Raymond E. Bue
BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. — Raymond E. Bue, 75, of Black River Falls died Thursday, July 17, 2008, in his home in town of Albion, Jackson County, Wis.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Squaw Creek Lutheran Church on Hwy. P, Black River Falls. Burial with military honors will be in the church cemetery. Relatives and friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Torgerson’s Funeral Home, Black River Falls, and 10 a.m. until the time of services Monday at the church.
Memorials may be given to either Black River Hospice or Squaw Creek Lutheran Church Memorial Fund.
Mary Rita O’Regan
LANSING, Iowa — Mary Rita O’Regan, 90, of Lansing died Thursday, July 17, 2008, at Veteran’s Memorial Hospital, Waukon, Iowa. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Waukon. Burial will be in Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Wexford, rural Lansing. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Hanson Funeral Home, Waukon, with a Scripture reading at 2 p.m.
Julia C. Goggin Schneider
TOMS RIVER, N.J. — Julia C. Goggin Schneider, 89, of Silver Ridge Park Westerly, Berkeley Township, died Sunday, July 13, 2008, at home.
Born in La Crosse, she lived in Union, N.J., before moving to Silver Ridge Park 26 years ago. She was a homemaker. She was a parishioner of St. Maximilian Kolbe Roman Catholic Church, Berkeley Township.
Surviving are her husband, George H.; two sons, Thomas of Great Meadows, N.J., and Edward of Lake Hopatcong, N.J.; two daughters, Mary Elizabeth Hales of Union and Monica Dravis of Tabernacle, N.J.; two sisters, Millicent Hardiman of Onalaska, Wis., and Maureen Guscetti of St. Paul, Minn.; eight grandchildren, Kimberley Spangenberg, Tracy Kinsey, Jaime Schneider, Matthew Hales, Meghan Hales, Brian Schneider, Zachary Dravis and Daniel Schneider; and three great-grandchildren, Morgan, Sydney and Wayne.
The family received friends on Thursday and a Mass of Christian Burial was held Friday. Entombment was in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Toms River. Donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Assisting the family was Timothy E. Ryan Home for Funerals, Toms River.
Condolences may be sent by visiting www.ryanfuneralhome.com.
Linda Marie Peterson
CALEDONIA, Minn. — Linda Marie Peterson, 56, of Caledonia died peacefully surrounded by her family at her home Friday, July 18, 2008.
She was born July 14, 1952, in Caledonia to LaVern and Nadine (Nelson) Privet. She graduated from Caledonia High School in 1970 and attended Winona (Minn.) Technical School.
Linda married Louie Peterson Sept. 2, 1972, in Caledonia. She worked for APN Inc. in Caledonia for 26 years as a purchasing manager. She enjoyed going to garage sales, taking pictures, decorating for the Christmas season, reading and caring for her grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband, Louie of Caledonia;, son, Lance of Eitzen, Minn.; daughter, LeAnn (Daniel) Wenger of Fountain City, Wis.; grandchildren, Cadence and Logan Wenger; brother, Dwight (Sandy) Privet of Caledonia; and sisters, Bev (Stan) Meyer, Lorene (Ben) Reining, Polly (Gary) Heberlein and Shelby (Jerry) Steele, all of Caledonia; and many nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 21, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 311 S. Pine, Caledonia. The Rev. Gregory Leif will officiate and burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Caledonia. Friends may call Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. at St. Mary’s School Auditorium, 306 E. South St., Caledonia, with a prayer service at 6 p.m. Friends may also call one hour prior to the service at the church Monday.
McCormick Funeral Home, Caledonia, is assisting the family with arrangements.
Donald Lee Jensen
OSWEGO, Ill. — Donald Lee Jensen, 63, of Oswego passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2008, at Rush-Copley Medical Center, Aurora, Ill.
He was born on Nov. 1, 1944, in Sparta, Wis., the son of Kermit Wayne and Eloise (Bodette) Jensen.
