Irene M. Dunlap
WEST SALEM Irene M. Dunlap, 91, of West Salem died Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008, at Hillview Health Care Center in La Crosse. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Christ Evangelical Luth-eran Church in West Salem. Burial will be in Neshonoc Cemetery. Friends may call from 10 a.m. to services Friday at the church. A complete obituary will follow. Jostad-Jandt Funeral Home of West Salem is in charge of arrangements.
Evelyn (Hillman) Gerling
MOUND, Minn. Evelyn (Hillman) Gerling passed away Nov. 26, 2008.
She was born Oct. 1, 1918, at home near Welcome, Minn., to William and Pauline (Genrich) Hillman and graduated from Ceylon High School in 1936. After finishing Normal School she taught country school in rural Martin County, Minn., before moving to California to build Liberty ships during World War II. Evelyn married the love of her life, Jay Gerling, and began a long and successful career as a wonderful wife and loving mother to her four children. Over the years she and Jay made their home in Fairmont, Byron and Winona, Minn., and after retirement enjoyed winters in Texas before settling in Mound. Evelyn loved her family, the Bible, bridge, hot pink, family history, shopping and a great pair of shoes.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Wilfred Hillman; one grandchild; and three great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband of 64 years; children, Mark (Barbara), Vincent, Patricia and Suzanne (Jack Mateffy); seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and one little Gerling on the way.
Services have been held.
Suzanne (Tilden) Goodwillie
CHICAGO/LA CROSSE Suzanne (Tilden) Goodwillie, 78, passed away Sept. 13, 2008, in the home of her daughter, Penny, following a lengthy struggle with Alzheimer’s. Originally a lifelong resident of the Chicago North Shore area, Suzanne resided in La Crosse with her daughter for the last 3½ years.
She is survived by her loving daughter, Penny Tilden, and Mr. and Mrs. Peter Tilden of Waukegan, Ill. She also leaves behind her grandson, Aaron D. Marx, only child of Penny. Aaron and his wife, Tarah, her son, Owen Oldenburg, and the joy of Suzanne’s last months, great-grandson Westin R. Marx, reside in Prairie du Chien.
Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at First Presbyterian Church, 233 West Ave. S., La Crosse. The Rev. Dr. J. Taylor Haley will officiate. Friends may call after 2 p.m. for visiting and sharing some of Suzanne’s photos and mementos. A reception will immediately follow the services. Internment will be in the spring of 2009 in Chicago.
Duane M. Halverson
WHITEHALL Graveside services with military rites for Duane M. Halverson will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Lincoln Cemetery in Whitehall. Edison Funeral Home in Independence is assisting with arrangements.
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) Siebenaler 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, Matthew, 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 at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 124 Losey Blvd. S., La Crosse. The Rev. Douglas Robertson, a great-nephew of Ruth, will officiate, and entombment will be in St. Francis of Assisi Mausoleum at the Catholic Cemetery, La Crosse. Friends may call from 10 a.m. to services Wednesday 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.
Robert M. Heitzman
SPARTA Robert M. Heitzman, 68, of Sparta died Monday, Dec. 1, 2008, at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare in La Crosse. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Sparta. Burial will be Monday in Grand Rapids, Mich. Family and friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today and 9 to 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, both at Lanham-Miller Funeral Home in Sparta, Online condolences may be offered at www.lanham-miller.com.
Lincoln V. Knutson
WESTBY Lincoln V. Knutson, 89, of Westby died Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008, at St. Joseph’s Care Center in La Crosse. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Vosseteig Funeral Home in Westby. Online condolences may be offered at www.vosseteigfuneralhomes.com. A complete obituary will follow.
Mickelynn Mickey’ J. Latham
WESTBY Mickelynn “Mickey” J. Latham, 53, of Westby died Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Thorson-Reetz Funeral Home in Viroqua. Burial will be in Coon Prairie Cemetery, Westby. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to services Saturday, both at the funeral home. A complete obituary will follow in Wednesday’s Tribune. Online condolences may be offered at www.thorson-reetz.net.
Steve L. Lepley
MINNEAPOLIS/VIOLA Steve L. Lepley, 50, of Minneapolis and formerly of Viola, died Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008, in Minneapolis. Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced by Vosseteig Funeral Home’s Henthorn Memorial Center in Viola. A complete obituary will follow.
Margaret (Ravenscroft) Oelke
ONALASKA Margaret (Ravenscroft) Oelke, 94, of Onalaska passed away Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008, at Onalaska Care Center.
She was born in Galesville on Nov. 26, 1914, to Harry and Palma (Freng) Ravenscroft. On June 6, 1934, she married Dale Oelke, and he preceded her in death on Nov. 18, 1986.
