Ann M. Austin
LA CROSSE/NEILLSVILLE, Wis. — Ann M. Austin, 94, of La Crosse formerly of Neillsville, passed away Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008, at Bethany Riverside, La Crosse.
Ann was born June 8, 1913, in Caltrano, Italy, to Mary and Valentino Dall’Olio. She married Merle Austin on Nov. 8, 1947, in Rockford, Ill. Before marriage, she worked in the garment industry in Rockford. After marriage, she farmed in Illinois and Wisconsin. Ann was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Neillsville.
Survivors include one son, David (Jane) Austin, Marshfield, Wis.; one daughter, Mary Fitzpatrick, La Crosse; eight grandchildren, Kimberly Austin, Sarah (Kevin) Gadke, Kathleen Fitzpatrick (fiance Callan Hackstaff), Heather, Molly, Amy, Daniel and Kelly Fitzpatrick; two great-grandchildren, Tyler and Bridget Gadke; one sister, Theresa Cascio, Rockford; two brothers, Robert and Paul Dall’Olio; nieces and nephews, Judith Gilmore, Margaret Anderson, Nicholas Cascio Jr., and Jerome Cascio.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1984; and one granddaughter, Ann Fitzpatrick.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Neillsville, with the Rev. Woodrow Pace officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Brodhead, Wis. Family and friends may call from 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church.
Memorials may be directed to Catholic Charities, La Crosse. The Buchanan Funeral home, Neillsville, is handling arrangements.
Nancy Elizabeth Bagan
TOPEKA, Kan. — Nancy Elizabeth Bagan, 83, of Topeka passed away in her home Feb. 16, 2008. Nancy was born Aug. 22, 1924, in La Crosse, the daughter of Russell and Juanita Lovold.
She graduated from La Crosse Central High School in 1942. Her working career started by representing Doerflinger’s department store as a singer and radio broadcasting personality. She earned an associate’s degree in fashion design at Stephen’s College in 1944. In 1946, she married a former USAAF fighter pilot, Robert K. Allen, and worked as a secretary while he finished his engineering degree. Soon she became a homemaker raising three sons in Pennsylvania and New York. Nancy moved back to Wisconsin to earn a B.S. in education at Stout State University. She taught a semester at Chippewa Falls, Wis., before she and her fiancée moved to Kansas.
On Aug. 26, 1961, Nancy married Kevin F. Bagan, a former USAAF bomber pilot from Menomonie, Wis., who owned a business in Topeka. Nancy taught at Scranton elementary in school year 1961 to 1962. The next year she began the most rewarding 25 years of her career teaching emotionally disturbed students at the Menninger Foundation children’s clinic. She earned an M.S in special education from Kansas University and started the Menninger Diagnostics and Learning Disabilities Center in 1973. She tutored learners of all ages in reading and presented at national conferences on reading disabilities. She formed many close friendships with colleagues and students that endured long after she retired in 1987.
In retirement, Nancy and Kevin enjoyed a cruise to Alaska. They spent winters making new friends in Arizona and summers renewing old friendships in Kansas or visiting dear relatives and friends in Wisconsin. Nancy was preceded in death by her husband, Kevin; and by her brother, Stanley Lovold.
She is survived by three sons and three daughters-in-law, David and Susan Allen of Deming, N.M., Gregory Allen and Martina Bulk of Topeka, and Russell and Sara Allen of Chandler, Ariz. She is also survived by five grandsons; three great-grandchildren; and many accomplished in-laws, nephews, and nieces who began life, as she did, in Wisconsin.
Nancy and Kevin will be interred following a memorial service to be held in La Crosse at a future date. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Marian Clinic, Midland Hospice, or Parkinson’s Foundation.
