Margaret ‘Martie’ E. Russell
ONALASKA, Wis. — Margaret “Martie” E. Russell, 89, of Onalaska died Saturday, May 17, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse.
She was born March 22, 1919, in La Crosse to Arthur and Augusta (Sistad) Hults. She was a 1937 Logan High School graduate and went on to graduate from La Crosse Vocational School. Margaret received the Civilian Service Award from the U.S. Army for her work at Camp Lee, Va., during World War II.
She married Clair Russell in 1944. They were partners in a number of businesses in Onalaska and one business in Richfield, Minn. They later divorced.
Margaret also worked at Trane Co. and retired from Trane in April 1984.
She was a longtime member of Onalaska United Methodist Church and a 50-year-plus member of the Onalaska American Legion Auxiliary.
Margaret enjoyed bowling, golfing, cooking and spending time with family and friends.
Her parents; three brothers; two sisters; a daughter, Joan; and three grandchildren preceded her in death.
Surviving are her daughter, Kay (John) Ward of Onalaska; grandsons, Christopher (Miranda) Ward of La Crosse and Greg Ward of Egan, Minn.; and two great-grandchildren, Manning and Cadence Ward.
The family would like to express their thanks to the staff at Laurel Manor, where Margaret resided for the past four years, and to Gundersen Lutheran Hospice.
Margaret’s caring and loving spirit will be deeply missed by her family and friends.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday May 21, at Dickinson Family Funeral Home, 401 Main St., Onalaska. The Rev. Wesley Schirmer will officiate, and burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, La Crosse. Friends may call at the funeral home Wednesday from 9 a.m. until time of services.
Memorials are preferred to Gundersen Lutheran Hospice or National Stroke Association.
William ‘Bill’ R. Norman
William “Bill” R. Norman, 60, of La Crosse died Saturday, May 17, 2008, in rural Crawford County, Wis., as the result of a motorcycle accident.
He was born in La Crosse on Aug. 7, 1947, to James B. and Joyce E. (McNally) Norman. Bill worked as an iron worker for 38 years where he was a member of the Ironworkers Local 383. In retirement, he enriched the lives of many youth as a school bus driver for 3-Rivers Bus Service.
Through the course of his life, he moved throughout the state of Wisconsin but always maintained roots with his family and friends in the Coulee Region. Since 1998, he had lived on the Black River, where he enjoyed boating, gardening, motorcycling and walking. His son wrote: “Dad lived a spirited and zestful life and his passion for adventure inspired all those that knew him.”
He is survived by one son, William J. Norman of Madison; one daughter, Jenny Shanedling of Carlton, Minn.; his mother, Joyce of West Salem, Wis.; two brothers, Richard (Carlotta) Norman of West Salem and James A. (Wanda) Norman of Roscoe, Ill.; five sisters, Brenda (Jim) Peterson of La Crescent, Minn., Vicki Wickett of Denver, Barbara Wermager of Madison, Michelle Everson-Norman of West Salem and Patty Greenslet (fiance’ Jeff Henry) of Milton, Wis.; two grandchildren, Nathan and Noah; and his godson, Nick Breidel of La Crosse. He was preceded in death by his father; one brother, Steven J. Norman; his brother-in-law, Thomas Wermager; and his grandparents.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 22, at Mindoro (Wis.) Lutheran Church. Pastor Janet Wollam will officiate. Private family burial will take place at a later date. Friends may call at the Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and again at the church Thursday from 10 a.m. until time of services. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.
Robert Emmons DeBauche
Robert Emmons DeBauche, 83, of La Crosse died Monday, May 19, 2008, at St. Joseph’s Rehabilitation Center in La Crosse. A funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. James the Less Catholic Church in La Crosse. A gathering of family and friends will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Home-Nelson Chapel in La Crosse. A complete obituary will follow in Wednesday’s Tribune.
