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Gary H. Steele
BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. - Gary H. Steele, age 63, of 213 S. Roosevelt Rd., Black River Falls, died Wednesday, January 28, 1998, in the Tomah VA Medical Center.
Funeral services will be Saturday, January 31, 1998, at 11 a.m. from the Buswell Funeral Home, Black River Falls and burial with military honors will be in the Trout Run Cemetery, rural Black River Falls. Friends may call at the Buswell Funeral Home on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m.
Gary L. Witt
WORTH, Ill./DAKOTA, Minn. - Gary Witt, 48, died Wed., Jan. 28, 1998, following complications from Liver Transplant surgery on Dec. 2, 1997.
Gary was born July 27, 1949, in La Crosse, Wis. to LeRoy and Annabelle (Stinson) Witt. Gary married Mary Havrilla on Nov. 15, 1975.
Gary is survived by his wife, Mary; his daughter, Jamie (Chris) Barta; son, Shawn (Tracey) Witt; granddaughters, Amber and Ashley; grandson, Kyle; five sisters, Sandra (Stan) Stetzer of Mindoro, Wis., Vicky (Dave) Monson of Ruskin, Fla., Connie (Herbie) Ball of Chicago Ridge, Ill., Laurie (Brad) Houghton of Appleton, Wis. and Karrie (George) Gaulrapp of Freeport, Ill.; and also 13 nieces and nephews and many aunts and uncles. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.
Memorial services will be Sat., Feb. 7, 1998, at 2 p.m. in Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, La Crescent, Minn. Pastor Mark A. Anderson will officiate. Wake services will be Fri., Jan. 30 from 2-9 p.m. at Schmaedke Funeral Home in Worth, Ill. Fellowship will follow until 5 p.m. at the La Crescent American Legion.
``Gary lived life to the fullest, but now will have eternal life.''
Jean Tobey (Grandma Jean)
NAPA, Calif. - Jean Dolores (Chichester) Tobey died January 20, 1998, of cancer in Napa, Calif. Her son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter were by her side.
She was born in Hampton, Iowa on March 12, 1916, to Forrest and Marguerite (Longson) Chichester.
She attended school in La Crosse, Wisconsin and graduated in 1934 from Logan High School.
She met and married her first husband, Cyril J. Wright, in Wisconsin. They made their home on French Island outside of La Crosse where she was employed by the Auto-Lite Factory. Many times she told stories of her adventures with her ``Wild'' friends on French Island.
Upon Cyril's death she made her home in Richmond, California, with her mother. While there she obtained a California Realtors and a Cosmetology license.
In 1964, she married Merlin C. Tobey and they made their home in Pinole, California. They enjoyed their time together until his death in 1969. At this time, she had bowled on several leagues, even traveling to San Antonio, Texas for a tournament.
Jean was then employed by the Doctors Answering Service in Richmond, California, until her ``retirement'' in 1982.
She can out of "retirement" on March 13, 1989, when her great-granddaughter, Holly was born. She babysat for Holly throughout the years, instilling in Holly a love of art, music, dance and humor.
Over the years she made many trips between California and Wisconsin, one of her favorites being with her grandson, Jeff and daughter-in-law, Doris; including their event-filled side trip to Mr. Rushmore, ``the old pile of rocks.''
Her many interests included playing the organ, singing, writing poetry, painting, dancing, fishing, playing cards and scrabble, working crossword puzzles, watching game shows and football and baseball games; especially her sons ``Senior Softball.''
One of her greatest joys was putting on ``family functions.''
Her greatest fulfillment came from devoting her life to the happiness of her family and her friends.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Forest (Butch) and Doris Wright; her granddaughter, Kim Yoho; her grandson and his wife, Jeff and Stacy Wright; her great-grandchildren, Holly Yoho and David and Sammy Gallegos; her sister-in-law, Marjorie Vick and many friends whom she considered family.
``Grandma Jean'' touched many lives. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 31, 1998, at Treadway & Wigger Funeral Home, 623 Coombs Street. The Rev. Erwin E. Bollinger, pastor emeritus of First Presbyterian Church, will officiate. Casketbearers are Ray Goyette, Joe Nichelini, Ron Herring and Mike Nichelini. Internment will follow at Tulocay Cemetery.
Dora A. Utke
LA CRESCENT, Minn. - Dora A. Utke, age 100, of La Crescent, Minn. died Wednesday, January 28, 1998, at the Bethany-St. Joseph Nursing Home in La Crosse. She was born on March 15, 1897 in Caledonia, Minn. to William and Emma (Heintz) Kuecker and married Edward J. Utke on February 17, 1925, in Caledonia, Minn. He preceded her in death on March 5, 1986.
Dora worked with her husband on the family farm in Brownsville, Minn. until 1928 when they moved to rural Caledonia where they continued to farm until 1968 when they moved to La Crescent. She was a member of the First Ev. Lutheran Church in La Crescent.
Dora is survived by a daughter-in-law, Mary Lorraine Utke of La Crescent; three grandchildren, Wayne (Charmaine) Utke of Goodwine, Ill, Steve (Sonja) Utke of Highlands Ranch, Colo. and Sandra Utke of La Crescent; 11 grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Raymond Utke and two brothers, Ervin and Herman Kuecker.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 31, 1998, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Ev. Lutheran Church in La Crescent with Rev. Paul A. Ibisch officiating. Burial will follow at St. Peter's Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Caledonia. Friends may call at the church on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services. Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crescent is in charge of arrangements.
