Robert Leonard Zeese
ELROY, Wis. — Robert Leonard Zeese, 84, of Elroy died Monday, July 14, 2008, at his residence in Elroy. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Picha Funeral Home in Elroy. Burial with military rites will be in Elroy City Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. For information, visit www.pichafuneralhomes.com. Memorials be given to Hospice Touch of Tomah, 321 Butts Ave., Tomah, WI 54660.
Thorvald N. Tollefson
NORTH BRANCH, Minn./PIGEON FALLS, Wis. — Thorvald N. Tollefson, 70, of North Branch and formerly of Pigeon Falls died Tuesday, July 8, 2008, in North Branch. Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Evangelical Lutheran Church with burial in the church cemetery, both in Pigeon Falls, Wis. Friends may call from noon to services Saturday at the church. Jack Funeral Home in Whitehall, Wis., is assisting the family with arrangements.
George ‘Tom’ Thomas Lumsden
ELROY/MAUSTON, Wis. —George “Tom” Thomas Lumsden, 88, of Mauston passed away Sunday, July 13, 2008, at Hess Memorial Hospital in Mauston, Wis.
He was born Oct. 13, 1919, to John and Celia (Allen) Lumsden in Elroy, Wis. Tom worked as a stenographer in the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1939. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946 as a B-24 bomber pilot in World War II, earning the rank of 1st Lt. in the U.S. Army Air Corp. He then worked at Volk Field, Wis., as a finance accounting supervisor, becoming second in command, retiring as Lt. Col. Tom also served as mayor in the city of Mauston. Also, after retirement, he became a semitruck driver.
George Thomas Lumsden was united in marriage to Orpha (Van Dusen) Arkulary on Jan. 3, 1961, at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Iowa. She preceded him in death on July 7, 2006.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 17, at United Methodist Church in Mauston with the Rev. Wendell Williams officiating. Burial with military rites will be at Millards Prairie Cemetery in rural Elroy. Friends may call at the church on Thursday from 10 a.m. until time of services.
Picha Funeral Home of Elroy is assisting the family with arrangements. For information, online visit www.pichafuneralhomes.com.
Theodore ‘Ted’ Curtis
BOSCOBEL, Wis. — Theodore “Ted” L. Curtis, 75, of rural Boscobel died Saturday, July 12, 2008, at Boscobel Area Health Care in Boscobel. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Assembly of God Church in Boscobel. Burial with military rites will be in Union Hill Cemetery in Mount Zion, Wis. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to services Saturday at the church. Kendall Funeral Service in Boscobel is assisting the family.
Tim Dienger
Tim Dienger, 31, of La Crosse died Sunday, July 13, 2008, at Franciscan Skemp Medical Center in La Crosse. A complete obituary will be provided by Dickinson Family Funeral Home.
Thomas H. McGovern
Thomas H. McGovern, 88, of La Crosse passed away peacefully on Monday, July 14, 2008, at Hillview Healthcare Center in La Crosse.
He was born in La Crosse on Sept. 28, 1919, to Dr. Thomas H. and Anastasia (Dastych) McGovern. Thomas married Margaret Jane Strandberg on Oct. 5, 1946, at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis.
Thomas ran the Park & Recreation Hockey Program in the 1960s in La Crosse. He graduated from Central High School and later received his BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Thomas worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad in the traffic department, Swift & Co. as a route salesman, the La Crosse Telephone Co. and CenTel in Park Ridge, Ill. until he retired.
Thomas is survived by his wife; sons, Michael (Linda), Thomas (Ramona) and Stephen (Barbara); grandchildren, Colleen (Bryan) Streefland, Brendan (Amy), Veronica (Steve) Keeney and Thomas Benjamin; great-grandchildren, Patrick Streefland and Kaitlyn McGovern; brother, James; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 18, in Marian Chapel at St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral, 530 Main St., La Crosse. The Rev. Michael Gorman will officiate with interment at the Catholic Cemetery in La Crosse. Visitations will be held Thursday, July 17, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Home, 1501 West Ave. S., La Crosse, and one hour prior to Mass at the church on Friday.
Robert W. Hass
Robert W. Hass, 90, of La Crosse passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, July 13, 2008, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born in La Crosse on July 24, 1917, to Charles and Lillian (Fillner) Hass. He married Shirley Helvig on Aug. 15, 1948 in La Crosse. Robert worked on the family dairy farm until 1948. The Hass family owned and operated the first ski hill in La Crosse known as the “Sno Bowl” until 1959. Robert was a lifelong farmer who, together with his wife, ran their own dairy farm until 1979 and then raised beef cattle. He was a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ in La Crosse. He and Shirley enjoyed wintering in Florida with family and friends.
