Mildred ‘Millie’ Peaslee
Mildred “Millie” Peaslee, 84, of La Crosse died peacefully in her home on Aug. 28, 2008, and went into the arms of her Lord and Savior. She was born Nov. 24, 1923, in La Crosse to Charles and Mae Cordes, both formerly of La Crosse.
Mildred Peaslee was a great mother and grandmother. Everyone knew her as grandma only.
Mildred was married to Fred Hagen and divorced. She then met her loving husband, Lloyd “Bud” Peaslee. They married April 16, 1949. They spent most of their married life on a farm in Holmen, Wis. She loved to garden, hunt, fish and turtle trap, which was taught to her by her father, Charles (Bubba) Cordes. She was a bright light in the world that will shine in our heart forever. She was quick to set you right, as well as others if you started to screw up, and just as quick to pick you up to help you the instant you stumbled. She was always there for everyone as we all grew up. She would hold family dinners on the farm and made us all feel like we were her children instead of grandchildren. She raised a couple of dogs that acted like one of her kids — only better behaved.
She worked at La Crosse Northern Engraving and Outers for years. Her and her husband, Lloyd, moved into the city of La Crosse, where she then worked for Nurse One.
Her love, courage and strong will was anchored by her Lord and Savior.
Mildred is survived by two daughters, Gloria (Vernon) Tucker and Mary Freitag; and 12 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Mae Cordes; stepmom, Rhode Cordes; “Dot” Doris Hammell; Irene Oyer; Olive Bramley; ex-husband, Fred Hagen; her loving and caring husband, Lloyd Peaslee; her two daughters, Judith Lynn Hagen and Betty Jane (Poff) Olson; and great-grandson, Jack Jr.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Temple Baptist Church, 1326 N. Salem Road, La Crosse. Burial will follow in the Onalaska (Wis.) Cemetery with Rev. Andrew Buhrow officiating. There will a luncheon at the church following the burial. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to services Friday at the church.
Margaret Oliver Fish
Margaret Oliver Fish, 89, of La Crosse died Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008, at Franciscan Skemp Medical Center in La Crosse. Memorial services will be held at a later date. Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Home and Cremation Service is assisting the family.
Donald L. Haag
MINDORO, Wis. — Donald L. Haag, 85, of Mindoro died Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008, at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare in Sparta, Wis. Funeral services will be announced by Jostad-Jandt Funeral Home of West Salem, Wis.
Verna C. Marlow
Verna C. Marlow, 90, of La Crosse died Monday, Sept. 1, 2008, at Bethany-Riverside Health Care Center in La Crosse. Funeral services are tentatively planned for Friday and will be announced by Dickinson Family Funeral Homes.
Merlin L. Mattson
BLAIR, Wis. — Merlin L. Mattson, 72, of Blair died Monday, Sept. 1, 2008, at Grand View Care Center in Blair. Arrangements are pending with Jack Funeral Home in Blair.
Georgene ‘Jo’ J. Nagle
HOUSTON/WINONA, Minn. — Georgene “Jo” J. Nagle, 74, of Houston and formerly of Winona, died Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008, at Valley View Healthcare and Rehab Center in Houston. Hoff Funeral Homes-Houston Chapel is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
Richard J. Nolop
Richard J. Nolop, 73, of La Crosse passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by the love and support of his family Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008, after a courageous yearlong battle with cancer.
He was born in La Crosse on Nov. 27, 1934, to Osborne and Ethel (Solseth) Nolop. In his younger years he enjoyed attending horse shows with his father. He married Donna Friet on June 30, 1962, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in La Crosse. He was a 1952 graduate of La Crosse Central High School.
He entered the U.S. Army in 1954. After honorable discharge in 1956, he worked for his father building homes. Later, he, his father and brother, started Central City Tile. In 1970, he started Nolop Construction. He built many luxurious homes around the area. Around 1985, he formed Town & Country Tile and retired in 1999. Retirement wasn’t for Rich; he built beautiful homes for all of his children. Also, he and Donna were co-owners of Corky’s Pizza in La Crescent, Minn., for 20 years with their sons, Troy and Mark. Recently, he installed the ceramic tile for Mark’s new Checker’s Drive Thru restaurant.
Rich enjoyed spending many hours watching his grandchildren’s activities. He also enjoyed playing golf at least twice a week, especially with Curt and Jerry and long-time friend, Lee, when he was in town.
Rich and Donna loved to travel to their home in Florida with their family and friends. They also took numerous trips with their friends Tom and Gloria throughout the United States and Europe.
At the age of 58 he became a certified scuba diver, a recreation he really enjoyed.
He was a past member of the La Crosse Jaycees, the Elks Club, the La Crosse Home Builders Association, and a member of the La Crosse Historical Society.
He was an active member of the firing squad with the Roy L. Vingers American Legion Post 52, La Crosse.
He is survived by his wife, Donna, of 46 years, and his three children, Troy (Suzanne) and their children, Bryce, Camdan and Bria, Kathy (Tim) Moore and their children, Kelsey and Jaden, and Mark (fiancé Valerie Smith) and their child, Dane.
