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Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Obituaries for Wednesday, July 23, 2008

By Tribune staff

George A. Bedessem

George A. Bedessem, 82, of La Crosse passed away Tuesday, July 22, 2008.

He was born April 26, 1926, in La Crosse to Alfred and Ruth (Goldberg) Bedessem. George graduated from Central High School and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. George had worked at Hormel Co. in Mitchell, S.D., owned and operated the A&W in Tomah, Wis., and worked at Borden Co. in La Crosse. He was also employed at G. Heileman Brewery, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Bethany on Cass Meals on Wheels program. He retired from La Crosse Floral last year at age 81. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, walking his faithful companion dog, Lucy, and his Tuesday Morning Coffee Club.

He is survived by a son, Bob (Ann) Bedessem of Champlin, Minn., their children Bryan (Angela) Bedessem and their son Matthew, Aaron Bedessem and Logan Bedessem; two daughters, Barb (Kelley) Conrad of Milwaukee and Nancy (Steve) Dotz of Holmen, Wis., their children, Michael (Becky) Coady and their daughter Isabel (and twin boys due in November), Molly (Corey) Viehl and their children George and Maisy and Jared Anderson. He was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly, in 1987.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, July 25, at Oak Grove Cemetery in La Crosse. The Rev. Dean Staffanson will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Coulee Region Humane Society or Gundersen Lutheran Hospice.

Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse assisted the family with arrangements.

First Lt. Nick A. Dewhirst

ONALASKA, Wis. — Army First Lt. Nick A. Dewhirst, 25, of Onalaska died Sunday, July 20, 2008, while on active duty in Afghanistan. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Evangelical Free Church in Onalaska. Burial will be at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., at a later date. Family and friends may call from 9 a.m. to services Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Nick Dewhirst Memorial Fund.

Esther E. Ekern

GALESVILLE, Wis. — Esther E. Ekern, 89, died Monday, July 21, 2008, at Marinuka Manor in Galesville. Funeral arrangements are pending with Zwickey Funeral Homes, Galesville Chapel.

Beverly Joy (Curtis) Kenyon

MESA, Ariz./TAYLOR, Wis. — Beverly Joy (Curtis) Kenyon, 63, of Mesa and formerly of Taylor died Saturday, July 19, 2008, at Mission Palms Rehabilitation Center in Mesa after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

Bev was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, to Harold and Alberta Curtis on Feb. 12, 1945. She loved the outdoors, fishing with her husband, her grandsons and her dogs.

She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Bill Kenyon; a son, Mark (Roxann) Kenyon of Maricopa, Ariz.; a daughter, Shelley (Joe) Brown, and two grandsons, Jacob and Caleb Brown, of Coolidge, Ariz.; and two brothers, Stan (Lynn) Curtis of Beloit, Wis.; and Tom (Barbara) Curtis of Renton, Wash. She was preceded in death by her father, Harold, and mother, Alberta.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 26, at Family Burial and Cremation Center, 237 S. Sirrine, Suite 1, Mesa, AZ 85210.

Edward ‘Mouse’ R. Kletzke

BROWNSVILLE, Minn. — Edward “Mouse” R. Kletzke, 77, of Brownsville died Monday, July 21, 2008, at his home.

He was born April 14, 1931, in La Crosse to Edward C. and Anna (Harder) Kletzke. He married Betty Reinhart on June 23, 1953, at

St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Brownsville.

Mouse worked for La Crosse Cooler Co., Allis Chalmers and La Crosse Plumbing. He was also self-employed as an over-the-road truck driver. He was

a member of St. Patrick’s Church, La Crosse Eagles and the La Crescent American Legion.

He is survived by his wife, Betty of Brownsville; a sister, Priscilla (Dale) Reinhart of La Crosse; a brother, Gail (Joanne) Kletzke of Brownsville; a brother-in-law, Vernon Fitzpatrick of Caledonia, Minn.; and a sister-in-law, Betty Kletzke of Viola, Wis.; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Bob; and three sisters, Vivian, Mildred and Karine.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 24, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Brownsville. Father Gregory Leif will officiate, and burial will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Breza Hall, next to St. Patrick’s Church, where a prayer service will be at 6:15 p.m. Friends may also call one hour prior to services at the hall on Thursday.

McCormick Funeral Home of Caledonia, Minn., is assisting the family with arrangements.

