Gordon Thomas Strand
Gordon Thomas Strand, age 74 of Viroqua, passed away unexpectedly, Monday evening, May 4, 2009, at Vernon Memorial Hospital in Viroqua.
He was born on June 14, 1934, at the La Crosse Clinic to Edward and Clara (Gustafson) Strand. Gordon started farming with his mother at the age of 14 and has farmed ever since. On Feb. 18, 1956, he was united in marriage to Charlotte Yttrie. Besides farming, Gordon had his off-farm jobs which included being a deliveryman for Gamble’s and driving bus for the De Soto School District. Gordon was a past member of the Viroqua Eagles Club Aerie 2707. In his younger years he enjoyed dancing and dartball.
Gordon was a devoted husband, dad and loved to spend time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will be sadly missed by all who loved and knew him.
Gordon is survived by a son, Arthur (Sue) Strand of Viroqua; four daughters, Susan (Dale) Dennison of Genoa, Sara (Reuben Jr.) Hansen of Ferryville, Sandy (Randy) Elliott of De Soto and Angie (Todd) Buckles of Stoddard; 14 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; brother, Edward Strand of Lynxville; special friend, Verna Pucket; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Charlotte on Oct. 8, 2003; infant brother, Kenneth; sister and brother-in-law, Christine (Milferd) Quamme; son-in-law, William D. Hirschuber; and a sister-in-law, Lavona Strand.
Funeral services were held on Friday, May 8, 2009, at North West Prairie Lutheran Church. Officiating at the service was Pastor Grant Van Lish-out with burial in the church cemetery. Karen Swenson was the organist and John Cruz was the soloist. Arthur Strand was the urn bearer and honorary bearers were Marvin Christienson, Arthur Meyer, Randy Nigh, Robert Nigh, Cliff LeGrand, Donald Peterson, John “Jack” Walleser and Kevin Walleser. A visitation was held the evening prior at the Thorson-Reetz Funeral Home in Viroqua and again at church on Friday prior to the service.
We would like to thank each and every one of you: neighbors, friends and relatives for all the support, help and thoughtfulness we have received throughout our many adventures with both of our parents’, Charlotte Lucille Strand and Gordon Thomas Strand, and their illnesses. Know that your help and support throughout these difficult times has been more than we could have asked for. You have all contributed greatly, whether it was through your kindness and joking or your professional abilities. A special thanks to Betty Nigh for answering the many phone calls at unusual times during the most critical moments of our journey. Also, thank you Verna Pucket for bringing that gleam back into Dad’s eyes. In closing, thank you to all of you who have played a part in Charlotte and Gordon’s lives, we genuinely appreciate it.
Blessed be his memory.
Online condolences may be made at www.thorson-reetz.net.
Wendell “Winnie” John Halverson
Wendell “Winnie” John Halverson, age 82 of rural De Soto, died Tuesday morning, May 5, 2009, at William S. Middleton Memorial VA Hospital.
He was born in Vernon County on June 30, 1926, to John and Grace (Engler) Halverson. He then married Janice Taylor and entered the U.S. Army and served during World War II in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre. He had worked at Allis-Chalmers in La Crosse, American Motors in Kenosha and had worked as a cheesemaker at De Soto and Red Mound cheese factories, along with farming. Janice died in August 1977. On Dec. 16, 1978, he married Margaret “Marge” Hammell. Winnie was a very active member of De Soto VFW Post No. 8123, where he served on the firing squad.
Winnie is survived by his wife, Marge; one daughter, Janet (Bill) Aasen of Viroqua; one son, Larry (Sonja) Halverson of Viroqua; four grandchildren, Marsha Mayberry, Scott (Jodene) Aasen, Steven (Tammy) Halverson and Laura (Mark) Seland; 11 great-grandchildren, Tabitha (Joe) Dustin and their children, Jayden and Colten; Bobijo Hirschfield and her children, Cameron, Alyvia and David Hirschfield; Melissa (Ben) Garcia and their son, Logan; Todd (Brandy) Aasen and their children, Dakota, Juliann and Noah; Danielle (Emanuel) Martinez and their daughter, Vianika; Cortney, Andrew, and Nicole Halverson, Thomas, Annika and Karri Seland; one sister, Shirley (Jay) Sherburne of Viroqua; 10 stepchildren; several stepgrandchildren; several stepgreat-grandchildren; other relatives and many friends.
He was also preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Marlene; and one brother, Leonard Halverson.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, May 9, 2009, at the Thorson-Reetz Funeral Home in Viroqua. Officiating at the service was Pastor Pete Beckstrand. Burial will take place at a later date in Walnut Mound Cemetery, Retreat, rural De Soto. Military honors will be accorded by De Soto V.F.W. Post 8123 and the United States Military Honors Team. Honorary casket bearers were Steven Halverson, Scott Aasen, Marsha Mayberry, Laura Seland, Michael Fish, Curtis Sand, Randy Bolstad and Travis Forde.
A visitation was held the evening prior and prior to the service on Saturday.
Blessed be his memory.
Online condolences may be made at www.thorson-reetz.net.
Zenobia S. Carlson
Zenobia S. Carlson, age 80 of Westby, passed away on Friday, May 8, 2009, at her home. Known to all as “Zee,” she was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother.
Zee was born on Dec. 14, 1928, in Chicago, Ill., to Maria and Stanley Jarzynski and worked at Mount Sinai Hospital in Milwaukee as a dietician. In April 1958, she married Art Carlson Jr. and moved to the Westby area where she partnered with Art in his insurance business for American Family. After his retirement, Zee and Art continued their partnership in their love of gardening and woodworking and Zee remained in her Westby home after Art’s passing in 2003.
