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Jack Agnew, 81
Lt. Col. Jack Agnew, U.S. Army (Ret.), 81 of Harlingen, Texas, formerly of River Falls, died on Thursday, July 9, 1998, in Harlingen.
He was born on April 1, 1917, in Dunkerton, Iowa. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1959. He served with Gen. George Patton in Europe during World War II. He was on Gen. Douglas MacArthur's staff in Tokyo, also serving his country during the Korean Conflict. He was awarded numerous medals including two Bronze Starts and six Air Medals.
He received his bachelor of science degree from UW-River Falls in June of 1964 and his master of science degree from UW-Stout in Menomonie in 1969.
He joined the UW-RF community in September of 1964 as a faculty assistant in the Department of Agricultural Engineering. In 1965 he was named director of financial assistance and served in that capacity until he was named director of general services in 1970. He retired from the university at the end of June, 1982.
He was a member of the Harlingen Elks Club and the American Legion.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Ann (Skradski) Agnew.
Graveside services with military honors were held on Monday, July 20, at the Leavenworth National Cemetery in Leavenworth, Kansas. The Rev. Frank J. Horvat, pastor of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Kansas City, Kansas, presided.
A memorial fund is being established in his name at UW-RF. Checks should be made payable to the UW-RF Foundation and sent to 410 S. Third St., River Falls, Wis., 54022.
Sean D. Durbin, 29
Sean D. Durbin, 29, of River Falls died Tuesday, July 21, 1998, in Hudson.
He was born Nov. 24, 1968, in Farmington, Minn., the son of John and Sharon (Smith) Durbin. He was the grandson of Ray and Marge Durbin of Independence, Iowa, and Fay Smith of Conorsville.
He attended River Falls High School. He was a construction worker and a member of the Local 132 Laborers' Union. He was also a member of Ezekiel Lutheran Church.
He is survived by his parents, John and Sharon Durbin of River Falls; his brothers, Wade Durbin and Donald Rommann of River Falls; his sisters, Lynne Wathen of Independence, Iowa, and Kristen McCullough of Honolulu, Hawaii; and one niece and six nephews.
Funeral was Saturday, July 25, at Ezekiel Lutheran Church with the Rev. Tinka Bloedow officiating.
Pallbearers were: Wade Durbin, Chip Halverson, Jeff Hines, Don Rommann, Dean Campbell and Kurt (Shags) Hirsch. Scott Rudd and Jason Damsgaard were honorary pallbearers.
Interment was in Greenwood Cemetery.
Cashman Mortuary provided arrangements.
Russell Giere, 74
Russell Giere, 74, of Arbor Vitae, died Friday, July 3, 1998, at his home after a battle with cancer.
He was born June 4, 1924, in Wheeler, the son of the late Albert and Mabel Amelia (Lefsted) Giere. He married Shirley Karweik on June 20, 1953. Albert was the manager of the Equity Elevator in River Falls from the mid 1930s to about 1953.
He graduated from River Falls High School in May of 1942. The following January he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He served during World War II in the South Pacific and the occupation of China.
He was discharged in May of 1946 at Great Lakes with the rank of corporal.
He attended UW-River Falls for 2 years. He then left River Falls and moved to Milwaukee, working for the Nash Company. He worked on the assembly line and then in quality inspection.
Prior to his marriage, he started working at General Motors in Milwaukee. In 1956 he was promoted to order interpreter and reassigned to the Chicago Parts Division.
Several years later he was promoted to supervisor, and the company relocated to Broadview, Ill. He retired from General Motors after 30 years.
Russ and Shirley moved to the Arbor Vitae area in the summer of 1995, where he continued his love for gardening, fishing and the great North Woods.
He was a member of Rock of Ages Lutheran Church of Minocqua. He had been baptized on July 6, 1924, and confirmed on Oct. 30, 1938, in River Falls.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley; three children, Jeffrey R., Brian D. (Lori), both of Arbor Vitae, and Lynn Vandenorth of Weston; a grandson; a sister, Irene L. Giere of St. Petersburg, Fla.; a brother-in-law, Herbert (and Lulu) Karweik of Cudhahy; four sisters-in-law: Anna Karweik of Waukesha, Evelyn Pollack of Milwaukee, Clara and George Henry of Arbor Vitae, and Bernice and Alfred Clauson of Burlington; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral was Thursday, July 9, at the chapel of the Campbell Funeral Home, Woodruff, with the Rev. Walter Geist officiating.
Interment was in Forest Garden Memorial Cemetery in Woodruff.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorials be made to Dr. Kate/Lakeland Hospice, Woodruff, WI, 54568-0770.
