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

Published - Friday, July 25, 2008

Obituaries for Friday, July 25, 2008

By Tribune staff

Mary Ann Brown

DAKOTA, Minn. — Mary Ann Brown, 73, of Dakota died on Wednesday, July 23, 2008, in her home.

She was born Sept. 12, 1934, in Northridge, Minn., to Frank and Laura (Armitage) Papenfuss. She married Joseph Brown on Nov. 20, 1954, in Lead, S.D. They moved to Dakota where they have lived for the past 53 years.

Mary Ann loved to sew and make quilts. She owned and operated her own quilting business, Mary Ann’s Custom Quilts. She had also worked at Belscott until it closed and at Joann Fabrics in the Valley View Mall until it closed. Mary Ann also served as a den mother for the local Cub Scout troop in Dakota.

She is survived by her husband, Joseph; five children, Bruce (Patty) Brown of Houston, Minn., Luanne (Allen) Bedward of De Soto, Wis., Linda (Roger) Olson of Winona, Minn., Russell (JoDee) Brown of Dakota and Lisa (Linzey) Locke of Onalaska; 14 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; four sisters, Iva Kelley of Brown Deer, Wis., Dorothy Wood of Trempealeau, Wis., Buelah Wait of Elba, Minn., and Caroline (Jerry) Scott of Durand, Wis.; and a sister-in-law, Marlene Papenfuss of Nodine, Minn. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Ross Papenfuss.

Funeral services will be Monday, July 28, at 11 a.m. at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home, La Crescent, Minn. Pastors Erling Carmichael and Dennis Harbach will officiate. Burial will be in Bush Cemetery, rural Nodine. Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m. and Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of services. Memorials may be given to Franciscan Skemp Medical Center Cancer Center.

Robert ‘Bob’ Hanson

BELOIT, Wis./LA CROSSE — Robert “Bob” Hanson, 83, passed away peacefully Monday, July 21, 2008, at Pioneer Court, Beloit.

Bob was born in La Crosse and lived most of his life here. He was the son of Edwin and Martha Hanson. Bob was employed for 41 years by G. Heileman Brewing Co. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was a veteran of World War II, serving with the Army in Europe and later with the first occupation forces in Japan. Bob was a recipient of the Bronze Star. He was a member of American Legion Post 52 in La Crosse.

Bob never married but is survived by his sister, Janice Schmaeng of Rockton, Ill.; nieces, Catherine Schmaeng of Sun Prairie, Wis., and Lorraine (Scott) Heins of Milwaukee; a great-niece, Julia Heins; and nephews, Stephen Schmaeng of Rockton and David Schmaeng of Sun Prairie.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Martha Hanson, and his brother-in-law, John Schmaeng.

Funeral services will be Saturday at 11 a.m. in Mount Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1411 S. 16th St., La Crosse. The Rev. Robert Wassermann will officiate, and burial will be in Mormon Coulee Memorial Park. Friends may call at Dickinson Family Funeral Home, 1425 Jackson St., La Crosse, today from 4 to 6 p.m., and at the church Saturday from 10 a.m. until the service.

Karen L. Silvers

Karen L. Silvers, 64 of La Crosse passed away surrounded by her family and loved ones on Tuesday, July 22, 2008.

She was born Jan. 31, 1944, in La Crosse to Clifford and Lillian (McCormick) Larson.

Karen was the greatest mom, grandma and friend. She had a great sense of humor, loved to laugh and had a gift of being able to make anyone smile. Karen enjoyed cooking, gambling, shopping and volunteering with her daughter, Kari, at Franklin Elementary School PTA.

