Esther M. Berg
WHITEHALL, Wis. — Esther M. Berg, 87, of Whitehall died March 16, 2008, at Tri County Memorial Nursing home in Whitehall. Arrangements are pending with the Jack Funeral Home in Whitehall.
Alex B. Cameron
ONALASKA, Wis. — Alex B. Cameron, 84, of Onalaska died on Saturday, March 15, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of Onalaska. Friends may call from 5 until 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. A complete obituary will be announced by the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to www.schumacher-kish.com.
Harold J. ‘Burt’ Cleary
ONALASKA, Wis. — Harold J. “Burt” Cleary, 80, of Onalaska died Saturday, March 15, 2008, at Mulder Health Care Facility, West Salem, Wis.
He was born Oct. 30, 1927, in La Crosse to Michael and Margaretta (Yohe) Cleary. Harold was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and served most of his four-year duty in Alaska. On March 12, 1949, he married Janice Liebel in Caledonia, Minn., and they were fortunate to recently share their 59th wedding anniversary together. Harold was employed at Trane Co. in La Crosse for 40 years. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. Harold’s passion was raising his Labrador retrievers — black, chocolate and his favorite, yellow. He was a proud member of the American Kennel Club and his knowledge of Labradors surpassed all. Harold enjoyed the simple pleasures in life and will be sadly missed.
Survivors include his loving wife, Jan; one daughter, Linda (Ron) Zuber of Scottsdale, Ariz.; one granddaughter, Ali (fiance, Eric) of Madison; one grandson, Paul of Chicago; a daughter-in-law, Ann Cleary of Michigan; one sister, Marge Pedretti of Onalaska; two sisters-in-law, Shirley Cleary and Dorothy Cleary; and many wonderful nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Howard; three brothers, Howard, Kenny, and Roy; and two sisters, Marcella and Gretchen.
A memorial Christian prayer service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 19, at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, 210 W. Hamlin St., West Salem. The Rev. Bob Hegenbarth will officiate. Following the service, there will be military honors performed by the Berg-Hemker-Olson American Legion Post 51 of West Salem and the U.S. Military Funeral Honors Program. There will be no burial. Friends may call from 5 until 7 p.m. Tuesday at Jostad-Jandt Funeral Home, 121 N. Youlon St., West Salem, and from 1:30 p.m. until the time of service Wednesday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.
Viola A. Groeschel
Viola A. Groeschel, 97, passed away Saturday, March 15, 2008, in the Bethany-St. Joseph Care Center. She was born Feb. 12, 1911, in Bergen Township, Vernon County, Wis., to Charles and Rose (Beranek) Zink. She married George Groeschel, and he preceded her in death on Aug. 2, 1975. She was a member of the Stoddard American Legion Auxiliary.
Viola is survived by two daughters, Juanita McGinnis and Lois Groeschel (friend Harold Spain), both of Stoddard, Wis.; three grandchildren, Errin, Collin and Murphy McGinnis; four great-grandchildren, Karissa McGuire, Vanessa, Lindsey and Caitlin McGinnis.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; five sisters, Rhoda Zink, Marie Wistenberg, Mabel Preidel, Christina Groeschel and Frances Birnbaum; four brothers, Charles “Bob” Jr., George “Butch,” Oscar and Lester Zink; and a son-in-law, Elwyn McGinnis on Aug. 21, 1997.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Stoddard United Methodist Church, 134 South Main St. The Rev. Melvin Brinkley will officiate, and burial will be in the Stoddard Cemetery. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until the time of service Tuesday at the church.
Memorials may be given to the church or the Stoddard American Legion Auxiliary.
The Sletten-McKee-Hanson Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Dolores A. Larson-Downing
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. — Dolores A. Larson-Downing, 79, of Prairie du Chien died Saturday, March 15, 2008, at Memorial Hospital in Prairie du Chien following a short illness. Memorial services will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Thornburg-Hanson Funeral Home in Prairie du Chien, with Pastor Paul Graham officiating. Friends may call beginning at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Mary A. Laufenberg
ALMA CENTER, Wis. — Mary A. Laufenberg, 55, of rural Alma Center died Friday at her residence. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. March 24 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Alma Center, with burial in Oakwood Cemetery, Merrillan, Wis. Friends may call from 3 until 7 p.m. Saturday at the Jensen-Modjeski Funeral Home, Hixton, and at the church one hour prior to services.
Herbert William Jerome Lounsbrough
Herbert William Jerome Lounsbrough, 82, of La Crosse passed away at his home on Sunday, March 16, 2008, of sarcoma cancer. He was born on May 14, 1925, in Winona, Minn., to Laura Jerome and attended grade school in Burns Valley, rural Bangor, Wis. He then attended Logan High School until entering the United States Navy, where he served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater during World War II until his discharge in 1946. On July 20, 1946, he married Lillian Hooverson in La Crosse.
