Obituaries

Jun 29, 2023

Jeannie Marie (Garstka) Skala, 67, of Holmen, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, June 29, 2023. She was born on November 20, 1955 to Eugene and Dolores Garstka. Jeannie married Joseph Skala on November 3, 1994. Jeannie enjoyed crocheting since she was a child. She learned the craft from her grandmother. Using this...

Jun 23, 2023

Robert “Bob” “Pete” L. Pederson, 85, of Coon Valley, died Friday June 23, 2023 at Norseland Nursing Home in Westby. He was born December 6, 1937 to Chester and Lillian (Steenberg) Pederson. He graduated from Westby High School where he was an excellent athlete. Bob married Sonja Skolos on January 29, 1955 in Coon Valley. He had a painting...

Jun 23, 2023

Gloria Dawn Kunert died peacefully on Friday, June 23, 2023 surrounded by her loved ones. She was born on November 24, 1951 to Edward and Marian (Devic) Kunert. Gloria grew up on a dairy farm in Mormon Coulee and treasured her time on the farm. She loved to visit often to help harvest and can vegetables from the garden...

Jun 16, 2023

Sharon E. Stendahl, 68, of Chaseburg, died Friday June 16, 2023 after a 6-month battle with cancer. She was born December 10, 1954 to Kenneth and Lorraine (Tripp) Stenslien. She graduated from Viroqua High School in 1973. Sharon married Lee Stendahl on Mackinac Island, Michigan on July 16, 1985. She worked at Veum Veterinarians in Viroqua and then at...

Jun 6, 2023

Gary Lee Cook Sr. , 84, of Holmen, Wisconsin passed away at Mayo Clinic Health Systems, La Crosse, Tuesday, June 6, 2023 surrounded by his family after a long, hard battle with C.O.P.D. and a heart condition.  Gary was born on September 22, 1938, to Wesley and Evelyn (Grayless) Cook. He married Delores (Bryant) Cook on June 20, 1961....

May 24, 2023

Caroline Salomea (Lindahl) Bakkestuen, 91, died Wednesday May 24, 2023 at Norseland Nursing Home in Westby where she had been a resident for the past 5 plus years. Caroline was born October 3, 1931 in Viroqua to Joel and Salomea (Stoehr) Lindahl. She was baptized, confirmed, married and a lifetime member of St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church Hamburg and...

May 10, 2023

Lois Marie (Berg) Myhre, 78 formerly of Chaseburg, went home to be with Jesus on May 10, 2023 surrounded by her loving family.  She fought a tough battle for many years and now we are reassured that she is in Jesus arms free from pain and sorrow.  Her earthly battle is over and she has won the ultimate prize...

Apr 21, 2023

Bryan J. Bahr, 66 of La Crosse passed away Friday April 21, 2023.

He is survived by his father, Eugene Bahr (Ruth Chitwood); siblings, Garry (Amy) Bahr, Laura (Darrel) Dwyer, Lisa Thibodeau and Lucy (Brian) Jacobson and very special nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother Virginia (McDaniel) Bahr and a...

Apr 18, 2023

Dick William Petersen was born May 13, 1948 in Racine, Wisconsin to Harry and Ruth Petersen.  He was the youngest of four children. He spent a few of his younger years in Livermore, California. Returning to the Racine area when he was 10 years old.  He became a survivor during these young years due to the death of his...

Apr 14, 2023

Stuart B. Peterson, 80 of Chaseburg, passed away peacefully on Thursday April 14th, 2023.  Stuart was born on July 12th, 1942 to Stanley Sr. and Bernetta (Madsen) Peterson.  Stuart grew up on the family farm in Chaseburg, attended grades 1 thru 8 at the one room Linrud Schoolhouse, and graduated from Westby High School in 1960.  He went on...

Apr 13, 2023

Geraldine “Gerri” Elizabeth Ann (Engelcke) (Schrader) Leum, 79, of La Crosse and formerly of Coon Valley, took the hand of Jesus and was ushered into heaven on Thursday, April 13, 2023.   In Gerri fashion—she very courageously fought cancer with everything she had!

Gerri is survived by her husband of 41+ years, Larry Leum; son, Larry P (Jennifer)...

Apr 12, 2023

LaVerne J. Sandwick, 95 of Stoddard, passed away at home with his family by his side on Wednesday April 12, 2023. LaVerne was born September 26, 1927 to Harold and Florence (Hall) Sandvick Sr.  at his grandma Hall’s home in Romance, WI. LaVerne was the second child of 9. He grew up in Romance and Purdy and graduated 8th...

Apr 11, 2023

Karleen M. Kapanke, 90, of Chaseburg, departed this life peacefully in her sleep on April 11, 2023 at Bethany St. Joseph Care Center in La Crosse. She was born January 22, 1933 at her family’s farm in Chaseburg to Carl W. and Melinda (Dengel) Kapanke Jr.

Karleen accepted Christ at an early age and was a lifetime...

Apr 9, 2023

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Donald Bahr, our loving and devoted husband, father, Grampa, and brother. He left us unexpectedly on April 9th 2023. He was 75 years old.

Don was a servant his whole life. He served his God in his everyday life through his actions and his example of a life well...

Apr 6, 2023

Nancy Rae Stuempges 90, of Coon Valley, died Thursday, April 6, 2023 at Lakeview Health Care in West Salem.

She was born December 29, 1932 in Whitehall, to Raymond and Helen (Wood) Ringstad. The Ringstad family moved from Whitehall to Coon Valley in 1940 where Nancy’s father ran the lumberyard. Nancy graduated from Westby High School in...

Apr 6, 2023

Verna M. Myhre, 92, of Chaseburg, passed away peacefully on Thursday April 6, 2023. She was born March 27, 1931 to Fred and Tena (Hallingstad) Goede. She married Milton Myhre at St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chaseburg on May 5, 1951. She farmed with Milton and was a member of the St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church Ladies Aid....

Apr 3, 2023

Barry Eugene Trussoni, age 86, died Monday, April 3, 2023, in the same home where he was born on November 29, 1936 to Lawrence and Laurena (Beyer) Trussoni.  He married Carole Krause on June 13, 1959, enjoying nearly 60 years together before she passed away on May 10, 2019.  Together they were blessed to raise four children on the...

Apr 2, 2023

Rita M. Stephan, 93, of La Crosse, died Sunday April 2, 2023 at the Onalaska Care Center. She was born September 24, 1929 to James and Verna (Richards) Matiak. Rita worked with her family running Stephan’s Maple Grove for 30 years, followed by Stephan’s Gift Shop and then finished her career as a nurse’s aid at Hillview Health Care...

Mar 29, 2023

Arlene “Bun” Mae (Strangstalien) Townsend, 85 of Coon Valley, died peacefully Wednesday morning, March 29 with her sister Gloria by her bedside. Arlene was born in Westby, Wisconsin on April 22, 1937 to Arthur and Mabel (Lindvig) Strangstalien. She graduated from Westby High School in 1955, but not before being named one of the “Bevy of Beauties” for the...

Mar 19, 2023

Tilmer “Tim” Johannes Ofte, 95 of La Crosse, died peacefully on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at Benedictine Manor. He was born at home on April 25, 1927, to Setles and Ellen (Haldorson) Ofte in Coon Valley, Wisconsin.

Tim graduated from Westby High School in 1946. After graduation, he worked for Skolos Painting and various farmers until 1955...