Advertisement Marilyn M. Jordie
ROCHESTER, Minn. — Marilyn M. Jordie, 87, formerly of Onalaska died Friday, June 5, 2009, at Olmsted Medical Center in Rochester.
Marilyn Mae Olson was born Oct. 18, 1921, in La Crosse. She graduated from Westby High School and attended La Crosse State College. She married Hilton L. Jordie on June 20, 1943, in Coon Valley. He worked for Metallic Corp. as a supervisor. He died in 1980. She and her husband lived most of their lives in Onalaska.
Marilyn worked as a billing clerk for Metallic Corp., retiring in 1984. She was a member of First Lutheran Church and was on Board of Deacons and taught Sunday school. She enjoyed reading and crocheting. She moved to Rochester to be near her daughter in March of 2009. She was currently a resident at Stewartville Care Center.
She is survived by her daughter, Allegra M. Standing (Joe) of Rochester; grandchildren, Sarah Lochan (Shawn) and Bethany Brost (Kristian); great-grandchildren, Jackson, Julia and Lucas Lochan, Sydney, Macy and soon to be Cole Brost; and two brothers, Monroe Olson (Donna) of Sparta, and Everett Olson (Nancy) of Gays Mills.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and two brothers.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at People of Hope Church in Rochester, with the Rev. Susan Rector Li officiating. Burial will be in Stone Church Cemetery, Houston, Minn. Friends may call from 9 a.m. Wednesday until time of services at the church. Memorials are requested to First Lutheran Church, People of Hope Church, 3703 Country Club Road W., Rochester, MN 55902 or to Stewartville Nursing Home Activity Center.
Vilas M. Greene
ONALASKA — Vilas Milton Greene, 86, of La Crosse, formerly of Onalaska, passed away Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at Brookdale Senior Living - Clare Bridge Cottage, La Crosse.
He was born Jan. 5, 1923, in Boscobel, Wis., to Ray and Alice (Semrad) Greene. Vilas grew up in rural Boscobel and graduated from Boscobel High School, where he excelled at boxing and other sports. He married Adair L. Bakken on Oct. 31, 1943, in Boscobel.
Superb at selling, he worked in retail sales and then the insurance industry, where he won numerous sales awards. After 50-plus years in sales he retired to a more leisure lifestlyle in Onalaska.
His wife, family and friends were very important to him. Vilas was a people person and he loved to share his passions of fishing, gardening, landscaping, cards, dancing and bowling with them as much as possible. If he wasn’t fishing with his wife, he probably was growing something in the garden.
Survivors include his wife, Adair Greene of La Crosse; six children, Raymond (Rita) of Roscoe, Ill., Rodney (Shirley) of Kenosha, Wis., Karen, Norman (Mary), Ken (Kathy) and Wayne, all of La Crosse; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; one sister, Ellen (Elgin) Porter of DeForest, Wis.; one brother, Ivan Greene of Merrimac, Wis.; two sisters-in-law, Florence Greene of Avoca, Wis., and Lorraine Weston of Verona, Wis.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and four brothers.
Memorial services will be 1 p.m. Monday at Woodruff-Jandt Funeral Home, 4239 Mormon Coulee Road, La Crosse. Rev. Don Iliff will officiate. Friends may call from noon Monday until the time of services at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be offered to North American Squirrel Association of La Crosse.
Our family would like to express their appreciation to the staff of Salem Terrace and Clare Bridge Cottage for all the care and special attention given to our father while he was a resident at these facilities.
Merrylyn M. Ruegg
LA CROSSE -- Merrylyn M. Ruegg, 86, of La Crosse passed away Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse.
She was born in La Crosse on May 27, 1923, to Arthur and Berthe (Meyers) Taylor. She married Robert Ruegg in La Crosse on Jan. 30, 1942, and he preceded her in death on Jan. 12, 2000. Merrylyn will be remembered for her strong faith, her love of music and the number of books she read even later in life. Many wonderful family trips were spent up and down the Mississippi River, and they were longtime members of the Pettibone Boat Club.