Gladys E. Young, 81
Gladys E. Young, 81, of Baldwin died Friday, July 24, 1998, at Baldwin Hospital after she was admitted there Thursday night.
She was born May 5, 1917, in the town of Pleasant Valley in St. Croix County, the daughter of George and Lena (Johnson) Brathall. She attended the country school in Pleasant Valley and then went to River Falls High School where she graduated. She continued her education at a business college in Minneapolis where she studied bookkeeping.
During her working career she was employed at the Co-op Station. For many years she was a bookkeeper with the ASCS office in Baldwin, retiring in 1979.
She married Vernon Young on Feb. 14, 1937, in River Falls.
She was an active and devoted member of Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Baldwin, working on various committees and making the quilts for which the ladies circle was noted. She also kept up with her own sewing and knitting at home.
She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Lena; her brother, Charles; her sister, Thelma Albertson; and a daughter, Donna Swenson.
She is survived by her husband, Vernon, of 61 years; a sister, Leona (Carston) Place of River Falls; a son-in-law, Leslie Swenson of Hudson; grandchildren David and Judi Swenson of Hudson; Julie and Duane Wilcoxson of River Falls; and great-grandchildren, Diane, Debra and Ashley Wilcoxson.
Funeral was Monday, July 27, at Gethsemane Lutheran Church with the Rev. Paul Lovestrand officiating. Victoria Lovestrand was the organist and Dennis Soderberg was vocalist.
Interment was in Baldwin Cemetery.
Pallbearers were: LaVern Johnson, David Swenson, Dale Ruosch, Edward Hanson, Carroll Schneider and Duane Wilcoxson.
Memorials are preferred.
Francis M. DeMulling, 95
Francis M. DeMulling, 95, of Kent, Wash., died Friday, July 17, 1998, in Bellevue, Wash.
He was born Oct. 10, 1902, in River Falls. He graduated from UW-River Falls in 1924.
He was a high school principal and a barber by trade. He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Lenore; and a son, Robert.
He is survived by three sons: Dan DeMulling, Richard DeMulling and Don DeMulling; a daughter, Denise; 10 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral was to be Wednesday, July 22. Interment and graveside service were to be at Hillcrest Cemetery in Kent.
Eleanor Borner Johnson, 89
Eleanor Borner Johnson, 89, died Monday, July 20, 1998 at her home.
She was born Jan. 24, 1909 in River Falls, the daughter of Henry and Anna Hall Borner. She was baptized and confirmed by Rev. G.A. Bard, and was a life long member of the River Falls Methodist Church.
She graduated from the River Falls State College and Stout State College at Menomonie and taught English and music after graduation. She later taught home economics.
In 1940 she married Walter M. Johnson of Battle Lake, Minn. who was an instructor and coach in the Proctor schools. After retirement they lived in Battle Lake and in Lakeland, Florida until their return to River Falls in 1989.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and brother Earl.
She is survived by the Borner, Hall, and Johnson relatives and friends.
Funeral will be Tuesday, July 28 at 1:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in River Falls. Interment will be at Greenwood Cemetery.
Elizabeth "Peg" Pechacek, 73
Elizabeth "Peg" Pechacek, 73, of Ellsworth, died on Saturday, July 18, 1998, at the River Falls Area Hospital.
She was born on Sept. 1, 1924, in South Wales, England, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Kinsella.
She was raised in Brigend, South Wales, England. During World War II she met Donald C. Pechacek.
She immigrated to the United States and married Don Pechacek on July 17, 1947, at Niagara Falls, N.Y. She had resided in Ellsworth with her husband and children the last 51 years.
She was an active member of St. Francis Catholic Church, Ellsworth. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She always had a song in her heart.
She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Lena; and two brothers, Billy and Jimmy.
Survivors include her husband, Donald Pechacek of Ellsworth; her children: Colleen M. Baker of Minneapolis, Rita L. and Jack Cudd of River Falls, Tracy Lee Pechacek of Maplewood, Minn., Donna A. and Randy Witthus Pechacek of Hudson, Donald and Lisa Pechacek, Jr., of River Falls, Maureen and Maynard Howe Pechacek of San Diego, Timothy Pechacek of Ellsworth, and Angela and Len McMoorow of Robbinsdale, MN; grandchildren: Tessa, Tina, Brady, Jerod, Molly, Collin, Jacob, Logan, Kindra, Zachary and Connor; three sisters: Ellen and Jerry Billeter of Ellsworth, Margaret and Bill Hubber and Kathleen Davis of Brigend, South Wales, England; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral was Tuesday at St. Francis Catholic Church with the Rev. Thomas Donaldson officiating.
