Conrad Skrede
LA CROSSE/WESTBY — Conrad Skrede, age 96, of La Crosse and formerly of Westby, died and went home to be with his Savior and Lord Jesus early Saturday morning, Nov. 8, 2008, at St. Joseph’s Rehabilitation Center in La Crosse.
He was born Feb. 21, 1912, near the Bud Store in Vernon County, Wis., to Bob and Regina (Thoreson) Skrede. In his early adult years, Conrad ranched in Montana and drove semi for Gateway in La Crosse. On Oct. 10, 1942, he was united in marriage to Margaret Paulson and together they celebrated 66 years of marriage, having spent the last three years together at St. Joseph’s in La Crosse. He farmed all of his married life and also drove school bus for Westby Area Schools for 25 years. He was a member of Bethesda Lutheran Brethren Church in Westby.
In addition to his wife, Margaret, he is survived by his four daughters, Rachel E. Skrede of La Crosse, Rebecca C. (Fred) VanVeen of Mission Viejo, Calif., Karen L. Skrede of Mission Viejo, Calif., and Ruth A. (Michael) Fortun of Onalaska; five grandchildren, Sheila (Scott) Winston, Eric VanVeen, Chad (Katie) Fortun, Joshua (Leah) Fortun and Scott VanVeen; and six great-grandchildren, Luke Winston, Emily Winston, Julie VanVeen, Austin Fortun, Carter Fortun and Dylan Fortun. Conrad loved all his family very much and loved visiting all of his dear relatives and friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Earl (Florence) Skrede, Thelma (Melvin) Thompson, Tillie (Torger) Johnson, Henry (Lillian) Skrede and Marvin (Elaine) Skrede.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Bethesda Lutheran Brethren Church in Westby. Pastor Jim Folz will officiate, with burial in the Bethesda Cemetery.
Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Vosseteig Funeral Home, 708 S. Hwy. 14 in Westby. Friends may also call after 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church.
Online condolences may be offered at www.vosseteigfuneralhomes.com. Vosseteig Funeral Home of Westby is serving the family.
Joyce E. Eggleston
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN - Joyce E. Eggleston, 78, of Prairie du Chien died Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008, at Memorial Hospital in Prairie du Chien. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Prairie du Chien. Burial will be in Bridgeport Cemetery, rural Prairie du Chien. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Thornburg Hanson Funeral Home in Prairie du Chien, and from 9:30 a.m. Tuesday until the time of services at the church.
Peter S. Vepley III
SPARTA - Peter S. Vepley III, 48, of Sparta died Friday, Nov. 7, 2008, in his home. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta. Friends may call from 9 a.m. Thursday until the time of services at the funeral home. Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
Doris Ann Johnson
BLAIR/PIGEON FALLS, Wis. - Doris A. Johnson, 63, of Blair/Pigeon Falls died on Friday Nov. 7, 2008, in St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minn. Arrangements are pending. Jack Funeral Home in Whitehall is assisting the family with arrangements.
Debra Ann Dohve
Debra Ann Dohve, 57, of La Crosse died at her home on Friday, Nov. 7, 2008. Memorial services are tentatively arranged for Wednesday and will be announced by Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse.
Sandra ‘Sandy’ Jean Grondin
SOLDIERS GROVE - Sandra “Sandy” Jean Grondin, 54, of Soldiers Grove died Friday, Nov. 7, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Vosseteig Funeral Home, Westby. Friends may call from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Vosseteig Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers or plants, memorials may be given to Alzheimer’s Association. Vosseteig Funeral Home of Westby is serving the family.
Dr. (Thomas) John Carr
ONALASKA/SPARTA - Dr. (Thomas) John Carr, 55, of Onalaska died Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse, after a long, courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
Known as John to family, and as “TJ” to close friends and colleagues, he was born in Sparta on Jan. 23, 1953, to Maurice T. and Cecelia M. (Curti) Carr. He attended Sparta Senior High School, graduating as salutatorian in 1971. An accomplished clarinet player, he enjoyed many musical activities during these years. Following three years of study at UW-Eau Claire, he was accepted to University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in autumn of 1974. He graduated in 1978, and continued to enjoy many lifelong friendships made at U of M.
