, Wis. Joseph William Zebell, 65, of West Salem succumbed to cancer, Thursday morning, Nov. 1, 2007, at Mulder Health Care Center in West Salem.
He was born in Monroe County, Wis., to Leo and Belva (Rudi) Zebell. He attended grade schools in Portland, Wis., and Melvina, Wis., and graduated from Cashton High School. He served in the U.S. Army for three years during Vietnam and was a military policeman in Okinawa, Japan.
Joseph married Constance Sherrard, resulting in divorce with two young daughters, Teresa (Andrew) Kneifl and Crystal (Neal) Anderson to raise.
He worked as a fireman and in security at Fort McCoy. He also worked at Equity and Nerison’s Livestock and later in Security at Rolling Hills, where he met and then married Eleanor Faeth, and together they moved to West Salem. He worked in security at Veteran’s Hospital in Tomah and for American Security Co. in La Crosse for several years.
Joe grew up and worked on the farm from childhood onward, always expressing his great love for horses, and gained many lifelong friends with the same interest. He was a good mechanic and also had a secondary hobby of Farmall tractors. He touched the lives of many and will be sadly missed.
He is survived by his wife, Eleanor; two daughters, Teresa and Crystal; stepson, Michael (Michele Kjersten) Williams; one sister, Lillian Zebell; and a brother, Leslie (Jeanette) Zebell. He was proud of his grandchildren, Alex Crick, Skylar, Kiley and Levi Kneifl, Kohner Steele and Emily Anderson; nephews, Darin and Cory Zebell; a niece, Nicole (Telly) Miller; and their daughters, Angela Miller and Danielle (Lee) O. Caiazzo.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Belva Zebell; a nephew, Aaron Zebell; and his first wife, Constance.
A funeral service with military honors will be at 2 p.m. today, Nov. 5, at Torkelson Funeral Home in Cashton, Wis. The Rev. John Steiner will officiate. Family and friends are invited for visitation from noon to the time of service at the funeral home. Online condolences are available at www. torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
Eugene J. Slaby
ARCADIA, Wis. Eugene J. Slaby, 88, of Arcadia died Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007, at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare, Arcadia. Wozney-Killian Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Correction
Walter Mazzone
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. Walter Mazzone is also survived by Tony and Tanya Mazzone. Burial will be at Lakeview Cemetery, Eau Claire, Wis.
Catherine M. Shikonya
WINONA, Minn. Mrs. Catherine M. Shikonya, died Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007, at Saint Anne Extended Healthcare, Winona.
She was born and raised in Pine City, Minn. She resided in Winona the past 25 years. On June 26, 1950, she was united in marriage to Joseph Shikonya of Ely, Minn., at Pine City.
Catherine was a retired public schools teacher. She graduated from the Pine City High School and then from Duluth State Teacher’s College, Duluth, Minn.
The only survivor is her son, Joseph E. of Onalaska, Wis. Her husband; parents; and one brother have preceded her in death.
A memorial Mass to celebrate her life will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, at Saint Anne Extended Healthcare, Rev. Robert Stamschror officiating. Interment at a later date will be in the Ely Cemetery, Ely.
Services entrusted to Fawcett-Junker Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 1476 W. Broadway, Winona, MN 55987.
Words of sympathy and remembrance may be left at www.fawcett-junkerfuneralhome.com.
Lyle N. Lien
TAYLOR, Wis. Lyle N. Lien, 73, of rural Taylor (town of Franklin, Wis.,) died on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007, in Franciscan Skemp Medical Center, La Crosse. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Upper Beaver Creek Lutheran Church, rural Taylor. Pastor LaMoine Jacobs will officiate, and burial with full military honors will be in the church cemetery. Family and friends are invited for visitation from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Buswell Funeral Home (www.buswellfuneralhome.
com), Black River Falls, Wis., and from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church.
Fredrick George Meyer
SAN FRANCISCO Fredrick George Meyer, 54, of San Francisco, passed away Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007, in San Francisco.
Brilliant, creative and loving, he was the adored husband of Judith Zoe Brown, beloved son of Marguerite and the late George Meyer of La Crescent Minn., and cherished brother of Paula and Steve Bursley and uncle of Rachel and Nicholas Bursley, all of Pleasanton, Calif.
A memorial service will be at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at Stanford University Faculty Club, Stanford, Calif. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to PAWS, P.O. Box 460487, San Francisco, CA 94146.
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