Vernon Eldon Lewis

MABEL/SPRING GROVE, Minn. — Vernon Eldon Lewis, 89, of Mabel and formerly of Spring Grove died Monday, July 21, 2008, at Green Lea Manor in Mabel. Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at First Lutheran Church in Mabel. Roble Funeral Home of Spring Grove is in charge of arrangements.

Geraldine ‘Gerri’ Mitchell

Geraldine “Gerri” Mitchell, 71, of La Crosse passed away unexpectedly at her home Saturday, July 19, 2008.

She was born April 7, 1937, in Bangor, Wis., to Oscar and Katherine (Stuart) Amborn and graduated from Wabasha High School in Wabasha, Minn. In 1953, she married Gary Mitchell in Wabasha, and they later divorced. She later attended Winona (Minn.) School of Beauty and Cosmetology and worked as a cosmetologist in

La Crosse and Onalaska, Wis., for several years. Gerri then worked for LaCro Products in La Crosse for several years until her retirement.

Gerri was a former member of Onalaska United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school. She also was an active Girl Scout leader and will always be remembered for her love of music, dancing and her great sense of humor.

Gerri is survived by her five children, Byron (Pauline) Mitchell of Manitowoc, Wis., Holly (Mike) Helke of La Crosse, Brian Mitchell of Tampa, Fla., and Renae Mitchell and Katrina Mitchell, both of La Crosse; a daughter-in-law, Lisa Running of La Crosse; a sister, Joyce Haldorson of La Crosse; 11 grandchildren, Josh, Jason, Michael, Rachael, Ashley, Brandon, Lucas, Ryan, Cassandra, Todd and Julia; nine great-grandchildren; a special family friend, Teresa Schaitel; and many nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Vance Mitchell; her stepfather, Clarence Stokes; sister, Sandra Bjorkman; great-grandson, Angelo Poppe; and brothers-in-law, Frank Haldorson and Gordon Bjorkman.

Funeral services will be at noon Thursday, July 24, at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse, with Pastor David Baldukas officiating. Burial will take place at a later date. Friends and family may call on Thursday at the funeral home from 11 a.m. until time of services. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

Gerri’s family would like to express their sincere thank you to the staff at Shelby Terrace for their care and concern.

Donald D. Walcker

HOKAH, Minn. — Donald D. Walcker, 75, of Hokah passed away Saturday, July 19, 2008, at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare Medical Center in La Crosse.

He was born in Wessington Springs, S.D., on March 18, 1933, to Rudolph and Magdalena (Reinhart) Walcker. On April 2, 1956, he married Carol Tiber in St. James Catholic Church at Camp Douglas, Wis. Don was a Korean War Navy veteran, having served aboard the USS Randolph Aircraft carrier as an electrician from 1952 until 1954. Upon his discharge from the Navy, Don worked as an electrician for Trane Co. in La Crosse for a brief time before starting his own electrical contracting business, Walcker Electric Service. For 30 years, he owned and operated the business until his retirement in 1995. He was an active member of the Hokah Commercial Club and was very instrumental in the establishing of the Hokah pool. Don was a member of the Knights of Columbus and Hokah American Legion Post 498. In the winter, Don and Carol resided in Mission, Texas, where he enjoyed golfing with his buddies. In warmer months, he enjoyed the time he spent creating things in his shop and working on his tractors.

In addition to his wife, Carol of Hokah, he is survived by his children, Terri (Tom) Urbanek of Stoddard, Wis., Tom Walcker of Hokah, Dan (Tammy) Walcker of Caledonia, Minn., Joe Walcker of Hokah and Kris (Skip) Jergenson of Houston, Minn.; his grandchildren, Nicholas, Anthony, Joshua, Nikki, Danika, Travis, Samantha, Leah, Taylor, Becky, Julie and Heidi; great-grandchildren, Destiny and Jordan; his sister, LaVonne Kearns of La Crescent, Minn.; his brother, Jerry (Phyllis) Walcker of Onalaska, Wis.; and special cousin, Ken Smith of Rockland, Wis. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Bob; and two sisters, Shirley and Susan.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday, July 25, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Hokah. The Rev. Joseph Pete will officiate. Burial with military honors by Hokah American Legion Post 498 will follow in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Hokah. Friends may call at the church on Friday from 9 a.m. until services.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Hokah First Responders or the St. Peter’s Restoration Fund.

Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crescent, Minn., is assisting the family. Online condolences may be offered at www.schumacher-kish.com.