Christine A. Nelsestuen | Catherine M. Schmidt | Roy C. Welker
Virginia Ann (McGuirk) Lee
SANTA FE, N.M. — Virginia Ann (McGuirk) Lee, 56, of Santa Fe passed away Friday, Oct. 31, 2008, at Kindred Hospital in Scottsdale, Ariz., after a long illness. At her side was her devoted husband of 22 years, Randall Lee.
She was born May 9, 1952, in Jersey City, N.J., to Laurence A. and Genevieve (Starkey) McGuirk. Virginia was a graduate of St. Peter’s College in Jersey City and Pace University in New York City. She had a long, successful career in information technology. Virginia was a computer systems officer at United States Trust Co. of New York from 1977 to 1979 and at Manufacturer’s Hanover Trust Co. from 1979 to 1980. She was employed at Insurance Services Office, where she managed more than 150 software engineers from 1980 to 2000. Often a trailblazer for women, Virginia was active in several industry professional associations, including the Insurance Data Management Association, where she was a member of the executive committee and chairwoman of the information technology committee. She was also active in the Insurance Accounting and Systems Association, where she was co-chair of the Technology Track of the 2001 annual meeting. Her last position had her living and working in Paris, France, as senior vice president with AXA France, retiring in 2002. She and her husband then moved to Santa Fe. In retirement, Virginia served on the boards of the Council on International Relations and the Santa Fe Newcomers Club.
Survivors include her husband, Randall M. Lee of Santa Fe; two brothers, Patrick (Pam) McGuirk of Brecksville, Ohio, and Tim (Lynda) McGuirk of Wernersville, Pa.; and three sisters, Kathleen Diffley of Hillside, N.J., Maureen McGuirk of South Orange, N.J., and Madonna Molloy of Verona, N.J. In addition, she is survived by her two stepsons, William (Stacey) Lee of New York City and Kenneth Lee of Stratford, Conn.; two stepgranddaughters, Alexandria and Anastasia Lee; a sister-in-law, Theresa McGuirk of Bayonne, N.J.; as well as her nieces and nephews, Maureen, Elizabeth, Patrick and Jack Diffley, Meghan and Caitlin McGuirk, and Daniel and Matthew Molloy. She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Laurence McGuirk; and a brother-in-law, Tim Diffley.
Virginia and Randy were married on March 29, 1986. Together, they traveled extensively and ultimately visited more than 100 countries around the world, all seven continents, traversed the Panama and Suez canals, and crossed the equator and international date line multiple times. She was a friend to all, a spirited traveler, and will be sorely missed by her family, friends and colleagues.
Funeral services will be Monday, Nov. 10, at 11 a.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 359 N. Leonard St., West Salem. The Revs. J. David Bersagel and Martha J. Hampton will officiate. Burial will be in Neshonoc Cemetery. Friends may call at Jostad-Jandt Funeral Home, 121 N. Youlon St., West Salem, on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. and also at the church on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of services. Memorials may be given to the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. There will also be a memorial service in New Jersey and Santa Fe later in November with dates and times to be announced.
Richard ‘Rich’ A. Carlson
Richard “Rich” A. Carlson, 61, of La Crosse died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008, at his home.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2135 Weston St.
Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home, La Crosse, and 10:30 a.m. to services Thursday at the church.
A complete obituary will appear next week.
Mary Catherine Crowley
Mary Catherine Crowley, 88, of La Crosse died on Wed-nesday, Nov. 5, 2008, at Fran-ciscan Skemp Healthcare, La Crosse.
She was born in La Crosse to William and Gertrude (Wadden) Crowley on May 25, 1920. She was a graduate of Aquinas High School and the College of St. Teresa, and did graduate work at the University of Minnesota. She was a science teacher in the Minneapolis area.
She belonged to the Blessed Sacrament Women’s Club, Catholic Women’s League and National Education Association, and was a volunteer for New Horizons Women’s Shelter.
Mary is survived by her sister, Patricia (James) Crews of Phoenix; her sister-in-law, Patricia Crowley of La Crosse; a niece, Mary (Edward) Trussoni of De Soto; nephews, Daniel (Bonnie) Crowley of Las Vegas, Thomas (Debra) Crowley of Rochester, Minn., James (Rebecca) Crews of Phoenix and Michael (Suzette) Crews of Dallas; and numerous great nieces, nephews and friends
She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Daniel.