Helen B. Daines Berg
ONTARIO, Wis. — Helen B. Daines Berg, 99, of Ontario died Monday, May 19, 2008, at Norseland Nursing Home in Westby, Wis. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Brush Creek Lutheran Church near Ontario. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Torkelson Funeral Home in Ontario and 10 a.m. to services Thursday at the church. Online condolences may be offered at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
Mary Jane Skaff
ONALASKA, Wis. — Mary Jane Skaff, 91, passed away Sunday, May 18, 2008, at Onalaska Care Center.
She was born in Moorhead, Minn., on July 20, 1916, to Hiram and Grace (Herkins) Hegge. She married the love of her life, George Skaff, and he preceded her in death Nov. 16, 1994. Mary was known as the “Hat Lady” and modeled hats during the 1940s and 1950s for Doerflingers and the Barrons Department Store, which is now Herbergers. Before she married George she worked at Northern Engraving as a purchasing agent. In 1955, Mary and George, moved to Onalaska and shortly after opened Peter Pan Dry Cleaning in 1956. As their business ventures grew, they opened the Onalaska Liquor Store located at the same location. She was active in the Onalaska Historical Society. Mary Jane was a very independent and self-supporting woman before it was fashionable to be so.
She is survived by her cousin, Jeanne Gregory of Grand Forks, N.D.
She was preceded in death by her husband and her parents.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 22, at Dickinson Family Funeral Home, 401 Main St., Onalaska. The Rev. Scott Skogen will officiate and burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, La Crosse. Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 10 a.m. until time of services.
Pam Ann Wenzel
Pam Ann Wenzel, 60, of La Crosse died in her home on Saturday, May 17, 2008.
Pam was born Aug. 9, 1947, in La Crosse to Raymond and Betty (Anderson) Luehne. She married Jim Wenzel on Dec. 17, 1983. She had worked at LaCrosse Footwear for 34 years and at Metallics for seven years.
She is survived by her husband, Jim; a daughter, Jenny (Chad Lehmann) of La Crosse; two grandchildren, Hunter and Brett; her mom and dad of
La Crosse; a sister, Leslie (Dave) Mroch and their children, Anna, Dave and Molly; a great-nephew, Will; aunts, uncles and cousins; several real good and close friends; and her cat, Willy.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Dickinson Family Funeral Home, 809 Gillette St., La Crosse. The Rev. Kent Johnson will officiate and inurnment will be in the columbarium in Mormon Coulee Memorial Park Cemetery, rural La Crosse. Friends may call at the funeral home from 4 to 6 p.m. today.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Pamela Ann Wenzel Memorial Fund.
Viola M. Mount
WAUKON, Iowa — Viola Mount, 93, of Waukon died Sunday, May 18, 2008, at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare in La Crosse. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Mary’s Lycurgus Catholic Church in rural Waukon. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, where there will be a 4 p.m. Scripture service.
Irene Warner
Irene Warner, 105, formerly of Muscatine and Iowa City, Iowa, passed away Thursday, May 15, 2008, in La Crosse.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, May 23, at First Baptist Church, 3003 Mulberry Ave., Muscatine. The Rev. Don Swanson of First Baptist Church will officiate the service. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery. A luncheon will be at First Baptist Church after the committal service at the cemetery. Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home in Muscatine is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial services will be held at Bethany-on-Cass, 1315 Cass St., La Crosse, at 1 p.m Wednesday, May 28.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Irene may be made to Bethany Lutheran Homes, 2575 Seventh St. S., La Crosse, WI 54601; La Crosse — Rebecca Myrick Chapter DAR, 1322 31st Place S., La Crosse, WI; First Baptist Church, 3003 Mulberry Ave., Muscatine, IA 52761; or a charity of your choice. Online condolences for the Warner family may be left at www.wittichfuneralhome.com.