Max D. Downing
ONTARIO, Wis. — Max D. Downing, 88, of Ontario died Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008, at his home in Ontario. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at the Brush Creek Lutheran Church near Cashton, Wis. Pastor John Stennes-Spidahl will officiate. Burial will follow in the Hilltop Rest Cemetery in Ontario. Relatives and friends are invited for visitation from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at the Torkelson Funeral Home in Ontario and from 10 a.m. until the time of services Saturday at the church. Online condolences available at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
Viola Dunham
INDEPENDENCE, Wis. — Viola Dunham, 88, of Independence died Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008, at Tri-County Memorial Nursing Home, Whitehall, Wis. Arrangements are pending with Edison Funeral Home, Independence.
Philip A. Dyer
Philip A. Dyer, 97, of La Crosse, died on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008, at the Hillview Health Care Center. Funeral arrangements will be announced by the Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse.
Lorayne Holter
HOLMEN, Wis. — Lorayne Holter, 80, of Holmen died at the Onalaska Care Center on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008.
She was born in Viola, Wis., on Nov. 7, 1927, to William and Mary (Griffin) Chester. She married Sylvan Holter on May 11, 1947, and he preceded her in death on Oct. 4, 1998.
Lorayne is survived by a daughter, Sheila (Joe) Bissen of Madison; three sons, David (Marjorie) Holter of Albuquerque, N.M., Michael Holter of Wolf Point, Mont., and Timothy (Ardie) Holter of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Bonnie Cook of Holmen and Sharon Ellis of Kenosha, Wis.
In addition to her husband; she was preceded in death by five brothers. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20, at the Holmen Lutheran Church. The Revs. Glenn Borreson and Dan Henderson will officiate, and burial will be in the Onalaska Cemetery Family and friends may call from 10 a.m. until the time of services Wednesday at the church. The Dickinson Family Funeral Home is assisting the family.
John J. Kish
BARRE MILLS, Wis. — John J. Kish, 73, of Barre Mills passed away peacefully into the arms of the Lord on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Woodruff-Jandt Funeral Home, La Crosse.
Joyce J. Klimek
Joyce J. Klimek, 64, of La Crosse, passed away Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008, at Lakeview Health Center, West Salem, Wis. Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Woodruff-Jandt Funeral Home, 4239 Mormon Coulee Road, La Crosse. A private family burial will be held at a later date in the Trempealeau Public Cemetery. Friends may call from 1 p.m. until the time of services Thursday at the funeral home. A complete obituary will follow.
Joseph H. Mattison
HOLMEN, Wis. — Joseph H. Mattison, 95, died in the Hillview Health Care Center on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008. Friends may call from 3:30 p.m. until a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Dickinson Family Funeral Home, 515 McHugh Road, Holmen. Funeral services and burial will be in Minnesota on Wednesday. A complete obituary will be provided for Tuesday’s La Crosse Tribune.
Gilman W. ‘Gillie’ Meyer
NEW ALBIN, Iowa — Gilman W. “Gillie” Meyer, 78, of New Albin died Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008, at Thornton Manor, Lansing, Iowa. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, at St. Peter’s Christian Community Church, New Albin. Burial will be in St. Peter’s Memorial Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 until 7 p.m. Tuesday at the New Albin Community Center, and from 10 a.m. until the time of service Wednesday at the church. A complete obituary will follow. Haugen-Roble-Jandt Funeral Home, Caledonia, Minn., is in charge of arrangements.
Greg W. Olson
GENOA, Wis. — Greg W. Olson, 43, of rural Genoa died early Sunday morning, Feb. 17, 2008, as the result of a motor vehicle accident. Funeral arrangements, tentatively set for Friday, will be announced by the Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home of Viroqua, Wis. Online condolences may be offered at www.vosseteigfuneralhomes.com.
William J. Sauer
William J. Sauer, 90, of La Crosse, passed away Friday, Feb. 15, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse.
