Norma Milinda Bartsch
ARCADIA — Norma Milinda Bartsch, 94, of Arcadia died Friday, Nov. 28, 2008, at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare Nursing Home in Arcadia. Norma’s wishes were to have no services. Burial will be in Arizona. Wozney-Killian Funeral Home of Arcadia is assisting the family with arrangements.
Eunice Blaha
INDEPENDENCE — Eunice Blaha, 79, of Independence died Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008, at Tri-County Memorial Hospital, Whitehall. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Independence. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends and family may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and 8 to 10 a.m. Wednesday at Edison Funeral Home, Indepen-dence. There will be a
7:30 p.m. prayer service followed by a rosary Tues-day at the funeral home.
Marjorie Jean Bluske
Marjorie Jean Bluske, 86, of La Crosse died peacefully at St. Joseph’s Rehabilita-tion Center on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008.
She was born Jan. 8, 1922, in Romance, to Percy and Clara (Hanson) Powell. She grew up in Stoddard with many fond memories of life in a small river town. Marjorie graduated from Central High School in 1939.
Marjorie married Glenn Howard Bluske in 1942, and they settled and raised their family in La Crosse. They were married
49 years until his death in 1991. Marjorie worked at La Crosse Footwear for 37 years. On her retirement day, she was surprised by a white limo, which took her to a gathering with many friends, co-workers and family.
Marge loved dancing (always in high heels) at the Moose Lodge with Norman “Swede” Nordstrom, who was her close companion in later years. They shared many good times and family memories.
Marge doted on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and loved to be around them. She loved traveling to California to visit family. She was a life-long baseball fan of both the Braves and Brewers.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Glenn; her friend, Swede Nordstrom; her son-in-law, Jon deMeza; her sisters, Lula (Vilas) Hansen and Edythe Powell; and a brother, Roger Powell.
She is survived by her daughters, Suzanne Knutson (Bill Bailey) of La Crosse and Mary Jo deMeza of Whitewater, Wis.; grandchildren, Christine Knutson (Duane Rediske) of La Crosse and Kevin (Kristi) Knutson of La Crescent, Minn.; and great-grandchildren, Kyle, Jaren and Katie Knutson. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Olga Bluske; nephew, Lee (Marge) Bluske; and nieces, Edith (Jon) Larson and Janice (Verlin) Ihle.
The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the staff and friends at Meadow Wood Assisted Living, the staff at St. Joseph’s Rehabilitation Center and Franciscan Skemp Dialysis Unit and Dr. O’Brien for their kind and thoughtful care.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home, 200 West Ave. S., La Crosse. The Rev. Bruce Iverson will officiate. Burial will take place in Woodlawn Cemetery at a later date. Friends may call from noon Wednesday until the time of services at the funeral home. Memorials can be made in Marge’s name to Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church or to Franciscan Skemp Foundation for Diabetes health care.
Marge was a gentle spirit who loved people. She was a sweetheart who will be missed by all who were lucky enough to know her.
Verna L. Burreson
MABEL, Minn. — Verna L. Burreson, 95, of Mabel died Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008, at Green Lea Manor Nursing Home in Mabel. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Hesper Lutheran Church in Hesper, Iowa, with the Rev. Matt Larson officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel and one hour prior to services at the church.
Irene Dunlap
WEST SALEM — Irene Dunlap, 91, of West Salem died Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008, at Hillview Health Care Center, La Crosse. Funeral services will be announced by Jostad-Jandt Funeral Home, West Salem.
Ruth H. Hefti
Ruth H. Hefti, 89, of La Crosse died Friday, Nov. 28, 2008. She was born in Velva, N.D., on April 8, 1919, to Rudolph and Hilma (Wick) Robertson. She married Donald E. Hefti on Oct. 27, 1949, in St. James the Less Catholic Church. He preceded her in death on Feb. 18, 1999. Ruth was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church for many years. She had worked at the Electric Auto-lite for 10 years.
Ruth is survived by three daughters, Linda Stout of Minneapolis, Nancy (Douglas) Siebe-naler of Bangor and Mary Jane (Patrick) McElligott of La Crosse; two sons, Thomas and Frederick Hefti, both of La Crosse; grandchildren, Casey and Jonathan Stout, Melissa, Andrew and Brandon Siebenaler and Kyle and Christine McElligott; a nephew, Charles (Jean) Robertson and family. She will be sadly missed by her family and all who knew her.
In addition to her husband, Ruth was preceded in death by a brother, Harold and his wife, Faye; and a nephew, Warren Robertson.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Wednesday in Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 124 Losey Blvd. S. The Rev. Douglas Robertson, a great-nephew of Ruth, will officiate, and entombment will be in St. Francis of Assisi Mausoleum in Catholic Cemetery. Friends may call from
10 a.m. Wednesday until the time of services at the church.
Dickinson Family Funeral Homes are assisting the family.
Gone yet not forgotten,
although we are apart.
Your spirit lives within us.
Forever in our hearts.
William Q. Jeffers
BLUFFTON, Ind. — William Q. Jeffers, 60, passed away Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008. He was the son of the late Quentin and Olive Jeffers. He retired from General Motors in 2005. A graduate of West Salem High School in 1966, and a U.S. Army veteran. Member of United Auto Workers.
