James A. Urbanek
CASHTON, Wis. — James A. Urbanek, 72, of rural Cashton died Tuesday, July 1, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse.
He was born Aug. 23, 1935, in La Crosse County to Albin and Julia (Bouda) Urbanek. He attended Meadowbrook School, attended Cashton High School and also served in the U.S. Army for several years. James farmed with his family all his life on the Urbanek home farm. He also did carpentry work with his father. On May 22, 1993, he married Donna (Scharping) Dunnum at First Portland Lutheran Church. They enjoyed traveling to many parts of the country, including New York, Washington, D.C., and Branson, Mo. James enjoyed playing horseshoes, fishing and hunting. He was a member of the Turkey Federation, the Bohemian Valley Watershed and the Coon Valley Conservation Club.
Survivors include his wife, Donna; a brother, Vernon (Ardice) of rural Cashton; nieces and nephews, Dale (Cheryl) Urbanek of Cashton, Dan (Mary) Urbanek of Tomah, Wis., Allen (Kirstie) Urbanek of Bangor, Wis., Lisa (Dave) Proksch of De Soto, Wis., and Sara (Steve) Van Dam of New Berlin, Wis.; five stepchildren, Loren (Mary) Dunnum of La Crosse, Linda (Curtis) Stakston of Westby, Wis., Ivan (Diane) Dunnum of Cashton, Curtis (Peggy) Dunnum of Viroqua, Wis., and Dorene (Ron) Hobart of Sparta, Wis.; 17 stepgrandchildren; eight step-great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; twin sisters, Arlene and Darlene on July 24, 1937; and a stepgrandchild in infancy.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 5, at Seland Funeral Home in Coon Valley. Pastor Donald Fox will officiate. Burial with military honors by the Coon Valley American Legion Post 116 will be in Bohemian Ridge Cemetery, rural Cashton. Friends may call Friday from 2 to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. until service time, both at Seland Funeral Home in Coon Valley.
Elizabeth ‘Betty’ L. Wish
Elizabeth “Betty” L. Wish, 85, of La Crosse died on Sunday, June 29, 2008, at Hillview Healthcare Center, La Crosse.
She was born Jan. 30, 1923, in Washburn, Wis., to Carl and Esther (Blexrud) Carlson. Betty was a member of the first class of the United States Cadet Nurse Corps during WWII. In 1956, she married Henry “Hank” Wish in Chicago.
She worked as a registered nurse for several years in New York, Florida and West Virginia and moved to La Crosse with her family in 1984. Betty was a former president of the Hixon Forest Nature Center in La Crosse and was involved in the activities at the Harry J. Olson Senior Citizens Center.
In addition to her husband, Hank, she is survived by two sons, Robert and Kevin Wish, both of La Crosse; and a niece, Truth M. Woolcott of Buffalo, N.Y. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Truth C. Woolcott.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 7, at Woodlawn Cemetery, La Crosse, with Pastor Ted Dewald officiating. Friends and family may call on Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse. Memorials are suggested to the Coulee Region Humane Society.
Chrystal M. Gjerseth
HIXTON/BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. — Chrystal M. Gjerseth, 82, of Hixton and formerly of Black River Falls died Tuesday, July 1, 2008, in St. Joseph’s Hospital, Marshfield, Wis. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Hixton. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Alma Center, Wis. Family and friends may call from noon until the time of services Saturday at the church. Buswell Funeral Home, Black River Falls, is assisting the family. www.buswellfuneralhome.com
Margaret A. Stadtler
CALEDONIA, Minn. — Margaret A. Stadtler, 93, passed into eternal life on Tuesday, July 1, 2008, at Caledonia Care and Rehab in Caledonia.
She was born Aug. 7, 1914, to Frank and Anna (Boltz) Stemper in Black Hammer, Minn. She married George Stadtler in Caledonia on June 2, 1931. They had farmed near Caledonia until his death June 1, 1969.
