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Genevieve Knutson
VIROQUA, Wis. - Genevieve Knutson, 84, of 999 Western Ave., in Viroqua, died on Monday afternoon at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center following open heart surgery. She was born on Jan. 11, 1914, in Lakota, Iowa to Gus and Belle (Shannon) Koppen. She lived at West Prairie at rural Viroqua prior to moving into Viroqua. She worked at the Vernon Manor Nursing Home for over twenty years as a nurse's aide. She had continued to work cleaning houses for many Viroqua people and was an active volunteer at the Viroqua mealsite.
She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, the Altar Society, and the Viroqua Eagles Aerie No. 2707 Auxiliary.
Genevieve is survived by one son, Carlyle (Debbie) Knutson of Viroqua; one daughter-in-law, Karen Knutson of Sparta; six grandchildren, Nachalle Ford of Littleton, Colo., Chad (Tina) Knutson of Marshfield, Kristina (Kelly) Olson of Littleton, Colo., Cody Knutson of Viroqua, Anthony (Laura) Knutson of Sparta, Brian (Stace) Knutson of Tomah; five great-grandchildren, Taylor, Madison, Brista, Alysha and Mercedes Knutson. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Donald and Harold Koppen; one sister, Marcella ``Toots'' Hetland; and one son, Eugene Knutson.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1, 1998, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Viroqua, with Father James Miller officiating. Burial will be in St. James Catholic Cemetery at Rising Sun. Friends may call at the Thorson Funeral Home on Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. where there will be a prayer service at 8 p.m. Friends may also call at the church after 9:30 a.m. on Thursday.
Earle V. Burkhalter
WONEWOC, Wis. - Earle V. Burkhalter, 69, of Wonewoc, passed away on Monday, Sept. 28, 1998, at Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse.
Survivors include his wife, Ina; a son, Larry (Debbie) Burkhalter of Union Center; two daughters, Linda Ramage of Smithland, Ken. and Tari Carlyle of Wonewoc; three step sons, Steven (Debbie) Field of Viola, Dennis (Mary) Field of Hastings, Minn. and Rick (Rose) Field of Bangor, Wis.; six grandchildren; nine step grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; four brothers, Dan Burkhalter of Fridley, Minn., Bill (Marlene) Burkhalter of Rosemont, Minn., Ed Burkhalter of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., Ervin ``Bud'' (Edith) Burkhalter of La Valle; two sisters, Carol (Grover) Sorenson of New Brighton, Minn. and Rosemary ``Cookie'' Burkhalter of New Orleans, La.; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1, 1998, at the Elroy United Methodist Church with Rev. Blake Overlien officiating. Burial will be in St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery in Wilton. Graveside military rites will be conducted by the Wilton American Legion Post #508. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Thompson Funeral Home in Wonewoc and after 12 p.m. noon on Thursday at the church.
Nicholas P. Hartung
Nichols P. Hartung, 73, of Kendall, died on Monday, Sept. 28, 1998, at St. Joseph Nursing Home in Hillsboro, Wis. He was born Oct. 12, 1924, in Hoven, S.D. to Frank and Elizabeth (Mullenberg) Hartung. On June 5, 1971, he was united in marriage to Lois Behnke in Kendall, Wis.
Survivors include his wife, Lois of Kendall; two brothers; six sisters; and many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers; and one sister.
Private burial services will be held at a later date. Smith Nelson Funeral Home, Kendall, is assisting the family with arrangements.
Arline H. Oswald
SPARTA, Wis. - Arline H. Oswald, 79, of Sparta, died at home Monday afternoon, Sept. 28, 1998.
She is survived by seven daughters, Donna (Gary) Whitehead, Sparta; Jeanne (Richard) Cornett, Warrenton, Mo., Marge (Raymond) De Witt, Janesville, Barbara (Gary) Everson, Marshfield, Wis., Linda (Charles) Heilmann, Montfort, Wis., Rose Oswald, Sparta; Kathy (Steve) Robertson, Rice Lake, Wis.; one son, Raymond ``Butch'' (Sue) Oswald Jr., Hayward, Wis.; 15 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren.
