George P. Caffrey
WEST SALEM, Wis. — George P. Caffrey, 78, of West Salem died Wednesday, May 14, 2008, at his home.
He was born April 4, 1930, in Scranton, Pa., to Harry A. and Helen K. (Bean) Caffrey. George met the love of his life, Ella “Dee” Goodenough in 1952 and they married Nov. 9, 1953, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Onalaska, Wis. Dee preceded him in death April 5, 2003. In 1963, he started working at Pischke Motors in West Salem as a mechanic and worked until Oct. 12, 1995, when he retired. George continued to be active up until the present by repairing anything that needed fixing while at the same time giving good sound advice.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving during the Korean War from 1951 to 1953. George was a member of St. Leo the Great Catholic Church in West Salem and a longtime member of Berg-Hemker-Olson American Legion Post 51, West Salem.
Survivors include four daughters, Kathy (Dennis) Noel of Sparta, Wis., Julie (Jim) Noel of West Salem, Lorie Caffrey of Sun Prairie, Wis., and Jacquie (Kyle) Cravens of La Crosse; nine grandchildren, Jennifer (Jon) Finch, Christy Noel, David (Jessica) Noel, Emily and Annie Noel, Nate and Alison Thompson, and Amanda and Ashley Cravens; four great-grandchildren, Dylan, Luke and Evan Noel, and Braedon Finch; three sisters, Eleanor, Mary and Rose; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and two sisters.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, May 19, at 11 a.m. at St. Leo The Great Catholic Church, 210 W. Hamlin St., West Salem. The Rev. Bob Hegenbarth will officiate, and the Rev. Douglas Robertson will concelebrate. Burial will be in Hamilton Cemetery with military honors by Berg-Hemker-Olson American Legion Post No. 51, West Salem, and the U.S. Military Funeral Honors Program. Friends may call at Jostad-Jandt Funeral Home, 121 N. Youlon St., West Salem, on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. with a rosary to be recited at 5 p.m. Friends may also call at the church on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers.
Earl Rolland Grunke
Earl Rolland Grunke, 83, of La Crosse and formerly of Viroqua, Wis., died Friday, May 9, 2008, at Bethany-Riverside Nursing facility, La Crosse.
Earl was born to Herman W. and Lillis Valentine (Goodspeed) Grunke in Clear Lake, Wis., on July 19, 1924. He attended Clear Lake High School until the beginning of WWII, at which time, with his family, they moved to Minneapolis to take part in the war effort. While in Minneapolis he met and married Janice Temple, and they experienced life in various parts of the Midwest, including Montana, Iowa and Minnesota, settling ultimately in Duluth, where they raised their six children. During these years, Earl had several career experiences from ranch hand in Montana to a variety of sales jobs (vacuum cleaners, meat tenderizers, photo albums, you name it, he could sell it). After 20 years of marriage, Earl and Janice divorced, and Earl headed to southern Wisconsin to live. He met and married Mary Strupp and settled in Viroqua. He began his photography business, Pied Piper Portraits, which he successfully ran for 30 years.
In his later years he was inspired to take on the role of Santa Claus for the Christmas season, which was the beginning of a new part of his life, and a role he played until he moved into the nursing home last year. Earl touched the hearts of many families and their children in this community portraying Santa Claus.
He is survived by his first wife, Janice; his eight loving children, Myreen (Gerald) Gelhaus of Roggen, Colo., Marilyn (William) Miller of Acme, Wash., Joan (Robin) Eddy of Brookings, Ore., Kenneth Grunke of West Lima, Wis., Robert (Julie) Grunke of La Crosse, Elizabeth Grunke Stubblefield (Dennis Conrad) of Sheldon, Wis., Bryan Grunke of La Crosse and Eric Christensen of Viroqua. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, nine great-children and four great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Sunday, May 18, at 3 p.m. with visitation beginning at 2 p.m. at the chapel at Bethany-Riverside Nursing Facility, 2575 S. Seventh St., La Crosse. The Rev. Kimberly Jordan will officiate. Following the memorial service, there will be a celebration of Earl’s life at the Place of Grace, 919 Hood St., La Crosse. Call 782-6224 for dircctions.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Place of Grace or Bethany Lutheran Homes.