Irene was born April 28, 1903, in Muscatine, the daughter of Sylvester and Cornelia Ward Ketchum. She married Dr. Emory Warner on June 18, 1930, in Muscatine. He preceded her in death in 1982. They lived in Iowa City throughout his career at the University of Iowa —College of Medicine. Irene devoted her life to her family. She was also active in the Iowa City Music Study Club, the Daughters of the American Revolution and the General Society of Mayflower Descendants. Following her husband’s death, she moved to La Crosse. She delighted her grandchildren and great-grandchildren with stories of her childhood, farming with horses, cooking on the kitchen wood stove and delivering milk and eggs in a horse-drawn wagon to neighbors on the way into town for school.
She was a graduate of Muscatine High School in 1921. She moved to Iowa City, receiving a BA in sociology from the University of Iowa in 1928. She worked for several years in the sociology and other departments.
She is survived and will be missed by her daughters, Carmen (Seymour) Raffety of La Crosse, Carol (James) Mellon of Wildwood, Ill., and Helen (Eckhart) Dersch of Okemos, Mich.; grandchildren, David Raffety of La Crosse, Linda (Paul) Kiehne of Arizona, Brian Mellon of Illinois, Erik (Candice) Dersch of Madison, Wis., Laurel (Jeff) Ciavarri of Massachusetts, and Helen (David) Rieland, Heather (Niels) Moreno, Karl (Lisa) Dersch and Mark (Christina) Dersch all of Michigan; 12 great-grandchildren; and four nieces, Phyllis Harden of Muscatine, Ethel Skowronsky of Machesney Park, Ill., Bernice Martindale of Stillman Valley, Ill., and Leanor Peterson of West Covina, Calif.
Irene was predeceased by her husband; four brothers, Orville, Virgil, Russell and Dwight Ketchum; one sister, Grace Harden, and a nephew, Lawrence Harden, both of Muscatine.
Margaret C. Blackbourn
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN/ BAGLEY, Wis. — Margaret C. Blackbourn, 86, of Prairie du Chien and formerly of Bagley died Monday, May 19, 2008, at Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital. A memorial visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, with a 6:30 p.m. prayer service, at Garrity Funeral Home in Prairie du Chien. Private family burial will be held at a later date at Dodge Cemetery in Bloomington, Wis.
Leland R. Germanson
Leland R. Germanson, 85 of La Crosse died Monday, May 19, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse. Funeral services are pending and will be announced by Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse.
Robert ‘Bud’ Gilbert
CANTON, Minn. — Robert “Bud” Gilbert, 95, of rural Canton died Sunday, May 18, 2008, at Green Lea Manor Nursing Home in Mabel, Minn.
Bud was born Sept. 10, 1912, in Cale-donia, Minn., to George and Julia (Skar) Gilbert. He attended the Lenora School. Bud spent two years working in the Civilian Conservation Corps in northern Minnesota. On Dec. 27, 1941, he married Maxine Lewis at Henrytown Lutheran Church in rural Canton.
Bud entered the U.S. Army in February 1941, where he served in the European and African theaters of operation of World War II and attained the rank of staff sergeant before his discharge in July 1945. After serving his country, he returned to Maxine in Lenora, where he farmed and drove school bus for many years. Bud was a member of Henrytown Lutheran Church, where he had served on the church board, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and had served 33 years on the Ace Telephone Association Board.
Bud is survived by his wife, Maxine of Canton; a daughter, Sharon (Jerry) Knudsen of Houston, Minn.; two grandchildren, Karen Knudsen of Burnsville, Minn., and Ross Knudsen of Houston; four great-grandchildren, Lauren, Joshua, Molly and Dale; three sisters, Georgia Soiney of Austin, Minn., Rachel Watson of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., and Shirley (Lowell) Johnson of Waseca, Wis.; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 21, at Henrytown Lutheran Church in Canton, with the Rev. Roger Knudson officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with military rites by the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. today, May 20, at Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel, Minn., and one hour prior to services at the church.
Richard A. Williams
KENOSHA, Wis. — Richard A. Williams, 64, of Kenosha passed away unexpectedly Friday, May 16, 2008, at his residence.