Karen is survived by three daughters, Tammi (Mike Greeno) Collins of La Crosse, Pamela (Christopher Babb) Trott of Chico, Calif., and Kari (Kevin) Hieronymus-Hanson of La Crosse; two sons, David (Terri Turner) Edberg of La Crosse and Christopher (Amy) Edberg of Chico; nine grandchildren, MacKenzie, Chase, Jeremy, Dustin, John, Jaymes, Kaylee, Meghann and Stephanie; numerous others who called her mom or grandma; a sister, Linda (Robert) Johnson of La Crosse; and her beloved dog, Peanut.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Clifford Davis Larson; infant son, Todd Allen Chitek; and her dog, Honey Girl.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, July 28, at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse, with Chaplain Sue Fletcher officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery, La Crosse. Friends and family may call Sunday at the funeral home from 4 to 6 p.m. and Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of services.

William ‘Bill’ W. Harris

BAGLEY, Wis. — William “Bill” W. Harris, 89, of Bagley died Wednesday, July 23, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse. Funeral services will be at noon Saturday at Garrity Funeral Home Chapel, Prairie du Chien, Wis. Military rites will be accorded by Liscum Brothers American Legion Post of Bagley. Interment will be at a later date. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until the time of services Saturday at the funeral home. www.garrityfuneralhome.com.

Larry A. Wilson

BURR OAK, Iowa — Larry A. Wilson, 55, of rural Burr Oak/ Hesper died Tuesday, July 22, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Burr Oak Lutheran Church. Military honors will be by Mabel (Minn.) American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Visitations will be at the church from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. until the time of services Saturday. Memorials are preferred. Mengis Funeral Home, Mabel is assisting the family.

Bruce I. Bettis

CATARACT, Wis. — Bruce I. Bettis, 72, of Cataract died Thursday, July 24, 2008, at his home. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, Wis. Online condolences may be offered at www.lanham-miller.com.

Everett J. Ross

Everett J. Ross, 83, of La Crosse and formerly of Stoddard, Wis., died Wednesday, July 23, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse.

He was born Feb. 18, 1925, in Romance, Wis., to John and Elizabeth (Podawitz) Ross. On June 14, 1944, Everett married Mary Lou Pennel in Winona, Minn., and they recently celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary. He was employed at Dairyland Power Cooperative for 41 years until his retirement on June 12, 1987. Everett loved playing ball, fishing and hunting. He was a charter member of the Old Stylers Dance Club and especially enjoyed dancing the polka and waltz.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Lou; three sons, Lewis (Angela) Ross of Burr Oak, Wis., Allen (Diane) Ross of French Island, Wis., and William Ross of La Crosse; a son-in-law, Ronald (Sandy) Hammond of La Crosse; 11 grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one stepgreat-granddaughter; one brother, Vernon (Elizabeth) Ross of La Crosse; one sister-in-law, Irene Ross of La Crosse; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews; and his special dog, “Babe.”

He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Judy Hammond; a great-grandson, Cody Shepardson; a brother, Walter Ross; four sisters, Mabel Massie, Violet Beck, Laura Gabrielson and Vera DeGarmo; and other relatives.

Memorial services will be Monday, July 28, at 11 a.m. at St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 303 N. Main St., Stoddard. Pastor James Krueger will officiate. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Genoa, Wis. Friends may call at the church Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. and Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of services. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. Woodruff-Jandt Funeral Home, La Crosse, is in charge of arrangements.

Marian O. Gust

Marian O. Gust, 79, of La Crosse, died Thursday, July 24, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at North Presbyterian Church, La Crosse. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Winona, Minn. Friends may call at Dickinson Family Funeral Home, 1425 Jackson St., from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday and from 10 a.m. until the time of services Monday at the church. A complete obituary will follow.

Lola Mohr

WAUMANDEE, Wis. — Lola Mohr, 65, of Waumandee died Thursday, July 24, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse. Wozney-Killian Funeral Home, Arcadia, Wis., is assisting the family.

Alyssa Jean Heginger

PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. — Alyssa Jean Heginger, infant daughter of Dana Konichek and Cory Heginger, died Wednesday, July 23, 2008, at St. Marys Hospital, Rochester, Minn. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Evergreen Cemetery, Prairie du Chien. Garrity Funeral Home, Prairie du Chien, is assisting the family. www.garrityfuneralhome.com.