She is survived by her three children, Kim Carlson of La Crosse, Debbie (Jack) Butzler of Onalaska and Todd (Susie) Carlson of Holmen; four grandchildren she loved and was always proud of, Zachary, Matthew, Jenna and Alexandra; her sister, Carol Nelson and her brother, Marion Jarzynski, both of Tomah, as well as many special nieces and neph-ews.
In addition to her husband, Art, Zee was preceded in death by her parents; and her brother, Roy Jarzynski, as well as her brother-in-law, Raymond Nelson.
She will be missed by her family.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, May 12, 2009, at the Vosseteig Funeral Home in Westby. Pastor Julie Wollman officiated with burial in the Coon Prairie Cemetery. Friends call on Tuesday at the Vosseteig Funeral Home before the time of the services.
Online condolences may be offered at www.vosseteigfuneral homes.com.
The Vosseteig Funeral Home of Westby served the family.
Helen Yttri
Helen Yttri, age 87 of Readstown, passed away on Wednesday, May 6, 2009, at Bethel Home in Viroqua.
She was born on April 26, 1922, to Carl and Ida (Severson) Albertson in Green County, Wis. Her first six years were on the family farm in Blanchardville, and after her parents’ divorce, she lived in Oconto County until after her graduation from Oconto High School, as salutatorian, with her mother. After high school, she attended Whitewater State Teacher’s College where she earned her degree in business education in 1943. She taught high school in Soldiers Grove for two and one half years. Helen married Norman Yttri on April 13, 1945, at the parsonage in Mt. Sterling, and they lived and farmed for 61 years on the Yttri farm in Readstown until Norman’s death in 2006. During Helen’s life, she was a member of Peace Lutheran Church, was active in the Ladies Aid (WELCA) and the Readstown Library. She also continued to teach high school on a substitute basis. This was in addition to the daily work on the family dairy farm and being busy raising three sons.
She is survived by three sons, John (Gloria) of Monroe, Steve (Carol) of Frank-lin, Wis. and Matthew of Omaha, Neb.; eight grandchildren, Christopher and Jamison, Eric and Tyler, Andrew, Tammy, Benjamin, and Heidi; three stepgrandchildren; one great-grandchild, Austin; and five step-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Norman; her parents; two brothers, Clifford and Herbert; three sisters, Erma, Avis and Doris; and one step-grandson.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2009, at 11 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church. Pastor Paul Carlson will officiate. Burial will be in the Belgium Ridge Cemetery near Viroqua. Friends may call at the Sime Funeral Home in Readstown on Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. and at the church on Thursday from 10 a.m. until time of services.
Condolences may be left at simefuneralforum.com. Memorials may be given to Peace Lutheran Church.
Blaine L. Mickelson
Blaine L. Mickelson, age 80 of Westby, died Wednesday, May 6, 2009, at Gundersen-Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse.
He was born on July 30, 1928, to Victor and Myrtle (Holte) Mickelson. On Feb. 25, 1955, he was united in marriage to Juanita Bronson in Cashton. Blaine worked for 20-plus years at the Viroqua Dairy and the following 20-plus years for Accelerated Genetics. He was active in the Westby community and was a member of Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church. He served on the Westby City Council, worked with the Vernon County Salvation Army at Christmas, was a member of the Westby Lions and Snowflake Ski Club, and served on the advisory board of the Norseland Nursing Home.
In addition to his wife, Juanita, he is survived by one daughter, Jayne (Dennis) Soppe of West Union, Iowa; two grandchildren, Anthony and Stephanie; two sisters, Lilah Kinserdahl and Verna (Mahlon) Nelson; a sister-in-law, Bette Zinke; three brothers-in-law, Donald (Ellen) Bronson, Richard (Elaine) Bronson and Gary (Barbara) Bronson; nieces, nephews, cousins and fr-iends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, David, in 1956; one daughter, Mary, in 1963; four brothers-in-law, Orland Kinserdahl, Robert Bronson, Robert Sveum and Ed Zinke.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, May 9, 2009, at Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church. Pastor Dennis Hallemeier officiated with burial in the Coon Prairie Cemetery. Friends called on Friday afternoon at the Vosseteig Funeral Home in Westby. Friends also called at the church on Saturday before the time of the services. In lieu of flowers or plants, memorials may be given to the Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church or the Bethel Butikk Food Pantry. Online condolences may be offered at www.vosseteigfuneral homes.com
The Vosseteig Funeral Home of Westby served the family.
Myrtle A. Axlen
Myrtle A. Axlen passed May 7, 2009, from an auto accident and pneumonia complications at age 87 in Las Vegas, Nev.
She was born July 13, 1921, the daughter of Lloyd and Maude Smith. She married Howard "Blaine" Axlen in 1940. She worked at the Pokie Lucas Jewelry Store for around 20 years. One of her enjoyments was operating the marina at Blackhawk Memorial Park near Victory. Most of all she loved her grand and great-grandchildren. We joked her retirement work was playing bingo at Arizona Charlies.
She is survived by two sons, Larry (Judy) Axlen and Harley Axlen; two grandchildren, Larry Jr. (Teri) Axlen and Dawn (Jim) Benda; seven great-grandchildren, Megan, Brandon, Heather and Ashley Paul, and Jimmy Benda; Katie and David Axlen and all her friends.
She was predeceased by her husband, Howard "Blaine" Axlen.
