Patricia Meyer
GALESVILLE, Wis. — Patricia Meyer, 64, of Galesville died Monday, Aug. 11, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse.
Patricia was born March 29, 1944, in La Crosse County, Wis., to Bernard and Josephine (Beyer) Meyer.
She loved reading and farm animals, but most of all Patricia enjoyed helping on the family farm.
Patricia is survived by her four sisters and one brother, Lorelda Stoen of Burlington, Wis., Mary Ann (Dick) Pittman of La Crosse, Carol (John) Ryan of Guttenberg, Iowa, Darrell (Donna) Meyer of Stoughton, Wis., and LaVonne (Curtis) Marsh of Galesville; several nieces and nephews; several great-nieces and great-nephews; several great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews; and two very special friends, Diane Nelson and Amanda Sokolaski of Winona, Minn.
She was preceded in death by her parents; five sisters; and two brothers.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16, at Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home, Winona, with Randy Marsh officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Bangor, Wis.
Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15, at Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home. Visitation will also be held from 1 p.m. until the time of the service Saturday, Aug. 16, at Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Dennis Olson, Jim Nelson, Brian Meyer, Doug Darling, Mike Ryan and Terry Stoen.
Online condolences or memories may be left for Patricia’s family at www.watkowski-mulyck.com.
Entrusted to our care — Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home.
Margaret E. (French) Clark
LA FARGE, Wis. — Margaret E. (French) Clark, 90, of La Farge passed away Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008, at the home of her daughter, Sandra Hinders, in La Crescent, Minn.
Margaret was born Oct. 28, 1917, in the town of Whitestown, Vernon County, Wis., to William and Jessie (Earll) French. She spent her school years on the farm north of La Farge, and the hill is known as “French Hill” to this day.
Margaret graduated from La Farge High School in 1934. She married Leo Clark Aug. 20, 1938, in Fennimore, Wis., and they would have celebrated 70 years of marriage next week. They owned the Clover Farm Store in La Farge for several years. Margaret then worked as a bookkeeper for Clark’s Motor Sales before settling into her career as a bank teller at La Farge State Bank, retiring in 1979. In retirement, she continued to serve the community by volunteering at the senior center and she and Leo were chosen Senior King and Queen of Vernon County in 1990. She also was active in establishing the Community Center in La Farge.
Margaret was active in La Farge United Methodist Church. She was a member of the Eastern Star and also a charter member of the Pythian Sisters, served as Most Excellent Chief and held an office at the state level.
She is survived by her husband, Leo Clark of La Farge; a daughter, Sandra (Charlie) Hinders of La Crescent; two grandchildren, Michelle (Roger) Ciliberto of North Bridge, Mass., and Jeffrey (Patti) Hinders of Olyphant, Pa.; eight great-grandchildren; two stepgreat-grandchildren; nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.
Margaret was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Mary Cass; a brother-in-law, Claude Cass; brothers-in-law, Clanus Clark and Hillard Clark Alloway; and sisters-in-law, Bessie Clark, Madge Ebner and Florence Morris.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Aug. 16, at 10:30 a.m. at the La Farge United Methodist Church. The Revs. Karen S. Bankes and Bonita Dorschied will officiate, with burial in the Bear Creek Cemetery, Stark Township, Vernon County. Friends may call Friday at the La Farge United Methodist Church from 4 to 8 p.m., and also on Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that memorials be offered to either La Farge United Methodist Church Sound System Fund or Franciscan Skemp Hospice. Seland-Huston Funeral Home of La Farge is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences can be made at www.prattfuneralservice.com.
Elma Rose Fyksen
VIROQUA, Wis. — Elma Rose Fyksen, 87, of Viroqua died Wednesday morning, Aug. 13, 2008, at Bethel Home in Viroqua, where she had been a resident since February 2007.
She was born April 23, 1921, in Kickapoo Township, Vernon County,, Wis., to Fred and Dora (Sutherland) Kellogg. She graduated from Viroqua High School in 1939. She then attended La Crosse Technical College for secretarial training. She worked in Marshfield, Wis., where she met her future husband. On Sept. 22, 1943, she married Alvin “Al” Fyksen at San Marcos, Texas, where he was stationed in the U.S. Army Air Force. During the war, Elma worked at several different jobs, and after the war she and Al returned to Viroqua, where she helped him operate Kellogg Electric. She enjoyed working with ceramics, knitting and traveling with Al in their motor home around the country. She was a member of the Viroqua Church of Christ.