Mr. Jensen was a member of St. Anne Catholic Church in Oswego. He was employed for 30 years by Caterpillar, Inc., in Montgomery, Ill., as a training instructor until his retirement in 1994. Don then continued to work part-time assignments for Caterpillar (his favorite assignment was to China), the Union Pacific Railroad, and the Maintenance Way Welding.
Don loved spending time with his two precious grandchildren. He and his wife, Valetta, spent many happy hours working in their yard at the home they have shared their entire married life. He enjoyed fishing and hunting. Don was an avid Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs fan. He also experienced travel across the U.S., and to Canada, Europe and Ireland. Traveling to Wisconsin for annual family camping events and cousins’ golf weekends provided many with great memories. At home, Mr. Jensen enjoyed doing crossword, number puzzle challenges and woodworking. Mr. Jensen was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle who will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
Don made many special friendships at Caterpillar, St. Anne Catholic Church, and especially in the Lynwood Subdivision neighborhood where his family has lived for 39 years. Particularly close friends include the Ray and Sophie Torres and the Bob and Patti Cline families.
He is survived by his wife, Valetta Jensen of Oswego; his children, Robin Renee (David) Olson of Janesville, Wis., and Douglas Lee (Cecilia) Jensen of Plainfield, Ill.; his grandchildren, Jacob Donald and Jackson Lee Jensen of Plainfield, Ill.; his brother, Gerald (Linda) Jensen of La Crosse; his sister, Sue Ann (James) Tracy of Onalaska, Wis.; his great-uncle, Clifford Chambers of Mount Ida, Ark.; several nieces and nephews; his in-laws, Pat Bloor, Maxine (Donald) Ratajczyk, Ronald (Odette) Bloor, Patty Stanek, Bill (Nancy) Bloor, Sherry (Larry) Clark, Steve (Wanda) Bloor and Myra (Chris) Anderson); and his many cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Kermit and Eloise Jensen; and his brothers-in-law, Bernard Stanek, Tom Bloor and Mike Bloor.
Don was challenged with numerous serious health issues but remained optimistic, always maintaining a positive attitude for family and friends with his ready smile. His deep faith carried him at all times. Superior health care was provided by Dreyer Medical Clinic physicians and nurses during the past 32 years, and Provena Mercy and Rush-Copley Hospitals.
Funeral services were held July 17, 2008, at St. Anne Catholic Church, Oswego. A memorial service will be held at Lanham-Miller Funeral Home in Sparta at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 25. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of services. Private interment will take place in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Mount Tabor, Wis.
Joseph G. Potaracke Sr.
Joseph G. Potaracke Sr., 77, of La Crosse died on Friday, July 18, 2008, at Hillview Health Care Center, La Crosse.
Joe was born in La Crosse on Oct. 21, 1930, to John and Theodora (Kreibich) Potaracke. He was a graduate of Aquinas High School, Class of 1949. After graduation, he began his carpenter apprenticeship with Local 1143. This was interrupted by his service in the U. S. Air Force from 1951-1955. Joe was stationed at Shepherd’s Grove Air Base in Suffolk, England. He was a member of Roy L. Vingers American Legion Post 52 of La Crosse for 35 years.
On May 15, 1952, Joe married Shirley Vodde of La Crosse at Edmund the Martyr Church in Bury St. Edmunds, England.
Following his tour of duty, Joe returned to La Crosse and continued in the carpenter trade. Joe was proud of his lifelong trade as a carpenter. After working for various contractors, he established a business of his own known as Joe Potaracke Construction. In 1980, he became the carpenter for the School District of La Crosse, retiring in 1992. He was proud to have received his 50-year pin as a carpenter.
Joe enjoyed traveling and toured and visited many foreign countries over the years. He enjoyed eating out, and he loved to dance.