Margaret was also employed at Bradys Elevator and later Land O’Lakes. She was very active in St. Mary’s Catholic Church, St. Elizabeth’s Society and the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. She very much enjoyed her time volunteering at St. Mary’s School as a library aide and CCD teacher. For several years, she was the adopted grandmother for one of the classes. She was also well known for her beautiful flowers.
Survivors include three daughters, Edna Wells of La Crosse, Marian Hansen of Greybull, Wyo., and Vicki Taylor of St. Cloud, Fla.; one sister, Leona Welter of Olivia, Minn.; 21 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband and her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Dale; one sister, Mary Krueger; and four brothers, Bishop Alfred Stemper and George, John and Joseph; a grandson, Joel Stadtler; and three sons-in-law, Donald Wells, James Taylor and Alois “Bill” Hansen.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 5, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Caledonia. The Rev. Gregory Leif will officiate, and burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Caledonia. Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, July 4, at McCormick Funeral Home, Caledonia, where a Catholic Daughter rosary will be said at 2 p.m. and a prayer service at 4 p.m. Friends may also call from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Memorials are preferred to St. Mary’s School, Caledonia.
Gustave ‘Gus’ L.Traub
GALESVILLE, Wis. — Gustave “Gus” L. Traub, 87, of rural Galesville died Tuesday, July 1, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse.
He was born Jan. 18, 1921, in South Holland, Ill., to Gustave and Catherine (Smith) Traub. Gus was a World War II U.S. Army veteran. On Aug. 17, 1945, he married Dolores Rozwalka in Harvey, Ill. For 25 years, he was the owner/operator of Surge Products in South Holland. In 1975, the couple moved to Wisconsin, where Gus worked as a real estate agent prior to his retirement.
He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Galesville; Gale-Ettrick VFW Post 11156 of Ettrick, Wis., and a past member of Galesville Lions, G-E-T First Responders and the town of Gale Board.
Survivors are his wife, Dolores of Galesville; a daughter, Carol (James) Smith of Crestwood, Ill.; two granddaughters, Laura Sandoval and Suzanne (John) De Wolf; a sister, Betty Jansen of Orland Park, Ill.; and many nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother and a sister.
Funeral services will be Monday, July 7, at 11 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, Galesville, with the Rev. John Ashland officiating. Military rites will be conducted by Gale-Ettrick VFW Post 11156. Burial will be at a later date in Homewood (Ill.) Memorial Gardens.
Friends may call at Zwickey Funeral Homes, Galesville Chapel, on Sunday, July 6, from 6 to 8 p.m., and at the church on Monday from 10 a.m. until service time.
Randy Joseph Keller
FARMINGTON, Minn. — Randy Joseph Keller, 52, of Farmington and formerly of La Crosse died Friday, June 27, 2008, while working in Montana. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a,m. Wednesday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, La Crosse. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home, La Crosse. A full obituary will follow.
Geraldine L. Mrachek
ROCKVILLE, Md. — Geraldine L. Mrachek, 93, of Rockville passed away Friday, May 2, 2008, in Rockville.
She was born in Winona, Minn., and lived there until moving to La Crosse.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Adolph Mrachek, and her son, Wayne Mrachek. She is survived by her daughter, Diane Martin of Rockville; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; a brother, Lee(Bernie) Bell of Winona; and a host of other relatives.
Interment is at St. Mary’s Cemetary, Winona.
Tom Sobotta
ARCADIA, Wis. — Tom Sobotta, 53, of Arcadia died Wednesday, July 2, 2008, at his home. Wozney-Killian Funeral Home, Arcadia, is assisting the family.
Allen Finner
ARCADIA, Wis. — Allen Finner, 74, of Arcadia died Wednesday, July 2, 2008, at Grandview Care Center, Blair, Wis. Wozney-Killian Funeral Home, Arcadia, is assisting the family.
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