Eldon ‘Bud’ Patrick Kramer
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN — Eldon “Bud” P. Kramer, 87, of Prairie du Chien died Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008, at Prairie Maison after a long illness.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at United Methodist Church, with burial in Ever-green Ceme-tery, both in Prairie du Chien. Military honors will be accorded by Prairie du Chien Honor Guard. Friends may call from 10 a.m. Thursday to services at the church.
He is survived by his wife, Kathryn; two daughters, Sandra (Allan) Standorf of Steamboat Rock, Iowa, and Karen LaPointe of Prairie du Chien; a son, Kenneth (Debra) Kramer of Madison; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one brother, Neal Kramer of Potosi, Wis.; and cousins, nieces and nephews.
Thornburg-Hanson Funeral Home assisted the family.
Eldon was born March 17, 1921, in Crawford County, Wis., to Florence and Anna (Pintz) Kramer. He graduated from Prairie du Chien High School. He married Kathryn Shaw on June 11, 1941, in Prairie du Chien. He serviced in the Air Force during World War II. Following his discharge in 1946, he worked as a truck driver for Badger Wholesale, Quality Beverage and for Sun Beam Bread for 21 years until his retirement in 1981. “Bud” enjoyed hunting, fishing, dancing, playing cards and softball. He was a 50-plus year member of the American Legion and a member of the Eagles Club.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Roger; and four siblings, Emma, Franklin, Ila and Ellen (Honey).
Sharon M. Lunde
Sharon M. Lunde, 64, of La Crosse passed away at her home on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008. She was born in Sampson, N.Y., on July 15, 1944, to Marion James and Dorothy Mae (McGill) Kaczorowski. Sharon was a 1961 graduate of Aquinas High School. She married Robert Lunde in La Crosse, and he preceded her in death in 1999. Sharon loved to travel, especially to Las Vegas. Spending time with her granddaughters was very important to her. She was especially fond of her dog “Sammy.” She had worked at La Crosse Rubber Mills for 27 years and retired in 2001.
She is survived by her daughter, Christina K. Terrance of Green Bay, Wis.; her son, Roy A. Reaves of La Crosse; her mother, Dorothy of La Crosse; two brothers, George (Judy) Kaczorowski of La Crescent, Minn., and Mike Kaczorowski of La Crosse; two granddaughters, Jessica Luegge of Green Bay and Jenna Luegge of La Crosse; and one nephew, Lucas Kaczorowski of La Crescent. In addition to her husband and father, she was preceded in death by one sister, Mary Jo Martell.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse. Pastor Scott Skogen will officiate. Burial will take place in Mormon Coulee Memorial Park, La Crosse. Friends may call from 9 a.m. Wednesday until the time of services at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. Online condolences may be given at www.schumacher-kish.com.
James Owen Smith
James Owen Smith, 81, of La Crosse died peacefully Saturday Oct. 25, 2008, at Bethany St. Joseph Care Center. He was born in La Crosse on May 17, 1927, to Norbert and Alys (Kleist) Smith. He graduated from St. James Grade School and Aquinas High School, where he lettered in football and basketball. He attended UW-Madison, where he played basketball as a freshman. He served in the United States Navy. James married Frances Ann Stuber at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church on April 18, 1953, and celebrated 55 wonderful years of marriage. He loved a variety of music, especially “big band” and was a big fan of college football and basketball. James enjoyed bowling and playing horseshoes, even creating his own horseshoe court in his backyard. He was a member of Sokols and Blessed Sacrament Parish. He was a truck driver for Gateway Transportation before his retirement.
James is survived by his wife, Frances; seven children, James (Elizabeth) Smith of La Crosse, Jane (Wayne) Hermann of La Crescent, Minn., Paul Smith of Madison, Ala., Samuel (Julie) Smith of Seattle, Wash., Mark Smith of St. Louis Park, Minn., William Smith of Waterford, Mich., and Susan (Peter) Sayner of La Crosse; 15 grandchildren, Valerie, Christopher, Nicholas, David, Emily, Whitman, Corwin, Duncan, Chloe, Andrea, Audrey, Nicole, Joshua, Henry and Frances; a sister-in-law, Doris Engelhart; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
James was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Mary Frances; and a brother, Robert Smith.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Blessed Sacra-ment Catholic Church, 130 Losey Blvd. S. The Rev. David Olson will officiate, with entombment in St. Joseph’s Mausoleum at a later date. Friends and family may call from 10:30 a.m. Wednesday until the time of services at the church and are welcome to join the family at Msgr. Wagener Hall for a luncheon after the Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to Blessed Sacrament Parish or Aquinas Schools Foundation. Blaschke and Schneider Funeral Homes are assisting with arrangements.
Mary L. Strand
Mary L. Strand, 61, of La Crosse passed away peacefully on Friday, Oct. 24, 2008, at Franciscan Skemp Medical Center.
Mary was born in La Crosse on Feb. 24, 1947, to Gerald and Beverly (Dowell) Ellis and attended West Salem High School, where she graduated in 1965.
Mary married Rodney Sheffield in 1966, and they later divorced. They had two children, Craig and Kristina; and three grandchildren, who brought her much joy. Mary later married her husband, John Strand III, in 1993, and they celebrated 15 years of marriage.
Mary enjoyed a wide variety of careers over her life. She was a talented salesperson in the 1970s and was a top-selling Tupperware saleswoman. She later studied accounting and held various bookkeeping positions. She and her husband, John, owned and operated the Seven-Up Bottling Co. of La Crosse for many years. She was also a skilled medical transcriptionist for several years.
Mary was a lifetime lover of animals — especially her beloved dog, Chelsea. She also had a passion and talent for cooking and sewing clothes that she generously shared with her family.
In addition to her husband, John Strand, she is survived by her son, Craig (Stacey) Sheffield of La Crosse; daughter, Kristina (Paul) Deloughery, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and three grandchildren, Brigid, Aidan and Ruth. She is further survived by her three brothers, Thomas Ellis of St. Petersburg, Fla., Ronald (Carol) Ellis of Dover, Minn., and Richard Ellis of La Crosse. She is further survived by her stepchildren, Kathryn (Strand) Turnidge, John Adam Strand and Hayley M. Strand.
She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Gerald and Beverly Ellis; and an infant brother, Gerald Jr.
Friends and family are invited to a celebration of Mary’s life at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel of First Congregational Church, 2503 Main St., La Crosse. Interment will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in La Crosse.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to For Goodness’ Sake project in care of La Crosse County Health Department.
Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of Onalaska is in charge of arrangements.
Verna Weist
WHITEHALL — Verna Weist, 91, of Whitehall, formerly of La Crosse, died Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008, at Tri-County Memorial Nursing Home, Whitehall.
She was born Nov. 22, 1916, in Trempealeau Township to Webster and Grace (Wilber) Calkins.
Survivors include four children, Alan Weist of Blair, Becky (Dennis) Maule of Independence, Penny (Keith) Mathson of Blair and James Weist of Miami, Fla.; five grandchildren, Kim (Paul) Cassem of Holmen, Greg Maule of Rochester, Minn., Kara (Travis) Nehring of Milwaukee, Sara Mathson of Blair and Kurt (Liza) Mathson of Milwaukee; four great-grandchildren, Alex Cassem, Kelsey and Laura Nehring and Logan Mathson.
Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Evergreen Cemetery, Centerville.
Edison Funeral Home, Independence, is assisting the family with arrangements.
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