George A. Jeffers
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. - George A. Jeffers, age 84, of Prairie du Chien, Wis. died Thursday, January 29, 1998, at the Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be Saturday, January 31, 1998 at 11 a.m. at St. John's Catholic Church, Rev. Burton Pratt SJ officiating with burial in the Calvary Cemetery, both in Prairie du Chien, Wis. Military rights will be held graveside by the Prairie du Chien Honor Guard. Friends may call after 4 p.m. today at the Garrity Funeral Home in Prairie du Chien, where there will be an Eagles Club Tribute at 7 p.m., a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 7:30 p.m. and a Wake Scripture at 8 p.m.
He was born January 12, 1914, in Caledonia, Minn., son of George and Mary (Darling) Jeffers. He married Dorothy Bremmer on November 15, 1945, in Prairie du Chien, Wis. She preceded him in death on November 20, 1984. He served in the U.S. Army during WW II. He owned and operated Jeffers Black Angus in Prairie du Chien for over 50 years until his retirement in 1975. He was a member of St. John's Parish, The Eagles Club Aerie 1502 and The Knights of Columbus Campion Council 1840.
He is survived by two daughters, Ginger (Zeke) Des Rocher of Prairie du Chien and Peggy (Dale) Sorenson of Richland Center, Wis.; one brother, Ben Jeffers of Prairie du Chien; one sister Jenny Gaulthier of Lansing, Iowa; four granddaughters; two great-granddaughters; numerous nieces and nephews and a very dear friend, Dorothy Herrity of Prairie du Chien. He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters.
Almyra Huck
Almyra Huck, age 72, died Wednesday, January 28, 1998, at Franciscan Skemp Hospital in La Crosse. Memorial services will be held on Sunday, February 1, 1998, at 7 p.m. at White Funeral Home in Tomah, Wisconsin. Friends may call at the funeral home from 4 p.m. Sunday until the time of the service. A second service will be held at the Ritter-Larsen Funeral Home in Milwaukee at 3 p.m. Monday, February 2, 1998. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home.
William "Bun" Markin
EXCELSIOR, Minn. - William "Bun" Markin, age 76, of Excelsior passed away on Wednesday, January 28, 1998, at the Boscobel Area Health Care in Boscobel after a brief illness.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 31, 1998, at 11 a.m. at the Thoni-Kendall Funeral Home in Boscobel. Burial in the Boscobel Cemetery. Friends may call on Friday from 4-8 p.m. at the Thoni-Kendall Funeral Home in Boscobel. Military services conducted by the Boscobel American Legion and VFW.
Russell "Russ" W. Balfany
Russell "Russ" W. Balfany, 84, died at the Hillview Health Care Center on Wednesday, January 28, 1998. He was born November 13, 1913, in Redwood Falls, Minnesota to Albert and Esther (Conrad) Balfany. He married Genevieve M. Schrader on July 3, 1937, in Decorah, Iowa, and they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in July of 1997. Employed by the Milwaukee Railroad, for over fifty years, he retired as a conductor. Russ loved to talk and tell stories about his early years.
He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend. He is survived by his wife, Genevieve; daughter, Patricia A. (Don) Knutson of La Crosse; three grandsons, Timothy L. (Tammy) Franzini of Onalaska, Thomas Russell (Kris) Franzini and Terrence R. Franzini, both of La Crosse; three great-grandchildren, Ryan L., Matthew J. and Allison J., Franzini; four brothers, Russell (Gen) Balfany, Floyd Balfany and Ford Balfany, all of La Crosse and Francis (Genesee) Balfany of Sun City, Arizona; and one sister, Florence Lemke of Aurora, Illinois.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, Alma, Alberta and Myrtle; and two brothers, Robert and Elmo.
Funeral services will be Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at the Dickinson Family Funeral Home, 809 Gillette Street, La Crosse. The Reverend John Parcher will officiate and burial will be in the Woodlawn Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Saturday from noon until the service.
Anton "Tony" Lee
STODDARD, Wis. - Anton "Tony" Lee, age 90, died Wednesday, January 28, 1998, in his home in Stoddard. He was born on June 10, 1907, to Anton and Sina (Brenden) Lee in Stoddard. Tony received a Bachelor of Science and Masters Degree in Architecture from the University of Minnesota. He owned and operated the Artcraft Company on La Crosse's northside for many years, retiring in 1983. He served as a Captain in the Army Corps of Engineers in the Philippines. Tony was known for his innovative design and construction of many of the areas finest supper clubs. He was a member of the American Legion Post #52.
He is survived by his sisters, Alma Lee Eacurce of Stoddard, Sylvia Spears of Mountain Home, Arkansas and Olga Bluske and Lucille Furlong, both of La Crosse; nieces, Sally Lewis of Mountain Home, Arkansas, Betty Warja of Springfield, Missouri and June Crawford of Mountain Home, Arkansas; nephews, James Spears and Robert Spears, both of Kansas City, Kenneth Blake of Mountain Home, Arkansas and Steven Bergsten and Lee Bluske, both of La Crosse. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Mabel Denny and a nephew Donald Blake.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 31, at 2 p.m. at the Sletten-McKee-Hanson Funeral Home. The Reverend Wm. V. Stevens will officiate and burial will be in the Stoddard Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Saturday from 1 p.m. until time of services. Memorials are requested for the United Methodist Church of Stoddard.