He was born July 18, 1917, in La Crosse to Samuel and Kathryn (Hartje) Sauer. Bill graduated from Beloit College and completed a law degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He enlisted in the Coast Guard and served as Lt. j.g. in New Guinea and Australia during World War II. After his return, Bill opened a law office in the Hoeschler Building, and continued to practice law well into his 80s. (He rode his bike to work well into his 70s.) He was an active member and officer in the Jaycees, City Bar Association, Elks, Optimists and Happy Twirlers. Bill also was a performing member of the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra and Concert Band.
He married Jean Stavrum on Aug. 30, 1947. Together they had five children, enjoyed square dancing, hiking, biking, kayaking, bird watching, swimming, bridge, and rooting for the Green Bay Packers.
Survivors include his wife, Jean; five children, Mary Sauer of La Porte, Ind., Kayla Garcia (Tracy Rupp) of Corvallis, Ore., Jan Sauer (Michael Miller) of Seattle, Wash., Sam (Lisa) Sauer of La Crosse, and Beth (Gary) Kiela of Punta Gorda, Fla.; six grandchildren, Derek, David, Verona, Bill, LB and Katie Jean; and six great-grandchildren, Nathan, Allison, Tyler, Avilana, Solaris, and Marazul.
Bill’s family has gathered to honor him and celebrate his life with a private memorial service at Eagle Crest, conducted by Pastor Ted Dewald. In lieu of flowers, the family requests all memorials be directed to the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Woodruff-Jandt Funeral Home, La Crosse, is assisting the family.
His family and friends remember Bill as a kind, gentle man with a fiercely independent spirit. He was an honest, hard-working attorney, devoted to his family and well-respected by his peers. He maintained his remarkable integrity, sense of humor, and optimism until the very end.
Fae L. Schneider
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. — Fae L. Schneider, 94, of Prairie du Chien passed away Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008, at the Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. John’s Catholic Church in Prairie du Chien, with burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Fennimore, Wis. Friends may call from 4 until 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Garrity Funeral Home, Prairie du Chien, where there will be a 7:30 p.m. wake Scripture. Friends may also call from 10 a.m. until the time of services Wednesday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Futures of Prairie du Chien Scholarship Program or the American Heart Assn. www.garrityfuneral home.com
Gerald W. Stark
SPARTA, Wis. — Gerald W. Stark, 81, of Sparta died Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008, at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare, Sparta. Funeral arrangements will be announced later by the Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta.
Lorraine M. (Stellick) Tofte
DIXON, Ill. —Lorraine M. (Stellick) Tofte, 83, of Dixon died Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008, at the Franklin Grove Nursing Center, Franklin Grove, Ill., after a short illness.
Mrs. Tofte was born Aug. 3, 1924, in La Crosse, the daughter of George and Martha (Hottinger) Stellick. She was married to Arthur M. Tofte Jr. for 62 years, marrying on March 9, 1945, in San Francisco. Lorraine was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church, Dixon. She served in U.S. Navy during WWII, and was past commander of the Dixon American Legion Post 12, being the first woman commander in Dixon.
Survivors include her husband, Arthur, of Dixon; one son, Arthur M. (Colleen) Tofte III, of Marion, Ohio; two grandchildren, Amy (Bob) Dudeck, Shawn Tofte; and two great-grandchildren.
Lorraine was preceded in death by two daughters, Barbara Tofte, and Gloria Tofte; one son, George R. Tofte; one brother, Glen Stellick; and one sister, Gloria Stellick.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20, at the Preston-Schilling Funeral Home, Dixon, with the Rev. Robert L. Hansen, pastor of the St. Paul Lutheran Church, Dixon, officiating. Cremation rites will be accorded. Private burial of cremains with full military graveside services provided by the combined veterans organizations will be in Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 until 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with the family present from 2 until 4 p.m. and 6 until 8 p.m.
A memorial has been established to Self Help Enterprises, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Dixon, and the Dixon American Legion Post 12.
Condolences may be sent to prestonschillingfuneralhome.com.
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