Herb had worked as a machinist for the La Crosse Trane Co. for 40 years until retiring in 1985. He was a member of the Trane 25 year club, a former member of the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 1920 and a member of the International Association of Machinists Union Lodge 21. He was an avid fisherman and hunter, and was a fan of the Green Bay Packers.
In addition to his wife of 61 years, Lillian; Herb is survived by two daughters, Linda (Joseph) Severson and Rita (Gary) Witt both of La Crosse; two grandsons, Steven (Amy) Severson of La Crosse and Jason (Tricia) Witt of Janesville, Wis.; two great-grandchildren, Carly Severson and Anthony Severson, both of La Crosse; three sisters, Marie (Calvin) Cronk, Violet Johnson and Shirley Barton, all of La Crosse; a brother William (Carol) Lounsbrough of La Crosse; along with several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother; an infant son; and a brother, Melvin.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 19, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 612 Division St., with the Rev. Mark Jolivette officiating. Burial with military honors provided by Roy L. Vingers American Legion Post 52 will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery. Friends and family may call from 5 until 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse, and again from 10 a.m. until the time of services Wednesday at the church. Memorials may be sent to the Franciscan Skemp hospice program.
Doris Marcella Seidel
VIROQUA, Wis. — Doris Marcella Seidel, 85, passed away Saturday morning, March 15, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse after suffering a stroke on Monday, March 10.
She was born in Viroqua on July 22, 1922, to Robert and Clara (Anderson) Swenson. She graduated from Viroqua High School in 1941 and then married Elroy Seidel. She had worked at the Viroqua Leaf Tobacco Co. and prior to her retirement was an associate for over 26 years at J.C. Penney Co. in Viroqua. She also worked over 50 years as a bookkeeper for the family business, Seidel Excavating.
Doris was an avid card player and enjoyed bingo. She was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church and the Ruth Circle in Viroqua and Viroqua Eagles Aerie No. 2707 Auxiliary.
Doris is survived by one daughter, Yvonne (Donald) Nash of Janesville, Wis.; one son, David (Sherrie) Seidel of Viroqua; four grandsons, Randy (Linda) Nash of Janesville, Robbie Nash of Janesville, Sean Seidel and his fiancée, Jayme Christensen of Viroqua, Michael (Courtney Oftedahl) Seidel of Madison; six great-grandchildren, Trevor, Aaron, Jessica, Crystal, Levi, and Shelley Nash; two sisters, Verna Olson and Mildred White, both of Viroqua; one brother, Cyrus Swenson of Viroqua; one sister, Alice (Clayton) Reed) of Beloit, Wis.; two sisters-in-law, Marge Swenson of Rochester, Minn., and Shirley Swenson of Viroqua; several nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Elroy on Oct. 17, 1997; two brothers, Otis and Victor Swenson; and two sisters, Alvina Struxness and Ruth Watters. Blessed be her memory.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 19, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Viroqua, with Pastor Kathy Ingbritsen officiating. Burial will be in the Viroqua Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 until 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Thorson-Reetz Funeral Home in Viroqua, where there will be a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. Friends may also call after 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church. The family suggests memorials to the Immanuel Lutheran Church.
Gerald L. Welch
ONALASKA, Wis. — Gerald L. Welch, 89, of Onalaska died Friday, March 14, 2008, at the Spring Brook Assisted Living Center of Onalaska.
He was born in La Crescent, Minn., on Oct. 29, 1918, to John W. and Anna Welch. He married Irene Eyler in La Crosse on Oct. 20, 1942, and she preceded him in death in 2002. Together with his wife Irene, they had owned and operated the Welch Motel in La Crosse for many years. Gerald was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons La Crescent lodge. He had also served in many capacities while a member of North Presbyterian Church.
He is survived by two daughters, Pamela (James) Hauser of Holmen, Wis., Karla Ann (Doug Brandt) Welch of La Crosse; one son, Tedd (Pamilla) Welch of Madison; five grandchildren, Chris, Mike (Michelle), Tom Welch, Steven (Amy), Andrew (Jaime) Hauser; seven great-grandchildren, Zachary, Isaac, Gracie, Katelyn, Jaelyn, Denver, and Camille. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at the North Presbyterian Church in La Crosse. Pastor Scott Skogan will officiate. Burial will be in the Prospect Hill Cemetery, La Crescent, Minn. Friends may call from 5 until 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse, where a Masonic service will be held at 6:30 p.m., and again from 10 a.m. until the time of services Wednesday at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family would like memorials directed to the North Presbyterian Church. The family would also like to thank the staffs at Spring Brook and Gundersen Lutheran Hospice for the wonderful care they provided Gerald during his stay.
Correction: Mary T. Davy
Mary T. Davy is also survived by her sister, Regina Defendi. Her name was inadvertantly mispelled in Sunday’s Tribune.
Correction: Ella M. Meiners
Ella M. Meiners is also survived by her sister-in-law, Helen Schroeder of Caledonia, Minn. This information was inadvertently omitted from the obituary in Sunday’s Tribune.
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