In addition to his wife, Shirley, he is survived by two sons, Tracey (Donna) Hass of Maiden Rock, Wis., and Randy (Susan) Hass of La Crosse; three daughters, Susan (Terry) Guentner, Sally (Keith) Martin and Sara Hass, all of La Crosse. He is further survived by eight grandchildren, Clint Hass (Amanda Kelton and her daughter Tia) of Plum City, Wis., Jesse (Jennifer) Hass of Arkansaw, Wis., Melissa (Scott) Heinig of Cambridge, Wis., Aaron (Kara) Hass, Ceilia and Gray Martin, Kaitlin and Claire Guentner, all of La Crosse; seven great-grandchildren, Carrissa and Carson (children of Clint), Brianna, Hunter and Mason (children of Jesse), Aubrey and Drew (children of Aaron).
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, July 18, at St. John’s United Church of Christ in La Crosse. Pastor Mary D. Ramsey will officiate. Burial will be in the Trinity East (Kienholtz) Cemetery in rural La Crosse. Friends may call at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse on Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. and again at the church on Friday from 10 a.m. until time of services. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.
Donald W. Harris
Donald W. Harris, 79, passed away Wednesday, June 25, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse after a short illness.
A memorial service in celebration of Don’s life will be conducted at Prairie du Chien United Methodist Church, 625 Dousman St., Prairie du Chien, Wis., on Tuesday, July 22, beginning at 1:30 p.m., with the Rev. Stuart Allen presiding. A reception will follow the service. The church is located next to the hospital, at the intersection of 10th Street and Dousman Avenue. After cremation, Don’s ashes will be buried at the Mauston (Wis.) Cemetery.
Don was born July 14, 1928, to the Rev. Emmanuel and Florence Harris in Baraboo, Wis., where Rev. Harris was pastor of the First Methodist Church. Don lived most of his childhood years in La Crosse, and later in Mauston, Wis., until his mother died in 1963 (his father died in 1953). After living one year in Stevens Point, Wis., with the family of his older brother (Albert), Don lived for 35 years at the Peterson Health Care Center in Rhinelander, Wis.
Since his birth, Don lived with the condition of cerebral palsy. At first he ambulated by using a scooter board. About age 6, his uncle, James Beck, taught Don to walk. Don’s two nieces and nephew have fond memories from the 1950s and 1960s of Don walking to the depot with them, to watch the Milwaukee Railroad’s “Hiawatha” and other passenger trains pass through Mauston. They also enjoyed playing checkers and Chinese checkers with Don, who had quite a competitive streak and enjoyed winning often.
Don always enjoyed listening on the radio or watching on TV sporting events including the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Braves and Green Bay Packers. Each summer for 20 years, Don attended Camp Wawbeek, the Easter Seals camp for persons with disabilities, located in Wisconsin Dells, Wis.
In the spring of 2000, Don moved from Rhinelander to a three-person Adult Family Home in Richland Center, Wis., and in 2002 to a similar home in Prairie du Chien. Both homes are operated by Lori Knapp Inc. Although Don received excellent care in Rhinelander for many years, his enjoyment of life blossomed in the small home-like setting provided by the staff of Lori Knapp Inc. He liked sitting outside on the large wooden deck, watching the trains go by, as he did in Mauston when he was young. Don participated in many community outings provided by Lori Knapp staff in Prairie du Chien.
Throughout his life, Don’s cousins and other relatives and friends have visited Don, maintaining relationships that were quite meaningful to him. In addition to Don’s parents, his brother, Albert, predeceased him in 2004 at age 95.
Don is survived by his nieces, Jeanne Harris of Laguna Niguel, Calif., and Cris Harris of Stevens Point, Wis.; and his nephew, Paul (Linda) Harris of Madison and their children, Courtney and Mark. Other survivors include Don’s cousins, John (Maxine) Beck of Monona, Wis., Barbara Burkholder of Shoreview, Minn., Eleanor (Dick) Freeman of Akron, Ohio, and Mary (Dick) Eesley of Naperville, Ill.
The family wishes to thank all staff members at Peterson Health Care Center in Rhinelander, and at Lori Knapp Inc. in Prairie du Chien, who provided such dedicated and loving care for Don year after year. Don thoroughly enjoyed these personal relationships. The family thanks each staff member for the love and affection Don enjoyed with them daily.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to Lori Knapp Inc. at 106 South Beaumont, Prairie du Chien, WI 53821 (or www.loriknapping.com), or to Easter Seals of Wisconsin at 101 Nob Hill Road, Suite 301, Madison, WI 53713, (or www.wi.easterseals.com).
Douglas J. Oldenburg
Douglas J. Oldenburg, 76, of La Crosse passed away peacefully at his home the morning of Sunday, July 13, 2008.
