Yvonne Spreiter
ONALASKA — Yvonne Spreiter, 89, of Onalaska died Tuesday, April 1, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse.
Yvonne was born July 7, 1918, in Sydney, Australia. She attended the exclusive Julian Ashton School of Fine Art. Upon graduation, she worked in the advertising department of the largest department store in Australia and as a fashion illustrator with a top art studio. Then she started her own art studio specializing in fashion illustrations.
Yvonne married Bill Spreiter of Onalaska, Wis., when he was stationed in Australia during WW II. She came to the U.S. on an ocean liner and shortly after resumed her art career, working on freelance assignments for Yost’s in Madison (fashion illustration), Doerflinger’s in La Crosse (Christmas catalogs, fashions), and Heileman’s in La Crosse (illustrations). She also worked as an artist for La Crosse Printing, and then left to start Spreiter Art & Advertising in 1969.
Yvonne was active in the community. Past or current memberships include: Toast-mistress, Business and Professional Women, Advertising Club of La Crosse, Onalaska Area Historical Society, Centering Onalaska, Onalaska Area Business Association, Society of Arts & Crafts and Eastbank Artists.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbur “Bill” and is survived by her daughter, Janet, and her son, Robert (Lori), both of Onalaska.
A memorial service will be held today at 6 p.m. at Onalaska United Methodist Church, 212 4th Ave N. The Revs. Hyun-Suk Kim and Wesley Schirmer will officiate. Family and friends may call at the church today from 4 p.m. until the time of services. Dickinson Family Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the family with arrangements.
Charles E. ‘Chic’ Halaska
ONALASKA — Charles E. “Chic” Halaska, 69, of Onalaska died Tuesday, April 1, 2008, at his home.
He was born on April 7, 1938, in La Crosse to Joseph A. and Anna Evelyn (Kerrigan) Halaska. Charles graduated from La Crosse Aquinas High School in 1956 and served with the U.S. Air Force as an airman 2nd class in Germany from 1957-1960. He married Cheryl Jean Cooper on Dec. 22, 1988. Chic had worked at the Bodega during high school and then worked for American Motors in Milwaukee for several years. He moved to Detroit, where he worked for Chrysler for many years before retiring. Chic was one of the best dancers, golfers and bowlers. He was a gentle, sensitive man and a good son, brother, uncle and friend.
He is survived by two sisters, Dorothy (Merlin) Paudler and Mary (Delos) Germann; a sister-in-law, Catharine (David) Swanson; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Cheryl; two brothers, Bernard and Joseph; an infant sister, Rose Marie; a sister, Rita Belue; two brothers-in-law, Jerry Neuman and Harold Belue; and a nephew, David Belue.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 5, at 2:30 p.m. at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of Onalaska. The Rev. Hector Moreno will officiate. Burial will take place at a later date in the Catholic Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Saturday from 12:30 p.m. until the time of services. Memorials may be directed to the Franciscan Skemp Cancer Center of Franciscan Skemp Hospice Care.
Robert Thompson
SUN CITY CENTER, Fla. — Robert Thompson, 87, of Sun City Center, passed away March 27, 2008, at South Bay Hospital.
He was born Jan. 19, 1921, in Onalaska and was a 1938 graduate of Onalaska High School, where he was a member of the basketball team.
He worked at the canning factory and at the rubber mills. In 1941, he joined the Army Air Force and married Jean Egeland in 1942. He moved to Miami in 1954 to begin a 28-year career with Southeast Banking Corp. He was a corporate trust officer when he retired.
After Hurricane Andrew, he moved to Sun City Center, just south of Tampa.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Jean, and son, Robert Terry. He is survived by his sister, Pat (Elmer) Yates; his daughter, Kathy (Ted) Boydston III; grandsons Ted (Jen) Boydston IV of Melbourne, Fla; Robert (Barbara) Boydston of Kathleen, Ga.; and two great-granddaughters, Brianna and Shauna Boydston of Kathleen.
Burial will be private at Onalaska Cemetery on April 11. A memorial will be held at 1 p.m. April 12 at Onalaska United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Sun City Center Emergency Squad in his name.
James Robert Burns
LA CROSSE -- James Robert Burns, 80, of La Crosse died peacefully on Monday, March 31, 2008, at Franciscan Skemp Medical Center, La Crosse, with his family at his side.
Jim was born March 16, 1928, in La Crosse to Joseph T. and Alice (Scanlon) Burns. Jim married Rita Jeanne Anthony on Aug. 28, 1954, in La Crosse.