Following dental school, he spent a brief time in Tomah before opening his own private practice in Holmen in November 1980. He continued in general practice there until illness forced him to retire in August of 2007. His goal was to provide consistent, high quality care to his patients and he kept current with the newest technology and procedures. He was particularly proud of their new office facilities, which opened in December 2003. He was a member of American Dental Association, Wisconsin Dental Association, La Crosse District Dental Society, La Crosse Implant Study Club and Psi Omega Dental Fraternity.
He was united in marriage to the former Jodi Bottcher on April 19, 1996, at St. Elizabeth Seton Church in Holmen. Their union was blessed with the arrival of the absolute joy of their lives, daughter Mackenzie Leigh on Oct. 26, 1997. John always said the time spent with “his girls” was absolutely the best years of his life. They enjoyed traveling, dining and just being together as a closely knit family and their time together was too short.
He is survived by his wife, Jodi and daughter, Mackenzie at home; his mother, Cecelia Carr of Sparta; his in-laws, Dan and Charlotte Bottcher of La Crosse; and a brother-in-law, Scott and Shannon Bottcher and family of Holmen. He is further survived by one uncle, Pat Carr of Tomah; and several cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father, Maurice, in 2000.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Sparta, with the Rev. Father Delbert Malin officiating. Burial will be beside his parents at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery in Sparta. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Franklin Street Chapel, and from 10 a.m. Tuesday until the time of services at the church.
Online condolences may be offered at www.lanham-miller.com.
Memorials preferred.
Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
Then someone at my side says: “There, she is gone!”
“Gone where?”
Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear the load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says: “There, she is gone!” There are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: “Here she comes!”
And that is dying.
- Henry Van Dyke
Rose B. Gibbons
PINE CREEK, Wis. - Rose B. Gibbons, 94, of Arcadia and formerly of Pine Creek died Friday, Nov. 7, 2008, at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare Nursing Home in Arcadia.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Burial will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Wozney-Killian Funeral Home, Arcadia, where there will be a 6:30 p.m. rosary. They may also call from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Monday at the church. Memorials preferred to “Family Wishes.”
Richard ‘Rich’ A. Carlson
Richard “Rich” A. Carlson, 61, of La Crosse died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008, at his home. He was born Feb. 5, 1947, in Richland Center, Wis., to C. Henry and Arleen (Kolles) Carlson. He graduated from Amery High School (Amery, Wis.) in 1965, and attended Chippewa Valley Technical College before serving 15 months in Vietnam. Rich would later serve 25 years in the Army Reserve before retiring in 1998 as a 1st sergeant.
Rich married Pam Traister in La Crosse and they later divorced. He then married Mae (Brown) Fahy in La Crosse on March 22, 1997. In 1967, he began his career at La Crosse Trane Co. and in 2006 retired as a plant manager. He was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Thomas Rooney Post 1530 of La Crosse. He was honored to serve as Wisconsin state VFW commander from 1973 to 1974 and served on the state parade and competition committee, as well as working on various projects throughout the years. Rich was a life member of American Legion Post 52 in La Crosse and a member of Disabled American Veterans. He was also a member of La Crosse County Memorial Day Association and active with La Crosse Skyrockers. He enjoyed volunteering at firework displays throughout the Coulee Region. One of his greatest legacies will be his honor and dedication to serving his country and remembering other veterans who have served their country.
In addition to his wife, Mae, he is survived by two sons, Matt of La Crosse and John (Marianne) of Washburn, Wis.; sister, Cheryl (Richard) Barrows of Cumberland, Wis.; niece, Jennifer (Mark) Baker of Bemidji, Minn.; nephew, Bradley Barrows of Superior, Wis.; stepchildren, Kachina Leotie of La Crosse and James Fahy, Debbora (Raymond) Washington, Cinthia Fahy, Roy Fahy and Ruben Fahy, all of Milwaukee; along with many stepgrandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2135 Weston St., La Crosse, with the Rev. Bruce Iverson officiating. Entombment with military honors will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, La Crosse. Friends and family may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse, and again from 10:30 a.m. Thursday until the time of services at the church.