Lillian J. Magnuson
WHITEHALL, Wis. — Lillian J. Magnuson, 88, of Whitehall died Thursday, May 15, 2008, in Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in LaCrosse.
Lillian was born Feb. 5, 1920, in Black River Falls, Wis., to Ole and Nora (Gilbertson) Overlien. She married Reuben Magnuson in 1948 in Whitehall. Reuben preceded Lillian in death in February 1967.
Lillian graduated from Black River Falls High School and Eau Claire (Wis.) Vocational Technical College. She lived and worked in Dayton, Ohio, for a few years and was employed as a secretary. Lillian returned to Whitehall in 1946 and was employed at the National Farm Loan Office. She also owned and operated the Home Dress Shop in Whitehall and cooked at the Green Meadows Supper Club in rural Blair, Wis.
Lillian was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church and was active in Luther League and taught Sunday school. Lillian enjoyed golfing in her younger years and cooking.
Lillian is survived by a son, Tom (Pat) Magnuson of Shawano, Wis.; three grandchildren, Meghan (Matt) Hart of St. Louis Park, Minn., and Eirik and Bjorn Magnuson, both of Minneapolis; two great-granddaughters, Ava and Mya Hart; and a sister, Ella Ruth Hesselmen of Eau Claire.
In addition to her parents and husband, Lillian was preceded in death by a daughter, Helen Miller; three brothers, Art, Glen and Norman Overlien; and three sisters, Beatrice Kersting, Helen Hott and Verna Mooney.
Funeral services will be held today at 4 p.m. in Jack Funeral Home with burial in the Lincoln Cemetery, both in Whitehall. Pastor Thomas W. Smith will officiate. Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Howard ‘Howie’ K. Olson
SPARTA, Wis. — Howard “Howie” K. Olson, 68, of Sparta died Friday, May 16, 2008, at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare, La Crosse.
He was born on June 29, 1939, in Viroqua, Wis., to Adolph and Violet (Ostrander) Olson. He grew up in Viroqua and graduated from Viroqua High School. He attended barber school in Eau Claire, Wis. He then worked in La Crosse.
He married Sue Stenslien on Aug. 21, 1971, in Sparta. He started working in Sparta as a barber and worked at Captain’s Corner for 37 years. He enjoyed his trips up north, casinos, whittling wooden canes with his neighbor Jim, the Milwaukee Brewers, and sports. He adored and loved his granddaughter, Lillian.
He was a member of the American Legion Post 100.
He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Sue of Sparta; a son, Nicholas (Jennifer) Olson of Sturgeon Bay, Wis.; a daughter, Andrea (Kevin Peterson) Olson of Sparta; a granddaughter, Lillian; a brother, John Gary (Marge) Olson of La Crosse; his mother-in-law, Telona Stenslien of Viroqua; a sister-in-law, Alene Stenslien of Viroqua; a brother-in-law, Elwin Harris of Wausau, Wis.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Geraldine and Muriel “Mungo” Haun, Neola Olson, Evelyn and William “Bill” Romanshek, and Verlaine Harris; a brother, Eldridge Olson; and a special niece, Sandra Hanson.
Family and friends are invited to call at Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, on Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. A private family burial will be in Viroqua.
Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at www.lanham-miller.com.
Jarvis S. Peterson
MABEL, Minn. — Jarvis S. Peterson, 91, of Mabel died Thursday, May 15, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Garness Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Mabel. Burial will be in Garness Cemetery, with military rites by Mabel American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Mengis Funeral Home, Mabel, and from 1 p.m. until the time of services Monday at the church.
Donna M. Verthein
LA CRESCENT, Minn. — Donna M. Verthein, 73, of La Crescent and formerly of Hokah, Minn., died Thursday, May 15, 2008, at her home. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Hokah United Methodist Church, with burial in Mount Hope Cemetery, both in Hokah. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until the time of services Tuesday at the church. Haugen-Roble-Jandt Funeral Home, Caledonia, Minn., is in charge of arrangements. A complete obituary will follow.
Irene Warner
Irene Warner, 105, of La Crosse died Thursday, May 15, 2008, in La Crosse. Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home, Muscatine, Iowa, is in charge of arrangements. A full obituary will follow.
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