She is survived by her children, John (Joanne) Ruegg of Onalaska and Lynn (Kenneth) Koopmann of West Salem; 11 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one sister, Charlene Dingledein of La Crosse; one brother, Donald Taylor of St. Cloud, Minn.; and her special dog, “Foxy.”
In addition to her husband, Robert, she was preceded in death by four sons, Ron, Wayne, Rodney and Terry; one brother; and one grandson, Tim.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 8, at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of Onalaska. Pastor Mark Clements will officiate. Burial will follow in the Onalaska City Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of services. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred and will be donated in Merrylyn’s name. Online condolences may be given at www.schumacher-kish.com.
La Verne A. Wurzel
LA CROSSE -- La Verne A. Wurzel, 78, of La Crosse died at his home Friday, June 5, 2009.
He was born in La Crosse on Sept. 19, 1930, to George and Ina (Bennett) Wurzel. He married Betty Bernd on Oct. 28, 1953, in La Crosse.
La Verne was employed by Trane Company for 33 years before retiring in 1994, and was a member of Trane Company 25-Year Club. In his free time, he enjoyed horseshoes, bowling, golfing, playing cards and eating at Maid-Rite and visiting with Richard and the rest of his clientele.
La Verne is survived by his wife, Betty; three sons, Steven (Geri) Wurzel of Barre Mills, Raymond (Dawn) Wurzel of Brice Prairie, Onalaska, and Douglas (Rebecca) Wurzel of La Crosse; eleven grandchildren, Jason, April (Josh) Forer, Jeff, Ray Jr., Kurt, Stacey, Dennis, Chris, Mike, Stewart (Emily) and Carrie; and three great-grandchildren, Kaylee, Blake and Maya. He is further survived by two sisters, Lois (Robert) Bernd and Carol Russell, both of La Crosse; one brother, George (Norma) Wurzel, Jr. of La Crosse; and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister and one brother.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. James the Less Catholic Church. Rev. Roger Scheckel will officiate. Entombment will take place in St. Francis of Assisi Mausoleum in Catholic Cemetery. Friends may call from 10 a.m. Tuesday until the time of services at the church. Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers and will be donated later in La Verne’s memory. Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse is assisting the family with arrangements.
Donald C. Berg
ONALASKA — Donald C. Berg, 84, of Onalaska died Saturday, May 30, 2009, at Onalaska Care Center. He was born March 30, 1925, in Minneapolis, to Oscar and Theolina (Pladsen) Berg. Don had served with the U.S. Navy during World War II. He married Jeanne M. Linek on Sept. 2, 1948, in Minneapolis. Don had worked as a soil conservationist for the USDA’s Soil Conservation Service for 30 years.
He is survived by three children, Dr. Laurence (Catherine) Berg of Onalaska, Elizabeth (Jim) Lile of Lakewood, Colo., and Kristen (Dirk Grupe) Berg of State College, Pa.; six grandchildren, Erika (Matt) Jungwirth, Anthony (Ariel) Berg, Phoebe Lile, Renee Lile, Dylan Grupe and Gavin Grupe; and a great-granddaughter, Layla Michelle Berg.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorial services will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse with Pastor Timothy Duesenberg officiating. A time of remembrance will follow until 8 p.m.
Committal services will be held at a later date in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis.
Jess Ondell
LA CROSSE -- Jess Ondell was born May 27, 1921, in Adelaide, S.D., to Jess and Martha (Papke) Ondell. He died Saturday, May 30, 2009, at Hillview Health Care Center in La Crosse.
Jess is survived by his wife of 65 years, Marilyn; his children, Todd (Deb) Ondell of La Crosse, Rochelle Ondell of Park City, Utah, and Dane (Cindy) Ondell of Holmen; four grandchildren, Bryce of Las Vegas, Chelsey of Minneapolis, Haley of Madison and Jess of Holmen.
A celebration honoring Jess will be held from noon to 2 p.m. July 17 at the Cleary Center, 615 East Ave. N., La Crosse.
Memorials may be directed to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Foundation or to Gundersen Lutheran Foundation.
God speed and sleep well good friend.
Dickinson Family Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the family with arrangements.