Elma is survived by four children, Marjean (Robert) Mueller of Glendale, Ariz., Lee (Karen) Fyksen of Littleton, Colo., and Peggy (Joseph) Niemyjski and Carol (Joseph) Melcher, both of Viroqua; 12 grandchildren, Laura (John) Frohardt, Gregory Mueller, Traci Chakra, Christopher Fyksen, Nicholas Fyksen, Ben Niemyjski, Bianca (Tim) Jacks, Blake Niemyjski, and Shanda, Cassandra, Samantha and Colman Melcher; nine great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Arlone Kellogg of Rockford, Ill.; and other relatives and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Al, on June 2, 2007; her parents; one brother, Harlan “Bud” Kellogg; and one sister, Hazel Hokland.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, at Viroqua Church of Christ, with Minister Nathan Prong officiating. Burial will be in Viroqua Cemetery. Friends may call Friday from 5 to 7 at Thorson-Reetz Funeral Home in Viroqua, where there will be a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. Friends may also call at the church after 10 a.m. Saturday.
Online condolences may be made at www.thorson-reetz.net.
Ella M. Gran
CALEDONIA, Minn. — Ella M. Gran, 98, of Caledonia died Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse. Funeral services will be announced by Haugen-Roble-Jandt Funeral Home, Caledonia.
Edwin James Hall
HILLSBORO, Wis. — Edwin James Hall, 63, rural Hillsboro died unexpectedly at his home on Tuesday morning, Aug. 12, 2008.
He was born Aug. 19, 1944, in Ames, Iowa, to Fredrick and Opal (Laniger) Hall. He graduated from Wheaton (Ill.) High School in 1963. In 1967, he joined the U.S. Army. In December 1967, he married Edith Hodgson. After his time in the Army, Edwin worked as a deputy sheriff for the DuPage County sheriff’s department in Illinois for six years. He then started Meadows Land & Lawn Service. The couple then moved to Wisconsin in 1976 and started farming, raising crops and beef cattle. They were later divorced. Edwin then married Linda Benish. He then started Meadows Construction. Edwin and Linda were married 19 years and then divorced. In his younger years, he enjoyed racing motorcycles on oval dirt tracks.
Edwin is survived by his children: Fred (Corie) Hall of Viola, Wis., Jim (Amy) Hall of Yuba, Wis., Cathy Hall of Osseo, Wis., and Darrel (Theresa) Hall of Yuba; grandchildren, Edwin, Toni, Katie, Siri, Brittaney, James, Rose, Rebecca, Morgan, Emily and Katelyn; stepgrandchildren, Cody, Kyle and Lacey Nofsinger; brother, Fredrick Hall of Illinois; stepsister, Yolanda Hall of Illinois; special cousins, Bobby (Shirley) Hall of Nevada, Iowa, and Zach Banta of Yuba; special nieces, Kimberly Hall of Illinois and Miki Hall of Bogot, Ill.; his constant companion for the past 11 years, Snowball Foo Foo Hall; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, Aug. 15, at 11 a.m. at Thorson-Reetz Funeral Home, Viroqua, Wis. Officiating at the service will be Pastor Kathy Ingbritsen, with burial in the Vernon Cemetery, rural La Farge, Wis. Military honors will be accorded by the U.S. Army Honors Team and Viola American Legion Hamilton-Harris Post 447. The family will greet relatives and friends from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Thorson-Reetz Funeral Home, Viroqua, and again at the funeral home on Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m.
Online condolences may be made at www.thorson-reetz.net.
Robert ‘Bob’ W. Hughes
LA CRESCENT, Minn. — Robert “Bob” W. Hughes, 69, of La Crescent died peacefully at his home Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008, after a 20-month battle with cancer.
He was born Aug. 9, 1939, in Lake Crystal, Minn., the son of Evan and Mayme (McCartney) Hughes. He graduated from Lake Crystal Public School in 1957 and attended Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis before moving to New Ulm, Minn., where he worked in the lumber business for 12 years.
Bob married his childhood friend, Susan (Herman) in 1962 and in 1973 they moved to La Crescent. He worked for the Radford Company, Lumbermen’s Service, Amherhart, and retired as an insurance agent at Fortress Bank in Houston, Minn., in 2003. He then enjoyed his “retirement job” of mowing at the La Crosse Country Club.