Born Jan. 1, 1944, in La Crosse, he was the son of the late James L. and Evelyn (Hodge) Williams. He was educated in the schools of La Crosse and graduated from Aquinas High School in 1962. He moved from Reedsburg, Wis., to Kenosha in 1974, and has resided here since.
He was enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam from 1966 to 1967.
On Sept. 19, 1970, he married Susan Thompson in Reedsburg.
Richard was employed at AMC/Chrysler for 32 years, retiring as a tool & cutter grind operator in May 2007.
He was a member of Local UAW 72 Retirees. Richard was very involved with the Boy Scouts of America and was a mentor for Wilson Elementary. He was an outdoorsman, loved hunting, camping, traveling with his family, maintaining his yard, playing and watching sports and enjoyed working with young people. Richard was a total family man and was very unselfish.
Richard is survived by his wife of 37 years, Susan Williams of Kenosha; two sons, Thomas Williams of Kenosha and David Williams of Oshkosh, Wis.; four brothers, Paul Williams of Washington state, Al (Lois) Locy of Lodi, Calif., Charles (Barb) Callan of La Crosse, and John (Kim) Williams of Onalaska, Wis.; and two sisters, Patricia (Galen) Romskog of La Crosse and Bernita (Howard) Sheehan of French Island, Wis.
He was preceded in death by his stepmother, Marie Polodna Williams; and two brothers, Harry “Butch” and James “Bill” Williams.
Visitation will be held Thursday, May 22, at Proko Funeral Home in Kenosha from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Funeral services will follow at the funeral home at 2 p.m. Interment will be private.
Robert Liles Jr.
ONALASKA/WEST SALEM, Wis. — Robert Liles Jr., affectionately referred to by his wife as “Yogi,” died Saturday, May 17, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, at the age of 79.
He was born Dec. 27, 1928, in Sturgis, Ky., to Robert and Ruby (Morris) Liles Sr. On March 3, 1952, he married Gloria Severson at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in West Salem. Bob was a veteran of the U.S. Army and was a member of Berg-Hemker-Olson American Legion Post 51 of West Salem. He was employed as a welder at Trane Co. in La Crosse for 38 years until his retirement. Bob was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in West Salem. He enjoyed woodworking, fishing and especially spending time with his grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Gloria; two daughters, Linda (Mike) Harper and Angie (Mike) Horge, both of Onalaska; two sons, Larry (Jan) of West Salem and Steve (Melanie) of Viroqua, Wis.; 12 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one sister, Grace (Gordon) Certain of Sturgis, Ky.; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and two sisters.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 21, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 359 N. Leonard St., West Salem. The Revs. J. David Bersagel and Martha J. Hampton will officiate. Following the service, military honors will be performed by West Salem American Legion Post 51 and the U.S. Military Funeral Honors Program. In accordance with Bob’s wishes, his body will be cremated and there will be no burial. Friends may call at Jostad-Jandt Funeral Home, 121 N. Youlon St., West Salem, today from 5 to 7 p.m. and at the church on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until time of services.
Margaret ‘Peg’ Fuller Dosch
GREEN VALLEY, Ariz./LA CROSSE — Margaret “Peg” Fuller Dosch, 67, of Green Valley and formerly of La Crosse died peacefully on Tuesday, March 18, 2008, in
her home surrounded by her family.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 24, in Assisi Heights Center, 1001 14th St. NW, Rochester, Minn., in the Earth Room, with Chaplain Mary Johnson from Mayo Clinic in Rochester presiding.
Peg was born Aug. 10, 1940, to Earl and Gladys Dosch in Dover, Ohio. She attended high school at Whitefish Bay, Wis., received a bachelor’s degree in physical education and a master’s degree in health education from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Peg continued her education at the University of Oregon in Eugene, and in 1979 received a doctorate in health education with an emphasis in gerontology and women’s health. Peg married Kenneth Becker on Dec. 28, 1988, in Green Lake, Wis.