Doug was born Feb. 5, 1932, in La Crosse to Earl and Marieta (Abnet) Oldenburg. He graduated from Aquinas High School in 1950, served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War until 1955 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Pittsburgh in 1960. Doug married Virgene Nix on June 22, 1957, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Eau Claire, Wis.
Doug worked at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center for 34 years where he was the director of physical therapy; he retired in 1994. He was an instructor of physical therapy at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse from 1961-65. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree, American Legion Post 52 of La Crosse and Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
First and foremost, Doug was a true family man, a loving husband, a proud father of seven, a fun-loving grandfather/great-grandfather of 25 and a friend to many.
He thoroughly enjoyed the outdoors, maintaining a garden to envy throughout his adult years. Annual fishing trips to Canada and family vacations highlighted his earlier years. Maturity brought him faithfully to the local golf links and the Texas Hill Country in the winter. He was a master in his woodshop, producing heirlooms that will be forever treasured by his children and grandchildren and pieces that will be cherished by others.
Survivors include Nixie, his loving wife of 51 years; children, Douglas Jr. (friend, Joyce Gengler) of Holmen, Wis.; Lori (Dean) Hammes of La Crosse and their children, Nicholas, Sarah, William and Matthew; Patti (Steve) Breuer of La Crescent, Minn., and their children, Emmy, Ben and Sam; Andrew (Sheri) of Oconto Falls, Wis., and their children, Casey, Tanya, Cody and Roy; Jean (Dr. Richard) Ellis of La Crosse and their children, Rachel, Angela and John Mitchell; Julie (Joseph) Gerke of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and their children, Katie, Meghan and Joshua; and Caryn (Jeff) Witt of La Crescent and their children, Allison, Jared and Jason. Doug is further survived by great-grandchildren, Olivia Hammes, Cameron and Madelyn Stetzer, Isiah Oldenburg and Andre Henderson; sister, Cynthia (Guy) Ritchie of Nevada; brothers, Ronald (Jan) of Alabama, and Keith (Patricia) of Minnesota; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 16, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1333 13th St. S., La Crosse, with the Rev. Lawrence B. Berger officiating. Burial, with military honors, will follow at Crucifixion Catholic Cemetery in La Crescent. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home, 200 West Ave. S., La Crosse, where a rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m., and Wednesday at the church from 10 a.m. until time of service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Gundersen-Lutheran Medical Center or Riverfront Inc.
Edna Olness Onsrud
RUSHFORD, Minn. — Edna Olness Onsrud, 92, passed away Friday, July 11, 2008, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Rushford.
Edna was born Sept. 3, 1915, in Rushford to Roy and Christine (Laumb) James. She graduated from Rushford High School and was baptized and confirmed at the Rushford Lutheran Church.
In 1943, Edna married Conrad Olness of Peterson, Minn. They lived in La Crosse and while there, she worked at the Federal Bakery and Sonitone Hearing Aid Co. She enjoyed dancing, fishing and baseball. Con passed away in 1966. In 1973, Edna married Paul Onsrud of La Crosse. After a marriage of six months, Paul passed away.
In 1974, Edna moved to Sun City, Ariz. In Sun City, she worked part-time in a drug store at its soda fountain. She loved relaxing in the spa on her patio and enjoying time entertaining friends and relatives who visited her. In 1997, she moved to Tampa, Fla. She often returned to Minnesota to spend time with relatives for holidays, summer vacations and her birthday. In the fall of 2000, she returned to Minnesota and lived in assisted living apartments in Winona and Houston, Minn. In 2004, she moved to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Rushford and had resided there since that time.
Edna’s hobbies included being an avid reader, a collector of owls and being active in her church. She also enjoyed traveling to Hawaii, Puerto Rico and numerous places in the United States.
Edna had no children but is survived by nephews and nieces, Vincent (Val) Niggle of Overland Park, Kan., Leland (Donna) James of Rushford, Kathleen (Gary) Fossen of Tampa, Fla., Roberta (Harley) Johnson of Austin, Minn., Carol (Robert) Tweten of Byron, Minn., Sybil Williams of Monterey, Cal., DeeAnn (Verdonne) Erickson of Mabel, Minn., and Vicki (Milford) McKay of Houston, Minn. She is also survived by 17 greatnieces and -nephews; and many great-great-nieces and -nephews.
In addition to her parents and two husbands, Edna was preceded in death by her brothers and sisters, Martin, Melvin, Catherine (Niggle), Gordon, Verna (Betz) and Vernon.
There will be a memorial service for Edna at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, July 19, at Hoff Funeral Home in Rushford with funeral celebrant John Wagenaar officiating.
Feel free to leave a memory of Edna, sign her online guest book and view her tribute video at www.hofffuneral.com.
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