Margaret retired from the La Crosse Rubber Mills in 1975 after 27 years. She belonged to First Lutheran Church in Onalaska, 32nd Division Auxiliary, Ladies of the Moose 1920, American Legion Auxiliary Post 336, Ladies 500 Club and the Olson Senior Citizens Group, where she loved playing cards, and for the past 15 years she belonged to the Swing into Shape exercise class.
Margaret loved helping others, volunteering her time at the Onalaska Community Center, Nutrition Program.
Margaret is survived by two sons, Lloyd (Lois Schafer) Oelke of Tavares, Fla., and Gary (Rosemary Rady) Oelke of Beaver Dam, Wis.; six grandchildren, Sherry of Leesburg, Fla., Sandra of Decatur, Ala., Deborah of Jupiter, Fla., Lori of Virginia Beach, Va., Daniel of Beaver Dam, and Jenny of Horicon, Wis.; 14 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, Dale, she was preceded in death by her parents; a granddaughter, Lynnette; two brothers, Willard and Harold Oelke; and a sister, Eileen (Jack Schaller).
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008, at First Lutheran Church, 410 Main St., Onalaska. The Rev. Jason Stanton will officiate, and burial will be in Onalaska Cemetery. Family and friends may call at the church Thursday from 10 a.m. until services.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to First Lutheran Church.
Dickinson Family Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Elenore M. Sagehorn
SPARTA Elenore M. Sagehorn, 70, of Sparta died Monday, Dec. 1, 2008, in her home.
She was born Dec. 20, 1937, in Minneapolis to Fred and Catherine (Wieger) Longen. She grew up in Minneapolis. After high school, she worked for Phillip’s 66 for five years, and then was a nurse’s aide.
She married Craig Sagehorn on Feb. 13, 1962, in Norfolk, Va. The lived in Norfolk for six years while Craig served in the U.S. Navy. After the service, they lived in Minneapolis for the next 10 years and moved to Sparta in July 1976.
She is survived by her husband, Craig of Sparta; children, Catherine (John) Feltes of Prescott, Wis., and their four children, Kelsey, Jeff, Jamie and Kylie; Lori (John) Stefanko of Rosemount, Minn., and their four children, Matthew, Ellie, Mike and Annie, Paul (Kristina) Sagehorn of Sparta and their three children, Tara, Hank and Wyatt, Kristin (Jason) Pulham of Sparta and their two children, Olivia and Andre, and Toni (Jesse) Aalberg of Rosemount and their three children, Nick, Elliot and Isabel; two sisters, Marilyn Leuwer and Alice (Bob) Salek, both of Minneapolis; and three brothers, John Longen, Paul (Delavan) Longen and Tony (Carol) Longen, all of Minneapolis.
She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Herbie, Joe and Robert; and two sisters, Catherine and Delores.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Sparta, with Father James Leary O.F.M. Cap. officiating. Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery. Friends and family may call at Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, on Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. and at the funeral home on Thursday from 9:30 until 10:45 a.m.
Online condolences may be offered at www.lanham-miller.com. Lanham-Miller Funeral Home in Sparta is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?
And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?
Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.
And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.
Khalil Gibran
Arden F. Unnasch
HOUSTON, Minn. Arden F. Unnasch, 86, of Houston died Monday, Dec. 1, 2008, at Valley View Healthcare and Rehab Center in Houston. Hoff Funeral Homes-Houston Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.
Norlin Roland Wicklund
LA CRESCENT, Minn. Norlin Roland Wicklund, 75, of La Crescent died Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Med-ical Center in La Crosse.
He was born May 15, 1933, in Lake Lillian, Minn., to Henning and Rose (Tusa) Wicklund. He married Myrt Loeffler on June 11, 1960. Norlin was a U.S. Navy veteran, retiring in 1985 as a commander. He worked as a Minnesota state trooper for 31 years. Norlin was a member of Gittens-Leidel American Legion Post 595, La Crescent and the Reserve Officers Association, La Crosse Chapter.
He is survived by his wife, Myrt; two sons, Lon of Kansas City, Kan., and Todd of Aurora, Colo.; a daughter, Lisa of Aurora; five grandchildren, Melissa, Katelyn and Austin Hunter, and Sam and Jack Wicklund of Aurora; a brother, David (Shirley) Wicklund; an uncle, George (Joan) Wicklund; an aunt, Dolly Leikvoll; sisters-in-law, Nola Wicklund, Marie Loeffler and Mae (Don) Roberts; a brother-in-law, Charles (Marian) Loeffler; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a twin brother, Marlin; a brother-in-law, Le Roy Loeffler; and a sister-in-law, Marianne Loeffler.
In honoring Norlin’s wishes, his body will be cremated and no funeral services will be held.
Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home is assisting the family.
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