Peg lived in southern California for 10 years while teaching at Grant and Birmingham High Schools and then moved to Wisconsin, where she taught at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in the health education and health promotion department. She retired in 1998 after 31 years of teaching and moved to Green Valley, where she had lived ever since.
As a professor at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Peg was remarkably busy. Peg taught courses in several aspects of health, including women and healthy aging, women’s health issues, child abuse, sexual abuse of children and human sexuality. Peg was a qualified consultant and trainer of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. As a professor, she wrote and published many articles on health topics for various professional journals, wrote grant proposals, gave many workshops and presentations regionally, statewide, nationally and internationally in the field of health.
Peg was the recipient of many honors, including receiving the Outstanding Woman of the Year Award in Health and being appointed by the Wisconsin governor as a participant in the 1981 White House Conference on Aging in Washington, D.C. This conference occurs every 10 years and a person may only attend if appointed.
Peg was actively involved in professional and community organizations in La Crosse, including the New Horizons Shelter and Women’s Center and the YWCA, and was part of a team that was instrumental in planning and organizing the gerontology program at the university through the Continuing Education Department.
In her retirement years in Green Valley, Peg was an active member of Newcomers Club, PEO and the Sarah Circle from the Valley Presbyterian Church. She was also an avid duplicate bridge player and was in charge of the swim meet for the GVR Senior Games for several years. Peg loved football and was a passionate, energetic and faithful fan of the Green Bay Packers.
Beloved by all who knew her, she is survived by her husband, Ken Becker of Green Valley; her sister, Jane Robertson of Carterville, Ill.; her niece and her husband, Rebecca and Kevin Monagle of Juneau, Alaska; her nephew and his wife, Michael and Jill Robertson and great niece Molly Kate of Carterville; her stepson and his wife, Karl and Laurel Becker; and three grandchildren, Jade, Logan and Ava of Paradise, Calif.
Peg was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Gladys Dosch, her grandparents, aunts, uncles and her beloved cat, Miko.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made in Peg’s name through the National Transplant Assis-tance Fund, 150 N. Radnor Chester Road, Suite F-120, Radnor, PA 19087 (1-800-642-8399 or www.transplantfund.org.)
The family wishes to express their appreciation to the staff of Odyssey Health Care in Tucson, Ariz., for the excellent care and support that they gave to Peg and her family.
Peg wanted to express her thanks and appreciation to her family and friends for their love, caring and support at this time in her life.
Peg was a remarkable woman and will be remembered as a gracious, caring and loving person who made a difference in everyone’s life that she touched. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends.
Allan L. George
GAYS MILLS, Wis. — Allan L. George, 63, of Petersburg, rural Gays Mills, died Sunday, May 18, 2008, at University Hospital in Madison. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church in Gays Mills. Burial with military rites will be in Gays Mills Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Dommersnaes-Bertram Family Funeral Home in Gays Mills and 10 a.m. to services Thursday at the church.
Lawrence ‘Larry’ Sheriff
Lawrence “Larry” Sheriff, 69, of Prairie du Chien died Friday, Feb. 15, 2008, at Southern Hills Medical Center in Las Vegas after complications from several illnesses. Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Garrity Funeral Home in Prairie du Chien. Burial with military rites will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Prairie du Chien. Friends may call from 9:30 a.m. to services Saturday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.
Phyllis L. Pitts
TREMPEALEAU, Wis. — Phyllis L. Pitts, 85, of Trempealeau died Wednesday, May 14, 2008, at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn. A memorial gathering will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Zwickey Funeral Home in Galesville, Wis. Burial will be at a later date in McHenry, Ill.
Leonard E. Flatten
HOUSTON, Minn. —Leonard E. Flatten, 90, of Houston died Sunday, May 18, 2008, at Valley View Nursing Home in Houston. Hoff Funeral Homes-Houston Chapel is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
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