Joe dearly loved his family and found much pleasure in their visits and the many happy family gatherings. He had a wonderful sense of humor and found joy and happiness in his life. He is survived by Shirley, his loving wife of 56 years; three sons, Edward and Joseph Jr., both of La Crosse, and David (Kelly) of Holmen, Wis.; four daughters, Debra (Pat) Verse and Mary Johnson, both of La Crosse, Lori (David) Noack of Sussex, Wis., and Julie (Chris) Larson of La Crosse; 25 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. He is further survived by three sisters, Rosemary (Ray) Noonan of Fort Myers, Fla., Theresa (Pat) McHenry of La Crosse, and Sister Rochelle Potaracke, FSPA, of La Crosse; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a granddaughter, Amy Jo Verse; three brothers, Leo, Francis and Emil; and one sister, Agnes Hanson.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, July 21, at 11 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, La Crosse. The Rev. Lawrence B. Berger will officiate. Entombment, with military honors, will follow in St. Francis of Assisi Mausoleum in Catholic Cemetery. Friends may call at the church on Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. where a rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m., and again on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Holy Trinity Catholic Church, the Alzheimer’s Association, or to Hillview Health Care Center. Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse is assisting the family with arrangements.
James Chris Kleven
James Kleven, better known as Chris (and to some “Sonny” and “Poppy”), passed away Monday, June 30, 2008, at Renown Hospital in Reno, Nev.
Chris was born in Sparta, Wis., on Jan. 28, 1943, Chris and his family moved to Tahoe in 1984. He and his family have shared in a number of family businesses: Grizzly’s Grill, Grizzly’s Mountain Furnishings and Bear Naked Furniture.
Chris was preceded in death by his parents, Hans and Jeanette Kleven.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Tari Ann Kleven; son, Erik and wife, Karen, and their children, Joely and Ethan; son, Christian and wife, Laurie, and their sons, Cayden, Cameron, Larson and Andrew; daughter, Gretchen and husband, Del; his sister, Mary Gadbaw; and brother, Jeff Kleven.
Chris was most well-known for his outgoing and kind nature. He made friends everywhere he went. We will miss his smile, his silly jokes and teasing. We will miss his love and support. We will simply miss Poppy every day and are so lucky to have known such a great man. We love you, Chris.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations in his name to the Make a Wish Foundation to celebrate the love that he had for children.
Charles Elison Williams
SPARTA, Wis. — Charles Elison Williams, 75, of Sparta died Tuesday, July 15, 2008, at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare, La Crosse. Burial will be Tuesday at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis. Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting the family. Online condolences may be offered at www.lanham-miller.com.
Ellen Pauline White
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. — Ellen P. White, 87, of Prairie du Chien died in her home on Thursday, July 17, 2008. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church with burial in Evergreen Cemetery, both in Prairie du Chien. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Thornburg-Hanson Funeral Home, Prairie du Chien, and from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services Tuesday at the church.
Joan Deva Krenz
Joan D. Krenz, 75, of La Crosse died on Friday, July 18, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse.
She was born in La Crosse on July 30, 1932, to George and Bess (Treakle) Robertson. On Aug. 15, 1953, she married Thomas Krenz at Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman in La Crosse and was very proud that she and Tom would be celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary in August.
Joan enjoyed ceramics, stamping, reading, flea markets, craft fairs and picnics. Joan also looked forward to birthday club gatherings with her close longtime friends. Joan had volunteered for many years with Cub Scouts and Holy Trinity Grade School. She also worked at the voting booth. In later years she enjoyed going on weekly drives with her husband to eat at their favorite restaurants.
In addition to her husband, Tom, she is further survived by two sons, Tim (Vicki) of Blanchardville, Wis., and Richard of La Crosse; three grandchildren, Jeff and Chris, both of La Crosse and Thomas of Blanchardville; good friend, Sharon Flick of La Crosse; and the many friends wherever she went who enjoyed her company. She was preceded in death by her parents and an infant sister.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at noon Tuesday, July 22, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church with the Rev. Lawrence B. Berger officiating.
Entombment will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery. Friends may call at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse on Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. where a prayer service will be held at 6:30 p.m., and again at the church on Tuesday from 11 a.m. until the time of service.
The family would like to thank the staff at Gundersen Lutheran for their wonderful care of Joan and her family.
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