John E. Rediske
LA CROSSE -- John E. Rediske, 70, of La Crosse died Monday, March 17, 2008, at his home.
He was born June 15, 1937, in La Crosse to William and Mary (Kerska) Rediske. After graduating in 1955 from Central High School in La Crosse, John joined the Army National Guard and served until February 1960.
On July 27, 1963, he married Violet Topel at First Lutheran Church in Onalaska, Wis. John was employed as a machinist for Trane Co. for 42 years until retiring in 1998.
He was a member of the Trane Co. 25-Year Club, Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge 1920, Fraternal Order of the Eagles’ Aerie 1254, and Machinist Union Local Lodge 21, all of La Crosse, and the Gittens-Leidel American Legion Post 595 of La Crescent, Minn.
John is survived by his wife, Violet of La Crosse; one daughter, Karla (Jeff) Woody of Onalaska; one son, Gregory (Wendy) Rediske of La Crosse; five grandchildren, Sara Rediske, Megan Woody, Andrea Woody, Abigayle Rediske and Jared Rediske; two sisters, Alice (Ken) Ingham and Irene Hanson, both of La Crosse; two brothers, William (Shirley) Rediske of La Crescent and Frank Rediske of La Crosse; one sister-in-law, Marcella Rediske of Sparta, Wis.; and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Arthur Rediske; two brothers-in-law, Milton Hanson and Robert Reagles; and a sister-in-law, Beverly Rediske.
Memorial services will be Saturday, March 22, at 10:30 a.m. at Woodruff-Jandt Funeral Home, 4239 Mormon Coulee Road, La Crosse. The Rev. Mary L. Bielke will officiate. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, La Crosse, with military honors by Gittens Leidel American Legion Post 595 of La Crescent. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m., and also on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service.
Frank ‘Franzie’ A. Butkovich
LA CROSSE -- Frank “Franzie” A. Butkovich of La Crosse went into God’s loving hands on Monday, March 17, 2008.
Franjo was born in Lika, Croatia, on July 18, 1924, to Vjekoslav and Opalonija (Oreskovic) Butkovic.
During World War II, Franjo was driven from his homeland by the Nazis to work in slave labor camps in Germany.
After the war he met his wife, Katherine (Petrovic) in a displaced persons camp in Hanover, Germany. They married March 3, 1946.
In October 1951, Franjo brought his family to America to start a new life in a new land, a new language and with many new hopes.
He lived the American Dream by going to work for Bruno Schlicht, owner of Schlicht’s Select Sausage on Gillette Street in La Crosse, and eventually bought the business.
Franjo and his wife worked hard and long in the business and made many lifelong friends.
Shirley J. Pugh
MINDORO — Shirley J. Pugh, 66, of Mindoro died Monday, March 17, 2008, at her home.
She was born Nov. 22, 1941, in Browns Valley, rural Mindoro, to Lyle and Ida (Cox) Jerome. On June 30, 1984, she married Jimmy Pugh in Wilson, N.C., and he preceded her in death on Sept. 3, 1993. Shirley was employed at Foster-Forbes in Burlington, Wis., and later transferred to Wilson, N.C. She and her husband moved back to Mindoro in November 1992. Shirley was a Minnesota Vikings fan, enjoyed fishing and was the No. 1 racing fan of the Lockington Race Team at the La Crosse Interstate Speedway.
Survivors include two sisters, Kris (friend, Jim) Lockington and Phyllis (Bob) Millard; two brothers, Lyle (Carole) Jerome and Gary (Jean) Jerome; a sister-in-law, Gretchen Benson; her special friend, Ken Erdman; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Rosetta (Merlin) Gilbertson; her half brother, James Benson; and her brother-in-law, Don Lockington.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 20, at Mindoro Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Cindy Arndt will officiate. Burial will be in Farmington Cemetery. Friends may call today from 5 to 7 p.m. at Jostad-Jandt Funeral Home, 121 N. Youlon St., West Salem, Wis., and at the church on Thursday from noon until time of services. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.
Franzie became known as the “wiener man” because he loved to give wieners to the children who came into the shop.
Franzie enjoyed all sports and loved going up north to Logway to hunt and fish with his family and the Pretasky clan.
Franzie was a survivor, who loved life and being with people.
He is survived by two daughters, Rosa (Stephen) Weber of Onalaska and Stefana Pretasky of La Crescent, Minn.; four grandchildren, Tracey (David) Schmidt, Tammy (Jimmy) McLaughlin, Rory (Andrea) Weber and Justine Pretasky; six beautiful great-granddaughters, Lauren and Amanda Schmidt, Ella and Eastan Weber and Katherine and Madeline McLaughlin; and a very special and close friend, Beth Michel, and her family who opened their hearts and their homes to Franzie.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Katherine, on Feb. 3, 1995; his parents; three brothers; and aunts and uncles. He is further survived by his sister-in-law, Marija Butkovic of Zagreb, Croatia; and two nieces, Zdenka (Miljenko) Kolega and their children and Lilja (Rade) Radunovic and their children, all of Zagreb, Croatia.
Funeral services will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 20, at St. James the Less Catholic Church, 1102 Caledonia St., La Crosse. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. today, March 19, at St. James Church with a rosary at 6:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. James Church, Salvation Army, Humane Society and Boys & Girls Club.
Pjevati, igra, smijatise, doklete vidjeti opet.