The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Sparta, with Rev. Mark Walljasper officiating. Burial will be in the Woodlawn Cemetery, Sparta. Friends may call at the Page-Smith Funeral Home, Sparta, on Wednesday, from 5-8 p.m. and on Thursday from 8-10:45 a.m.
Lydia H. Zenke
SPARTA, Wis. - Lydia H. Zenke, 86, of Sparta, died Tuesday morning, Sept. 29, 1998, at Rolling Hills Nursing Home, Sparta.
She is survived by one daughter, Jean (Lloyd) Brown, Sparta; four grandchildren, Rodney Brown, Tempe, Ariz., David (Anne Marie) Brown, Wauwatosa, Curtiss Brown and friend Donna Kowal, La Crosse and Paula (Lee) Williams, Sparta; five great-grandchildren, Dylan and Sydney Brown, Wauwatosa, Curtis Ray Brown, Stewartville, Minn., Justin and Heather Williams, Sparta; sister-in-law, Esther Dobrunz, La Crescent, Minn., many nieces, nephews and cousins.
The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Sparta, with Rev. Del Begalka officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Friends may call at the Page-Smith Funeral Home, Sparta, on Friday from 4-8 p.m. and at the church on Saturday from 10-11 a.m.
Eileen L. Jacobson
HOLMEN, Wis. - Eileen L. Jacobson, 65, of Holmen and formerly of Onalaska, died at her home on Monday, Sept. 28, 1998, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born Oct. 16, 1932, at Melrose to Frank and Irene (VanRiper) Schlifer. She married Melvin Jacobson on May 9, 1953, at Caledonia, Minn. He preceded her in death on Nov. 2, 1982.
She is survived by three daughters, Connie Jacobson of West Salem, Christy Jacobson of Holmen and Carrie (Michael) Goyette of Holmen; five sons, Arthur ``Butch'' Schleifer of Cottage Grove, Melvin ``Skip'' E. (Diane) Jacobson of Dakota, Minn., Marvin (Debbie) Jacobson of La Crosse, Randy Jacobson of Cottage Grove, Minn. and Robert Jacobson of Melrose; by a brother Leonard (Dora Lee) Schlifer of Gulf Breeze, Fla.; by 15 grandchildren, Kimberly (Jeff) Brock, Duane (Tanya) Schlifer, Dion Schleifer, Brittany Schleifer, Stephanie Brown, Amber, Jennifer and Shelby Jacobson, Tracy and Steve Jacobson, Gina Jacobson, Jason Jacobson and Aaron, Alex and Tricia Goyette; and three great-grandchildren, Dylon, Sara and Zachary. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by three sisters and one brother.
Funeral services will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church. The Rev. Ted Dewald will officiate. Burial will be in Onalaska Cemetery. Friends may call at the Dickinson Family Funeral Home, 515 McHugh Road, in Holmen, on Thursday from 5 until 8 p.m. and at the church on Friday from 10 a.m. until the service.
Darold Myron (Jim) Devine
Darold Myron (Jim) Devine, 84, of La Crosse, died Monday, Oct. 12, 1998, at his home, of emphysema and heart failure. He was born in Genoa, Wis., on Dec. 28, 1913, the third eldest of seven boys to Charles M. and Carrie (Emberson) Devine. As a young man, he worked for his father, commercial fishing and constructing the locks and dams.
In 1937, he married Berdine Lorenz, a teacher in Genoa. The couple resided briefly in Milwaukee and then settled permanently in La Crosse. Berdine died of cancer in 1960.
In 1962, Jim married Mildred (Evelyn) Hunter. Evelyn died of sudden heart failure in 1987.
Besides working 35 years as a custodial engineer for the La Crosse Education Dept., Jim was well known throughout the Coulee Region for his hobby of collecting rattlesnakes. Known for years by local residents as ``the Snake Man,'' he spent most of the summers on the surrounding bluffs and often caught as many as 500 in one year. He was frequently called to assist homeowners and the police department when an unknown snake was encountered. He also enjoyed lecturing on snakes at school assemblies and various clubs and groups. At one time he served as president of the La Crosse Zoo Association.
