Advertisement Catherine M. (Moan) Erickson
GALESVILLE — Catherine M. (Moan) Erickson, 85, of Galesville went home to her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, July 1, 2009.
Catherine was born in La Crosse to Aksel and Gertrude (La Fleur) Moan on Nov. 25, 1923. She was joined in marriage to James “Jim” E. Erickson in La Crosse on Jan. 15, 1944. Catherine and Jim shared a love of music and were dance partners for life. There was nothing more eloquent or graceful to witness as when they became as one and glided across a dance floor together. Mom passed this gift to all of her children when she taught them how to dance. Catherine and Jim resided in the Holmen area until 1968, when they moved to Galesville. In February 1987, Jim preceded Catherine in death. As a young woman, she worked at La Crosse Auto Lite and La Crosse Garment Co. Once married, Catherine devoted her life to her husband and her children. When her children became older, she worked at Outers Laboratories in Onalaska and finally retired from Gale Products in Galesville. Mom’s hands were always busy as she was an avid gardener, growing vegetables to feed her family and flowers to grace the inside and outside of our home. She was also a seamstress, making clothing for her children and herself. Her favorite pastime was crocheting, and our most treasured gifts are those that she created with her hands. Christmas was her favorite holiday, and she made sure that every one of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all their spouses had a special gift from her. Her shopping always began right after Christmas as she had many gifts to purchase — most recently that was a total of 88. With such a large family, we were not rich in worldly things, but nothing was more important and special to Mom than spending time with her family and friends. Just as she taught us how to dance, she taught and demonstrated to us that our real wealth is within us and with our family(s).
Catherine is survived by eight children, James (Gloria) of Houston, Minn., Edward (Lori) of Holmen, Richard of La Crosse, Allen (Judy) of Sparta, Sandra (David) Walsh of West Salem, Marlene “Mollie” Branson of Galesville, Michael “Puffer” of La Crosse, and Clarissa “Chris” Bates of La Crosse; 22 grandchildren; 28 great-granchildren; three brothers, Arthur (Gerry) Moan of Prairie du Chien, Clarence Moan of White Bear Lake, Minn., and Donald (Florence) Pearson of Turtle Lake, Wis.; two sisters, Clara (Chet) Andersen of Texas and Marilyn (Allen) Libby of Clayton, Wis.; one aunt, Bernadette Thurston of Onalaska; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Jessica; two great-grandsons, Joseph and Braeden; five brothers; two sisters; and a special friend, Irv Utecht.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Monday, July 6, at Halfway Creek Lutheran Church, W6016 CTH W, Holmen. Pastor Jean Pagliaro will officiate. Catherine’s final resting place will be in the Halfway Creek Lutheran Church Cemetery. Friends may call at Woodruff-Jandt Funeral Home, 4239 Mormon Coulee Road, La Crosse, on Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m., and at the church on Monday from noon until the time of service.
“Mom, we love you and we’ll miss you. Rest in peace; your work here is done.”
Nao Sue Vang
HOLMEN — Nao Sue Vang, 78, of Holmen died Sunday, June 28, 2009, at Franciscan Skemp Medical Center, La Crosse.
Nao Sue was born in Laos on Sept. 25, 1930. He arrived in the United States as a refugee in May 1988. He married Yia Lee Vang, and they have six sons and three daughters.
There will be continuous visitation at the Hmong Cultural and Community Center, 1815 Ward Ave., La Crosse, from 8 a.m., Friday, July 3, until departing for Green Mound Cemetery, Holmen, at 9:30 a.m. Monday, July 6. Woodruff-Jandt Funeral Home, La Crosse, is assisting the family and the Hmong community with arrangements.
“Dad, you are the greatest to us! Mus zoo koj txiv... Koj Cov Tub Ki.”
LaVonne C. Brown
ONALASKA — LaVonne C. Brown, 74, of Onalaska died Tuesday, June 30, 2009, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse. Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home, La Crosse, is assisting the family.
