Obituaries

Jan 12, 2015

Grace M. Nordstrom, 91, of La Crosse and formerly of Coon Valley, died Monday January 12, 2015 at Bethany St. Joseph Care Center in La Crosse where she has resided since September 2012. She was born May 19, 1923 in Coon Valley to William and Lydia Struxness. Grace married Clinton "Swede" Nordstrom on December 8, 1945 at...

Jan 11, 2015

Marcia Elaine (McHargue) Meshbesher, 73, finally met the one thing she couldn't fix, fundraise, cook, or quilt her way through. She died peacefully after a short battle with pancreatic cancer on Sunday, January 11th, 2015.

Marcia was born in Central City, Nebraska to Don and Lucille (Martin) McHargue. Growing up, she...

Dec 28, 2014

Richard E. "Dick" Bakken, 88, of La Crosse, passed away Sunday December 28, 2014 at the Bethany St. Joseph Care Center in La Crosse. He was born September 14, 1926 to Elmer and Minnie (Krause) Bakken. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chaseburg. In 1952, he married Donna Mae Gerth at...

Dec 20, 2014

Shirley E. Wilson, 72, of Chaseburg, died Saturday December 20, 2014 at her home in Chaseburg. She was born January 21, 1942 in rural Chaseburg to Gordon and Ethelyn (Dummer) Ostreng. She married Merton "Pat" Wilson on December 28, 1957 at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chaseburg. The couple lived in Aurora, Illinois for 30 years....

Dec 15, 2014

Ervin J. Jacobson, 87, of Coon Valley, passed away Monday December 15, 2014 at Norseland Nursing Home in Westby. Ervin was born August 15, 1927 to John and Ella (Nelson) Jacobson in Coon Valley. He attended grade school in Coon Valley and graduated from Westby High School in 1945. Shortly after graduation he joined the Navy and...

Dec 9, 2014

Betty L. Halvorson, 87, of La Crosse and formerly of Coon Valley, died at Hillview Health Care Center on December 9, 2014. She was born in Coon Valley on February 18, 1927 to Earl and Lisa (Gullord) Spellum. Betty was baptized and confirmed in the Upper Coon Valley Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church. She attended Central and Westby...

Nov 29, 2014

James Earl Rach, 90, of Chaseburg passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Saturday, November, 29, 2014 at home. He was born April 21, 1924, to Frank and Emma (Martin) Rach in Chaseburg, WI. He was baptized, confirmed, and a life-long member of St. Peter's Chaseburg. Jim married Illa Jean Smith on October 29,...

Nov 24, 2014

Juna A. Manske, 83, of Stoddard, died Monday November 24, 2014 at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse. She was born June 18, 1931 in Vernon County to Leif and Mabel (Jensen) Helgeson. On June 20, 1964 she married Walter "Stub" Manske at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Chaseburg. Juna worked at several photo shops...

Nov 24, 2014

Arnold W. Manske, 85, passed away Monday November 24, 2014 at his rural Viroqua home in the township of Harmony. Arnold was born July 20, 1929 in the township of Harmony to Walter and Selma (Manske) Manske. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church at Chaseburg where he was a long time member....

Nov 19, 2014

Larry G. Stuempges, 82, of Coon Valley, died Wednesday November 19, 2014 at the Bethel Home in Viroqua. He was born April 6, 1932 in Polar, Wisconsin to Adolph and Mabel (Parsons) Stuempges. On February 28, 1953, he married the love of his life, Nancy Ringstad in Coon Valley. Larry was raised on a farm outside of...

Nov 18, 2014

The South Ridge baseball team welcomed their catcher Art Theige, 87, of rural Westby, when he arrived safe at home on November 18, 2014. Arthur D. Theige was born on March 11, 1927 in Boscobel to Oscar and Minnie (Mathison) Theige. He graduated from Westby High School in 1945 and later from UW-Madison. He married Rena Williams...

Nov 13, 2014

Timothy L. Tollackson, 46, of Onalaska and formerly of Chaseburg, died unexpectedly Thursday November 13, 2014 at his home. He was born March 19, 1968 in Viroqua to Larry and Judy (Lenser) Tollackson. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chaseburg. Tim graduated from Westby High School in 1986. He worked for...

Nov 7, 2014

Donald H. "Stub" Denison, 77, of Coon Valley, passed away Friday November 7, 2014 surrounded by his family. He was born May 12, 1937 in Soldiers Grove to Donald A. and Alda (Helgerson) Denison. He graduated from Soldiers Grove High School in 1955. He played on the school basketball team and in his senior year was voted...

Nov 1, 2014

Louise E. Mellem, 90, of rural West Salem died Saturday November 1, 2014 at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse. She was born June 7, 1924 in Vernon County, Wisconsin to Robert and Allis (Lien) Jacobson. Louise married John O. Gilbertson and they were later divorced. On June 7, 1973, she married Robert Mellem in Waukegan,...

Oct 27, 2014

Michael L. Harris, 64, of Viroqua, WI, passed away Monday, Oct. 27, 2014 surrounded by his family at Vernon Memorial Hospital in Viroqua of cancer. He was born April 16, 1950 to Roger and Marion (Schumacher) Harris in Kenmare, ND. He graduated from Des Lacs High School, Des Lacs, ND in 1968 and served in the US...

Oct 26, 2014

Donna Rae L. Burke, 85, of Coon Valley died peacefully Sunday October 26, 2014 at her home. She was born February 14, 1929 in Coon Valley to Albert and Hulda (Johnson) Larson. She was baptized and confirmed at Middle Coon Valley Lutheran Church. On June 23, 1951, Donna married Vernon Burke. He preceded her in death on...

Oct 26, 2014

Calvin L."Kelly" Hanson, 86, passed away peacefully at his home in Coon Valley on Sunday morning October 26, 2014.

He was born to Charles and Hattie Hanson on January, 3 1928 in Vernon County. He was the youngest of nine children. On May, 20 1950 he married the love of his life, Imogene Perkins. They...

Oct 5, 2014

Janet D. Moilien, 81, of La Crosse and formerly of Coon Valley died Sunday October 5, 2014 Gundersen Health System in La Crosse. She was born September 3, 1933 in La Crosse to Lloyd and Mabel (Hanson) Mahlum. Janet was baptized and confirmed at the Middle Coon Valley Lutheran Church. She married Clarence Moilien on April 15,...

Sep 29, 2014

Deloris B. Berra, 84, of Stoddard, passed away peacefully Monday September 29, 2014 at her home. She was born January 31, 1930 to Acy and Lena (Podawitz) Suiter in Genoa Township. Deloris married Glenn Berra on April 9, 1947 in Stoddard. The couple farmed on Oak Ridge for 30 years before retiring to Stoddard in 1985. She...

Sep 16, 2014

Harvey O. Lunde, 78, of Westby, died Tuesday September 16, 2014 at Norseland Nursing Home in Westby.

He was born in La Crosse on May 8, 1936 to Archie and Bella (Dahlen) Lunde. Growing up in Timber Coulee, Harvey spoke Norwegian fluently and remembered when he started grade school he had...