He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church; a 50-year member of La Crosse North Lodge #190 of Free and Accepted Masons; Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem; Golden Rule Shrine #21; and a life member of Ruth Chapter #23, Order of the Eastern Star.
He is survived by two sons, Richard of La Crosse and Dennis of Salem, Ore.; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and one brother, Embert of Milwaukee.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, Oct. 15, 1998, at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1010 Sill Street, La Crosse. The Rev. Ted Dewald will officiate and burial will be at Mormon Coulee Memorial Park. Family and friends may call at the Woodruff Funeral Home, 4239 Mormon Coulee Road, La Crosse, this evening from 6 to 8 p.m., and at the church on Thursday from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Memorials may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church.
Gerhard J. Nilsestuen
Arcadia, Wis. - Longtime rural, co-op and community leader, Gerhard J. Nilsestuen, died Tuesday, Oct. 13, 1998, two weeks after surgery for a broken and dislocated hip. He was 85. He had been a resident of the Franciscan Skemp (St. Joseph's) Nursing Home, Arcadia, since November of 1997, and had demonstrated great resiliency, recovering from a half dozen previous surgeries over the past decade.
Gerhard lived his strong belief in community service. He served as director and board chairman of: Western Wisconsin Cable Cooperative (WWCC); A-G Cooperative; Arcadia Co-op Association; Arcadia School Board; Trempealeau County Mental Health Association and Unified Services Board; Trempealeau County Association of Co-ops; and Tamarack Lutheran Church. He was appointed by the governor to serve on the Minnesota-Wisconsin Boundary Commission and served as director on the Trempealeau Electric Cooperative Board and Trempealeau County board, as well as being active in many other cooperative and community groups.
Known as an innovator and advocate for change, Gerhard was a founding director and first president of the Western Wisconsin Cable Cooperative, the nation's first interactive cable television cooperative.
Gerhard devoted years of effort, first helping to organize and then lobbying for start-up funding for WWCC. He went door-to-door to sell memberships to prove to potential leaders that there was strong community support. The co-op not only delivered cable service to rural communities, but also linked Trempealeau County's eight school districts together and thus provided otherwise unavailable expanded curriculum to rural students.
Gerhard also provided similar leadership and work for: the consolidation of rural schools; establishlment of the kindergarten program in Arcadia; the creation of adequate mental health services in Trempealeau, Buffalo and Jackson counties; the expansion of soil and conservation programs; and the development of cooperatives to serve farmers and rural people. Gerhard farmed the Nilsestuen homestead in Tamarack his entire life, first with his parents and then his own family.
Gerhard and his wife, Margaret (Hammond) were married in 1942. They raised seven children: daughters Karen (Deane) Peterson of Delafield, Wis., and Wilda Skroch of Fairfax, Va.; and sons, Wayne (Joni Sarles) of Teguciagalpia, Honduras, C.A., Rod (Carol) of Deforest, Wis., and Randy and Kent (Beth) of Arcadia; and nephew Leo (Mona) Hovell of Seymour, Wis. Gerhard is survived by grandchildren Andrew and Matt Peterson, Eric, Jonathan and Benjamin Skroch, Joel, Mark and Ryan Nilsestuen, Kyle, Jeff and Erin Nilsestuen, and Francisca Nilsestuen; a grandniece, Leota Hovell; and grandnephews Mitchell and Lyndon Hovell. He is also survived by two sisters, Ruth McMahon of Seattle, Wash., and Sylvia Bolton of Forest, Va.
Visitation will be at the Wozney Funeral Home, Arcadia, from 6 to 9 p.m. today, Oct. 14, with a brief prayer service held at 8:30 p.m. The funeral will be held at the Tamarack Lutheran Church, rural Arcadia, at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 15. Memorials may be given to the Gerhard Nilsestuen Memorial Fund and will be donated to the causes Gerhard championed.