He is survived by his 10 children, Sheila Burns-Farnsworth of Galesville, Wis., Sharon (Greg) Babcock of Hudson, Wis., Susan Burns of Minneapolis, Sandra (Paul) Bartel of Onalaska, Sally Burns of Long Beach, Calif., Shannon (Bob) Nichols of El Segundo, Calif., James R. Burns, Jr. (Kim) of Hudson, Janet (Jeff) Smaby of Mindoro, Joseph Burns of Onalaska, and Jennifer Burns of Holmen; and his 12 grandchildren, Bryan Bartel of Eau Claire, Wis., Beth Bartel of Edina, Minn., SN Marissa Farnsworth of Great Lakes, Ill., Pfc. Tanner Farnsworth of Fort Lewis, Wash., Evan and Emma Smaby of Mindoro, Shane and Jake Nichols of El Segundo, Henry, Hannah and Quincy Burns of Hudson and Lilly Burns Sonsalla of Holmen. He is also survived by his brother, Bill and sister-in-law Rosie Burns of Menomonie, Wis., sisters-in-law, Roberta Free of Chewela, Wash., Virginia Anthony of Onalaska, Joyce Anthony of La Crosse, and Monica (Ron) Nelson of Medford, Wis.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 40 years, Rita; daughter, Julie; brothers, Joseph Thomas (Tom) and Larry Burns; his in-laws, Betty Burns, Sylvia Burns, Mary Emmett Anthony, FSPA, Emmett Jerome (Romey) Anthony and Ken Anthony.
He attended St. Mary’s and Blessed Sacrament grade schools and graduated from Aquinas High School in 1946. After attending several semesters at La Crosse State Teacher’s College, he joined the U.S. Army where he served in Korea. After completing his military service, he re-enrolled in college in La Crosse and graduated in 1955.
Jim joined the Northwestern Wisconsin Agency of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company on Sept. 1, 1954. He spent his entire career selling life insurance, was a top producing agent over his career, earned membership in the distinguished Million Dollar Round Table Club, and retired in 2002.
Jim enjoyed a zest for life, Irish heritage, sense of humor and love of golf. Jim played on his high school and college golf teams and as a 55-year member of the La Crosse Country Club, won the coveted Coleman Cup three times along with numerous tournaments. He shared that love of golf by teaching all his children and several grandchildren to play the game.
He served and was affiliated with St. Francis Hospital Foundation, Aquinas High School, Blessed Sacrament and Riverfront Foundation among other community organizations. He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Parish, Knights of Columbus, Elks and Beta Sigma Chi Fraternity
A Mass of Christian burial with military rites will be held Friday, April 4, at 10:30 a.m at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in La Crosse. Entombment will be in St. Francis of Assisi Mausoleum at the Catholic Cemetery. Friends and family may call from 4 to 7 p.m. today with a 4 p.m. rosary at Blessed Sacrament Parish Center, 130 Losey Blvd. S., and 9:30 a.m. until the time of services Friday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be sent to Coulee Catholic Schools or Riverfront Foundation of La Crosse.
He will be greatly missed by his many friends, family and caregivers.
Dickinson Family Funeral Homes of La Crosse is assisting the family.
Randolph G. Strain
AUSTIN, Minn. — Randolph G. Strain, 59, of Austin passed away Tuesday, April 1, 2008, at his home after a two-year battle with cancer.
He was born March 10, 1949, in Rochester, Minn., to Jay and Betty Strain. He served in the U.S. Army for two years before being discharged. Dad’s greatest joy was riding his Harley trike as often as possible.
He is survived by his significant other, Sharon McCormack of Austin, whom he loved very much; daughter and son-in-law, Christina (Darrell) Christianson of Onalaska; sons, Jeff Jansen of Chatfield, Minn., Randy Jr. of Thief River Falls, Minn., and Andy (Willa) of Asheville, N.C.; brothers, Fred (Julie) of Modesto, Calif., and Ronald (Sheryl) of Spring Valley, Minn; a lifelong friend and brother, D. Lentz of Blooming Prairie, Minn.; and his three grandchildren who love and miss their Grandpa Rudy, Kaitlin, Tayler and Christian.
He was preceded in death by both parents and two brothers.
In keeping with Dad’s wishes, he will be cremated, with a private family burial at a later date.
Mayer Funeral Home of Austin is assisting the family.