Bob was a member of the La Crescent United Methodist Church, where he was actively involved in the flood relief program last fall and delivered Meals on Wheels. Bob was a past member of the Lions Club and the La Crescent Applefest Board. He enjoyed working with wood, building furniture, fishing and boating on the Mississippi River, and especially spending time with friends and family.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 46 years, Susan; daughter, Ann (Matthew) Renn of Baraboo, Wis.; son, Marc (Mary) of Holmen, Wis.; three granddaughters, McCartney and Morgan Renn and Addison Hughes; a grandson, Jaxon Hughes; two brothers-in-law, John “Denny” Herman of Eagan, Minn., and John Helling of New Richmond, Wis.; and several nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his parents; three brothers, Owen, Merle and Raymond; and a sister, Joan Helling.
Memorial services will be held Friday, Aug. 15, at 11 a.m. at La Crescent United Methodist Church. Pastor David Price will officiate. Friends may call at the church on Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of services. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred. Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crescent is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent to www.schumacher-kish.com.
Joyce A. Jones
ONALASKA, Wis. — Joyce A. Jones, 74, of Onalaska passed away peacefully Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008, with her children, her sister, Caroline, her niece, Tracy, and special friend, Florence, at her side.
Joyce was born in Onalaska on Nov. 26, 1933, to Andrew and Stella (Cox) Thaldorf and was raised and attended school in Onalaska. She was involved in many activities during her high school years, including drama, choir, band and forensics. She was also on prom court and was a cheerleader for four years. She attended vocational school and became a secretary, working at Trane Co., La Crosse Rubber Mills, Mathy Construction, Attorney Chojnacki, and the Onalaska Board of Education.
Joyce worked as the secretary at Irving Pertzsch School for 34 years. She saw many students go through Pertzsch School and also the children of students who had been at Pertzsch. Although she was offered positions in all of the district buildings, she stayed at Irving Pertzsch the entire 34 years she served in the district. Throughout her tenure at Irving Pertzsch, Joyce witnessed the enormous growth in both staff and buildings within the district, and was very proud of the Onalaska School District.
Joyce was one of the organizers of the Onalaska Education AssociationnSecretary/Aide Union, and served as president and negotiator for many years. She served on the boards and on committees for the Onalaska Education Association, Coulee Region United Educators (CRUE), the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC), and the WEAC Professional Development Academy. In 1993, she received the first WEAC Educational Support Personnel Award in recognition of her outstanding accomplishments and contributions in enhancing the image of educational support personnel in the community and the state association. She was also honored by WEAC past president, Dick Collins, in 1995 for her accomplishments.
Joyce started and served on the staff development committee for Education Support Personnel (ESP) in the Onalaska School District. She worked with personnel from the University of Wisconsin and the WEAC Professional Development Academy in the planning of a unique in-service training program for education support personnel. The program has spread across the state and also into other states.
As secretary of the Onalaska Class of 1951, Joyce has chaired the selection committee for the Class of ’51 Scholarship which goes to a graduating senior each year and was instrumental in organizing the Class of 1951 reunion every five years. She helped organize the Lioness Club in Onalaska and served as president for two years. In her free time, Joyce enjoyed bowling and sewing, and also enjoyed singing, babysitting her grandchildren, shopping and doing volunteer work.
Joyce enjoyed fighting for the rights of others and striving to make the work environment and conditions better and equal for those in her field of employment. If anyone needed her, she was happy to assist where she could. She gave her utmost to serve others.
Joyce married Harley Jones in 1953 and is survived by four wonderful daughters and their husbands, Cheryl and Jerry Faas, Cathy and Fred Lund, Carla and Wayne Burr and Chris and Bill Nelson, all of Onalaska. She was also blessed with nine wonderful grandchildren, Anne Marie (Dave) Schmidt, Jennifer and Greg Faas, Michael and Matthew Lund, Nicole and Jamie Burr, and Cole and Hannah Nelson, who filled her free hours with enjoyment. She also has one great-grandson, Caydin. Joyce is further survived by eight siblings, Bev (Joe) Thienes, Phil (Lois) Thaldorf, Rich (Phyllis) Thaldorf, Anita Le Febre, Clint (Elaine) Thaldorf, Caroline Erickson, Phyllis Wilson and Pam (Dean) Hagedon; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, Lois Ravnum, Carol (Jim) Maier, Jerry (Ginger) Jones and Mary (Dan) Irish; and many nieces and nephews. She dearly loved her family and was thankful to be blessed by them.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harley, in 2005; a brother, Stephen Thaldorf; and brothers-in-law, Earl Ravnum and David Wilson.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Aug. 16, at 11 a.m. at Onalaska United Methodist Church. Pastor Wesley A. Schirmer and Pastor Andrew T. Le Febre will officiate. Burial will follow in the Onalaska City Cemetery. Friends may call at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of Onalaska on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and at the church on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of service.