A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, in Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 130 Losey Blvd. S., La Crosse. Burial will be in Catholic Cemetery, La Crosse. Family and friends may call from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass in Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church on Saturday.
Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Homes are assisting the family with arrangements.
Catherine M. Schmidt
Catherine M. Schmidt, 94, of La Crosse passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008, at St. Joseph’s Rehabilitation Center in La Crosse.
She was born in Lansing, Iowa, on Aug. 15, 1914, to Henry and Mary (Manning) Burke. She married Leo Schmidt in La Crescent, Minn., and he preceded her in death in 1983. Catherine had worked as a registered nurse at St. Francis Hospital for many years until her retirement.
She is survived by a daughter, Peg (Furlano) Shelton of Tomah; two sons, Dick (LuAnn) Schmidt of Viroqua and Bob (Ann) Schmidt of Twin Lake, Mich.; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by four brothers, a sister, and a son-in-law, Dave Furlano in 1993.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, at St. Joseph’s Rehabilitation Center, La Crosse. The Rev. Edmund Donkor-Baine will officiate. Burial will be in Gethsemane Cemetery in Lansing. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred and will be donated in Catherine’s name. Schumacher-Kish Funeral home of La Crosse is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be given at www.schumacher-kish.com.
Helen J. Beranek
Helen J. Beranek, 80, of La Crosse, a resident of the Bethany St. Joseph Care Center, died on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008, at the care center.
She was born on June 16, 1928, in La Crosse to Peter and Anna (Shedesky) Beranek. Helen liked to play bingo and attend parties at the care center.
She is survived by two sisters, Ruth (Carroll) Hoff of North St. Paul, Minn., and Doris Beranek of La Crosse; two brothers, Roland Beranek of La Crosse and Robert (Vi) Beranek of La Crosse; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Billy.
Funeral services will be held Monday, Nov. 10, at 10:30 a.m. at Bethany St. Joseph Care Center Chapel. The Rev. Lawrence B. Berger will officiate. Burial will be in Catholic Cemetery. Friends may call at the care center on Monday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services. Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse is in charge of arrangements.
Harley D. Griffin
ONTARIO/TOMAH — Harley D. Griffin, 79, of Ontario and formerly of Tomah died Wedne-sday, Nov. 5, 2008, at Norseland Nursing Home, Westby. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at Faith Independent Baptist Church, Ontario. Burial will be in Warren Mills Cemetery, War-rens. Family and friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Tor-kelson Funeral Home, Tomah, with a 7 p.m. prayer service, and noon until time of services Sunday at the church. Memori-als may be be given to Faith Independent Baptist Church or the charity of your choice. Condolences may be offered at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
Fredrick C. Kleba
OCONOMOWOC, Wis./HIXTON — Fredrick C. Kleba, 71, of Oconomowoc and formerly of Hixton died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008, in Oconomowoc. Ser-vices will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Jensen-Modjeski Funeral Home, Hixton. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Schmidt & Bartelt Funeral Home, Oconomowoc, and noon until the time of services Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Northfield (Wis.) Lutheran Cemetery.
Roy C. Welker
SPARTA — Roy C. Welker, 58, of Sparta died Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008, in his home. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta.
Richard D. Cody
Richard D. Cody, 66, of La Crosse died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, La Crosse. Entombment will be in Good Shepherd Columbari-um Prayer Garden, La Crosse. Friends may call from 1 p.m. until the time of services Monday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. A complete obituary will follow. Woodruff-Jandt Funeral Home, La Crosse, is in charge of arrangements.
Christine A. Nelsestuen
Christine A. Nelsestuen, 92, of La Crosse died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse. A memorial service will be at
1 p.m. Sunday at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, La Crosse. Friends may call from noon until the time of the service Sunday at the church. Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society or to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. A complete obituary will follow. Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home, La Crosse, is assisting the family.
Donald Garin
TOMAH/LA CROSSE — Donald Garin, 80, died Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008, at his home in Tomah. Private family services, with full military honors, were held Oct. 25. Sonnenburg Funeral Home, Tomah, assisted the family.
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