Memorials are suggested to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church or Thomas Rooney VFW Post 1530 of La Crosse.
David Thuener Lively
David Thuener Lively, 60, of La Crosse passed away Friday, Nov. 7, 2008, after a 21-year battle with cancer. Surrounded by his family, he died peacefully in his sleep, one week after being admitted to Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse.
David was born May 13, 1948, in St. Louis to John David Lively and the late Patricia Campbell Lively. His passion for learning was immense. He attended Webster Groves High School (Mo.) and earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Wyoming. After his graduation, his love of the outdoors led to him being a cowboy and then working as a copper miner. He joined Lincoln National Life as an insurance agent and moved to La Crosse, where he resided for the rest of his life. Many of his favorite activities offered him the opportunity to be outside, including fishing, hunting, Indian artifact collecting, skiing or walking his yellow Lab companion, Wolf.
Following his diagnosis of Waldenstrom’s, a rare blood cancer, David became heavily involved in International Waldenstrom’s Macroglo-bulinemia Foundation (IWMF). He served as treasurer, raising funds for research and awareness, and as a trustee, in which he continued to provide support and advocacy for the organization. As a spokesman, he was always available to counsel, inform and comfort others who were experiencing similar challenges in their lives.
Those who knew David were inspired by his enthusiasm for life and his courageous approach to living with and overcoming Waldenstrom’s. In addition to his many hobbies and his Waldenstrom’s activism, his family was incredibly important to him.
David is survived by his adoring children, Douglas (Jessica) Lively of Lusby, Md., Daniel Lively of Boulder, Colo., and Anna Lively of La Crosse; his loving father, John David Lively of St. Louis; and his doting sisters, Jane Stevens and Tinker (Gene) Young.
Family and friends will gather from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home in La Crosse, to celebrate the life of David Lively and honor his memory. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to IWMF (www.iwmf.com or 3932D Swift Road, Sarasota, FL 34231-6541) so that progress can continue to be made on the disease that David invested so much to overcome.
Roy C. Welker
SPARTA - Roy C. Welker, 58, of Sparta passed away Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008, in his home. He was born on Sept. 30, 1950, to Albert and Irma (Martin) Welker in Racine, Wis. He grew up in Burlington, Wis., and graduated from Burlington High School in 1969. He worked at Nestle in Burlington.
He married the former Valerie Hall on July 15, 1972, at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Burlington. After marriage they lived in Rochester, Wis., and then moved to Honey Creek. He worked for Mueller Pipeline. They moved to Evansville, Wis., in January of 1983. He then worked for Wisconsin Gas and then We Energy. They moved to Summit Ridge rural Norwalk in November 1987. Then they moved to the town of Sparta in July 1995. He retired from We Energy in 2006 after working there for 25 years. He has worked for Inter-Con Pipe Contractors for the past year.
He was a member of Pipefitters Union and a member of Sparta First Church of the Nazarene. He had served as pastor for three years at Church of God in Norwalk.
He is survived by his wife, Valerie J. Welker of Sparta; a son, Christopher J. Welker of Sparta; daughters, Angela F. (Thomas) Fleming of La Crosse, Billie J. (Kieth) Charles of La Crosse and Natalie J. Welker of Sparta; grandchildren, Emily J. Welker (Emmy Lou), Alissa J. Welker (Jo-Jo), Drake C. Welker (Duck), Xavier A. Zwiefel (George), Iris A. Charles (Flower), Myra A. Charles (Millie) and Mariah Bowen (Maria); brothers, Albert (Deborah) Welker of West Virginia, Byron Welker of Missouri, Lee (Diane) Welker of Burlington and Randy (Melanie) Welker of Texas; and sisters, Laura (Gary) Sheppard of Missouri and Rose (Steve) Johnson of Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert N. and Irma B. Welker Sr.; and a sister, Linda Welker.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Sparta First Church of the Nazarene, with Pastor Curt Blair officiating. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, Angelo, Wis.
Visitation with viewing will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta.
Online condolences may be offered at www.lanham-miller.com.
Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
Advertisement