Joyce’s family would like to give a special acknowledgement to her good lifelong friend, Florence Hyatt, her dear aunt, Doris Cox, and to her roommate from the nursing home, Irene Brenengen. They would also like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Dr. Stephanie Carroll and the Palliative Care Department at Gundersen Lutheran, and also to Drs. Paramesh and Harbin and their staffs.
Alma D. Hanson
The family of Alma D. Hanson regretfully and unintentionally omitted two relatives’ names in their mother’s obituary. Alma was also preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Duane (Mabel) Hanson and a sister-in-law, Beatrice (Henry) Stehling.
Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Jane Seiler
ARCADIA, Wis. — Elizabeth “Betty” Jane Seiler, 84, of Arcadia died Monday, Aug. 11, 2008, at Grandview Care Center in Blair, Wis.
She was born March 10, 1924, in Sioux City, Iowa, to Adelaide Mae (VonEssen) Ladue. On Sept. 29, 1951, Betty married Raymond H. Seiler at St. Anne’s Church in Le Sueur, Minn. She was a veteran of the Armed Forces, having served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. She attended business school in Baltimore, Md. She was excellent in shorthand and worked as a secretary in Minneapolis.
Betty spent much of her life growing up in Le Sueur. She and Ray came to live in Arcadia in 1969. She worked as a secretary for Dr. Florentino and Glenna Lleva at the Arcadia Clinic, and Betty also worked as a secretary for Kube Plumbing in Arcadia. She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, the St. Ann’s Society and prayer chain, the hospital auxiliary, and the American Legion. She was also a member and board member of the Bethany St. Joseph’s Foundation in La Crosse.
Betty loved teddy bears. Each grandchild, and even some great-grandchildren, received a handmade one. She enjoyed her siblings and nieces and nephews and the fun gatherings that were so important to her, especially the annual “campout.”
She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Ray Seiler of Arcadia; five children, Dorothy “Dottie” (Ken) Myers of Arcadia, Martin Seiler of Odessa, Texas, Sheila (Kelly) Goodman of Brookfield, Wis., Peter (Sarah) Seiler of Minneapolis and Susan Seiler of Spotsylvania, Va.; 13 grandchildren, Jesse, Corey and Ben Myers and Emily Myers (Jeff) Kulig, Kate, Megan, Travis and Micah Seiler, Ariel and Elijah Goodman, Louie and Eddie Seiler, and Jordan Seiler; six great-grandchildren, Jared, Elaina and Ava Myers, Kaden and Ellasyn Myers, and Gage Seiler; two sisters, Bonnie Weiland of Le Center, Minn., and Margaret Anderson of Boulder, Colo.; and a sister-in-law, Phyllis Hix of Wayne, Neb.
Preceding Betty in death was her mother; and four siblings, Bill Ladue, Dorothy Tousley, Patricia Peitz and Marian Severson.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, 2008, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Arcadia, with the Rev. Michael Klos officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Arcadia.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Wozney-Killian Funeral Home, Arcadia, where there will be a 7 p.m. prayer service and 7:30 p.m. rosary. Friends may also call from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to “Family Wishes.”
Online condolences may be sent to wozneykillianfh@aol. com.
Betty was a devoted, supportive wife and mother who loved her God and family so very much. Her faith and prayer was a very important part of her life. She was a wonderful, giving person with a good disposition and a playful, feisty sense of humor. She was a very special part of our lives and will be so greatly missed.
CORRECTION: Ivan Pilcher
Memorials for Ivan Pilcher may be sent to the Luke Petersen Scholarship Fund in care of Bonnie Pilcher, 615 N. Third St., La Crescent, MN 55947. The address was incorrect in Wednesday’s Tribune.
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