Surviving is his wife, Karen (Helke) Jeffers of Bluffton; and two daughters, Ann Leyman of Keystone, Ind., and Kristine (Edward) Pharoah of Huntington, Ind.; four brothers, Michael (Connie) Jeffers of Cottage Grove, Wis., James (Susan) Jeffers of West Salem, Charles (Tammy) Jeffers of Bangor and Robert (Suzanne) Jeffers of Mequon, Wis.; four sisters, Kathleen Crawford of Janesville, Wis., Patricia (Scott) Marshall of Holmen, Margaret (Matt) Sanders of Melrose and Judith (Jaime) Gamboa of Franklin, Wis.; six grandchildren; three foreign exchange daughters, Hilke Stromann of Germany, Carly De Jong and Pokey Steen of the Netherlands.
A daughter, Shannon Jeffers, is deceased.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Holy Scripture Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Ind. (www.holys
cripturefw.org). Calling will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Goodwin Memorial Chapel, 3220 E. State Road 124 Bluffton, Ind., and one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Bluffton. Memorials to the church or Family Hospice and Palliative Care c/o the funeral home. Guestbook: www.thegmcfamily.com.
Thomas J. Johnson
VIROQUA — Thomas J. Johnson, 48, of Viroqua died Friday, Nov. 28, 2008, at Franciscan Skemp Medical Center in
La Crosse. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at New Hope United Methodist Church, rural De Soto. Burial will
be in Walnut Mound Cemetery. Friends may call from 10 a.m. Wednesday until the time of services at the church. Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home of Viroqua is serving the family.
Sidney ‘Sid’ Nesseth
SPARTA — Sidney “Sid” Nesseth of Sparta passed away peacefully with his son, Tom, and daughter-in-law, Patti, at his side at Tomah VA Hospital on Monday, Nov. 24, 2008.
Sidney was born July 28, 1933, in West Salem to Peter and Solva (Wekseth) Nesseth.
Sid served in the U.S Army during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. He worked at La Crosse Rubber Mills for 15 years and then relocated to Gillette, Wyo., where he worked in the oil fields until his retirement. He returned to Wisconsin in 2003 due to ill health, where he resided with his son, Tom, and daughter-in-law, Patti, until his death. He married Mary (Liskovec) Ekstrom and they later divorced.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers; and one sister.
Survivors include his two sons, Tom (Patti) Nesseth and John Nesseth; three daughters, Jeanne Betsinger, Mary Jo (Paul) Bruha and Sharon (Hans) Hanson; 10 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Private services will be at a later date.
We would like to thank the Tomah VA Hospice Unit for their wonderful care and support while Sid was there.
Freda B. Robinson
WARRENS — Freda B. Robinson, 69, of Warrens died Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008, at Franciscan Skemp Medical Center in La Crosse. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah. Burial will follow in Danavang Cemetery, Warrens. Family and friends are invited for visitation from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 10 a.m. Thursday until the time of services, both at the funeral home. Torkelson Funeral Home of Tomah is assisting the family with arrangements.
Virginia Shepard
FERRYVILLE — Virginia Shepard, 97, formerly of Ferryville died Satur-day afternoon, Nov. 29, 2008, in La Crosse. She was born in Vernon County on Jan. 6, 1911, to John and Clara (Robson) Gardner. On Dec. 27, 1939, Virginia married Lawrence Shepard in Viroqua. The couple farmed together in rural Viroqua and then near Rising Sun, beginning in 1944. Virginia was a compassionate and devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Her greatest joy was in serving others, especially her family. She was an active member of Freeman Lutheran WELCA, Ruth Circle and Quilters. For over 45 years, Virginia sewed a quilt a month for Lutheran World Relief. Virginia loved music. Before her marriage, she sang and played with the family band.
Virginia is survived by three children, Alene Peterson of La Crosse, Leon (Karen) Shepard of Onalaska and Jerome (Kristine) Shepard of Stoddard; eight grandchildren, Angela (Steven) Mutch, Gregory (Erin) Shepard, Kristine Miller, Robert Shepard, Matthew (Alissa) Shepard, Mandy (Kyle) Rupprecht, Holly (Levi) Bechtum and Rebekah (Joshua) Gramenz; 12 great-grandchildren, Zachary and Hannah Rach, Erica and Natalie Mutch, Abigail and Ethan Miller, Evan and Daniel Shepard, Grace and Gabriel Shepard and Faithe and Claire Rupprecht; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lawrence on Jan. 14, 1984; five brothers, Clarence (Mildred), Melvin (Clara), Ernest (Ruth), Everette and Alvin (Myrtle) Gardner; three sisters, Vera (Ray) Slack, Edith (Errol) Skildum and Evelyn (Lyle) Shepard.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Freeman Lutheran Church, rural Ferryville. Officiating at the service will be Pastor Libby Howe, with burial in the church cemetery. The family will greet relatives and friends from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Thorson-Reetz Funeral Home, Viroqua, and from 10 a.m. Wednesday until the time of services at the church.
Online condolences may be made at www.thorson-reetz.net.
Lucille Myrtle Wiswall
STOUGHTON, Wis. — Lucille M. Wiswall, 86, of Stoughton, formerly of Gays Mills, died Saturday Nov. 29, 2008, at Willow Point Memory Care in Stoughton. Private family services will be held at Thornburg-Hanson Funeral Home, with burial in Evergreen Cemetery, both in Prairie du Chien.
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