John F. Korthals

John F. Korthals, Jr. was quietly welcomed into the arms of his loving Savior on Friday, August 21, 2015 at the Bethany St. Joseph Care Center, La Crosse, where he had resided for the past month. Born on July 27, 1925 to John, Sr. and Bertha (nee Kapanke) Korthals, he lived in La Crosse for a few years before moving to the family farm. On August 19, 1949 he was united in marriage with Alice (nee Schauble) at St. John's Lutheran Church, Caledonia, MN. Together they farmed outside of Chaseburg, WI, where they were members of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Town of Hamburg. Their marriage was blessed with six children: James (Jean), Mequon, WI; Linda (Doug) Burrows, Eau Claire, WI; Susan (Greg) Paul, La Crosse, WI; Gary (Carla), Sparta, WI; Gordon (Becky), Oshkosh, WI; and Eric (Caryn), Baraboo, WI. John was further blessed with 22 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.

After retiring from the farm and moving to La Crosse, he continued to work part-time at a car wash until age 88. Since moving to La Crosse he was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church. In addition to Alice, his wife of 66 years, and his immediate descendants, he is also survived by three sisters: Norma Ring Roerig, Rene Brusen, and Ruth Malchow; one sister-in-law: Charlotte Burmeister. He was preceded in death by his parents and by two brothers, four brothers-in-law, four sisters-in-law, and a great-granddaughter.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday August 26, 2015 at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in La Crosse. Rev. Jonathan Rimmert will officiate with burial in Hamburg Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Chaseburg. A visitation will be held on Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. and from 10 a.m. until service time on Wednesday all at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church. The Seland Funeral Home in Coon Valley is assisting the family. Online condolences may be offered at selandsfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Grace Lutheran Church; Luther High School, Onalaska, WI; or Mayo Clinic Hospice Team, 212 S. 11th Street, La Crosse, WI 54601.

The family would like to thank the Mayo Clinic Hospice Team and the Bethany St. Joseph Care Center for the care they gave Dad. " Blessed are those who die in the Lord."