He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Mary Nolop; his brother-in-law, Rich (Sharon) Friet, many nieces and nephews; and his cat, Oreo.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Gene.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse. Monsignor Robert Hundt will officiate. Entombment with military rites by the American Legion will follow in the St. Francis Of Assisi Mausoleum at the Catholic Cemetery in La Crosse. Friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. and again on Thursday from 10 a.m. until time of services.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred and will be donated in Rich’s name.
A special thanks to Franciscan Skemp Hospice and Dr. O’Brien for their support.
Karl Doran Rifenberg
PEOSTA, Iowa/GALESVILLE — Karl Doran Rifenberg, 43, of Peosta and formerly of Galesville and Fort Walton Beach, Fla., went home to be with the Lord on Friday, Aug. 28, 2008. He passed away due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Interstate-380 near Coralville, Iowa.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 5, at Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home, 2659 Kennedy Road, Dubuque, Iowa. Burial will be in Green Mound Cemetery, Holmen, Wis. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home in Dubuque.
Karl was born in La Crosse to Walter A. and Faye E. Rifenberg. He worked for Premier Linen and Dry Cleaning for 10 years as a driver. He also owned his own business called UpBeat Entertainment, of which he was a DJ for weddings, anniversaries and special celebrations to help people enjoy and celebrate their special day. All who knew him, loved him and will miss him, will remember him fondly. He was a giving and thoughtful man, and we all celebrate his life.
He is survived by his mother, Faye E. (Charles) Harris of Jacksonville, Fla.; his twin sister, Karla Dawn Bell of Jacksonville; his brothers, Keith Eugene Rifenberg of Louisville, Ala., Kerry Laine Rifenberg of Webb, Ala., and Kurt Allen Rifenberg of Winona, Minn.; and his paternal grandmother, Avis Rifenberg.
Karl is also survived by his dear friends for 20 years, Kevin and Barb Knapp Smith, with whom he made his home; six nieces; two nephews; three uncles; three aunts; several cousins; and many friends.
Karl was preceded in death by his father, Walter Allen Rifenberg; his paternal grandfather, Hubert Allen Rifenberg; his maternal grandparents, Bert F. and Maud Trocinski; and one niece, Rebecca Faye Rifenberg.
Online condolences may be offered at egelhofsiegertcasper.com.
James ‘Jim’ Ruckhaber
LUANA, Iowa — James “Jim” Ruckhaber, 89, of rural Luana died Monday, Sept. 1, 2008, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon, Iowa, following a brief illness. Funeral services are pending with Schutte Funeral Home of Postville, Iowa.
Hellmut F. Scherreiks
TOMAH, Wis. — Hellmut F. Scherreiks, 88, of Tomah died Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008, at Tomah Healthcare Center. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, with burial in Oak Grove Cemetery, both in Tomah. Relatives and friends may call from 10 a.m. to services Thursday at the funeral home.
Viola ‘Vi’ ‘Ola’ ‘Grandma Ola’ M. Tanke
Viola “Vi” “Ola” “Grandma Ola” M. Tanke, 89, of La Crosse died Saturday, Aug. 30, 2008, at St. Joseph’s Rehab Center in La Crosse, where she had been a resident since July 2005.
She was born April 29, 1919, in La Crosse to John and Ida (Munsenberger) Young.
Vi was a 1937 graduate of Aquinas High School and went on to attend technical school in La Crosse. On May 9, 1945, she married Virgil Tanke at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in La Crosse, and he preceded her in death in 1989. She was employed for Trane Co. in accounting for 17 years. Vi then worked many years as a bookkeeper for Sanitary Dairy and later for Land O’ Lakes. For the last 20 years of her working career she worked as a claims representative for the unemployment office. Vi attempted to retire after she turned 65, however, after getting called back to work a few times, she finally retired at the age of 73. Vi loved singing, dancing, playing cards and, most of all, bowling, and she served as league secretary for 25 years. A few years ago, Vi made the newspaper for bowling for the same team, at the same alley, on the same night for over 55 years. She was a member of the 600 club. Those ladies knew how to have a good time; Vi inspired joking and laughter wherever she went. For many years, she and her sisters had a weekly card game. It was inspiring to see those sisters having so much fun with each other. Vi was a lifelong member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church and a leader in the St. Anne’s Ladies Society for many years. Vi once volunteered to iron the alter cloths and the priests vestments; a job she ended up with for over 23 years.
Vi is survived by her son, Greg (Nancy) Tanke; one grandson, Danny (Amy) Tanke; one great-grandson, Cody Tanke; and one sister, Betty Gonzales.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Marie Albrectson, Clara “Fritzi” Platz, and Helen Valiquette; and one brother, Roy Young.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1333 13th St. S., La Crosse. Father Lawrence Berger will officiate. Entombment will be in the Catholic Cemetery, La Crosse. Friends may call at the church on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until time of the Mass.
A special thank you to the staff at St. Joseph’s Rehab Center for giving her excellent care her entire stay.
Woodruff-Jandt Funeral Home of La Crosse is in charge of the arrangements.
Roland L. Young
ROCKLAND, Wis. — Roland L. Young, 72, of Rockland died Monday, Sept. 1, 2008, at Lakeview Health Center in West Salem, Wis. Funeral services will be announced by Jandt Funeral Home of Bangor, Wis.
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