Marie J. Weber
ONALASKA — Marie J. Weber, 86, of Onalaska died Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse.
She was born Feb. 21, 1922. Her parents were Charles and Sadie (Finney) Smith. Marie was a 1940 graduate of La Crosse Logan High School. She married Jack Weber Sr. in 1941, and they divorced in 1955. Marie was a longtime member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in La Crosse. She enjoyed watching Logan High School activities and was a member of the Logan Booster Club. She also enjoyed bowling, golfing, playing cards with her lady friends, taking care of her lawn and watching her grandkids’ sporting events.
She is survived by five sons, Jack (Betty) Weber, Tom (Vicki) Weber, Steve (Rosa) Weber, Jim (Paulette) Weber and Peter (Julie) Weber; 10 grandchildren, Paul, John, David, Michael, Christina, Rory, Katie, Kelly, Nick and Noelle; and 11 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her ex-husband, Jack Weber Sr.; her favorite aunt, Hazel; and a daughter-in-law, Yvonne.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 1022 Caledonia St., La Crosse. Pastor Doris Simpson will officiate. Private family committal services will be held at a later time in La Crosse’s Oak Grove Cemetery. Friends may call at the church Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. until time of services.
Memorials may be given to St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Logan Alumni Association or the Boys & Girls Club of Greater La Crosse.
Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse is in charge of arrangements.
Donald Starch
ONALASKA — Donald H. Starch, 92, of Onalaska passed away Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008, at Onalaska Care Center.
He was born in La Crosse on Aug. 15, 1915, to Benjamin and Clara (Witt) Starch. Donald graduated from Central High School and then attended University of Wisconsin-La Crose for two years. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. In 1951, Donald married Ruth Oldenburg in West Salem, Wis., and she preceded him in death.
Before his retirement, Donald was in the grocery business in the area for many years. He was a member the Onalaska Senior Citizens and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Holmen, Wis. He was an avid reader and enjoyed playing cards and Scrabble.
Donald is survived by his loving daughters, Karen Gillmeister of La Crescent, Minn., and Judith (Terry) McDonald of Apple Valley, Minn.; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, Ruth, he was preceded in death by his parents and one brother.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 14, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1504 Holley St., Holmen, Wis. The Rev. Shaun Arndt will officiate, and burial will be in Onalaska Cemetery. Family and friends may call at the church on Thursday from 10 a.m. until time of services.
Memorials may be given to Good Shepherd Building Fund.
Dickinson Family Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Dolores Medinger
LA CROSSE — Dolores C. Medinger, 86, of La Crosse passed away Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008, at Onalaska (Wis.) Care Center.
Dolores was born in Freeburg, Minn., on Oct. 9, 1921, to Bert and Marie (Noel) Harm. She graduated from La Crosse Logan Senior High School. Dolores marred Walter Gegenfurtner on June 7, 1941, and he preceded her in death on July 3, 1964. She then married LaVerne Medinger on Jan. 28, 1967, and he preceded her in death on Oct. 7, 1978.
Dolores is survived by a son, James (Linda) Gegenfurtner, of Onalaska, Wis.; four grandchildren, Laurie (John) McKenzie of Oshkosh, Wis., Connie (Scott) Hauser of Onalaska, Chris (Robert) Vieaux of Onalaska and James (Hedi) Gegenfurtner of Onalaska; 10 great-grandchildren, Nolan, David, Mara and Killian McKenzie, Allie and Zachary Hauser, Brooke and Taylor Vieaux and Megan and Tucker Gegenfurtner; a sister, Evelyn Carroll of Greenville, Pa.; a brother, Brian (Susanne) Harm of La Crescent, Minn.; a sister-in-law, Katherine (Lloyd) Bjergum of La Crosse; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husbands, Dolores was preceded in death by her parents and a brother-in-law, George Carroll.
Special thanks to the Onalaska Care Center’s staff and residents, and her special friend, Sophie.
In keeping with Dolores’ wishes, she will be cremated. Private family services will be held in Marian Chapel of St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral, La Crosse.
Dickinson Family Funeral Homes and Crematory are assisting the family.
Leslie J. Wing
ONALASKA/CHETEK, Wis. — Leslie J. Wing, 57, formerly of Onalaska died Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2008, in Chetek.
He is survived by his wife, JayNe; daughter, Tilli (Rob) Culpitt and his first grandchild due in October; son, Samuel (aka Bud) Wing (friend Amber Radde); sisters, Karen (Frank) Stinnett, Cindy (Robert) Heller and Angela Wing; brother, Ronnie (Vicki) Wing; many nieces and nephews; and all his friends in Onalaska and Chetek.
He was preceded in death by a child lost to miscarriage; his parents, Verl and Eloda Wing; and a niece, Michelle Wing.
Les was a man with a quick smile, a great laugh and a slighty warped sense of humor. We wish him all the best fishing and whatever else the afterlife has to offer.
And yes, Les, it is a big deal!
A private celebration of his life will be held for his family and friends.
Mary Jane DeGier
LA CROSSE -- Mary Jane DeGier, 50, of La Crosse was called to her eternal home Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008, after a courageous battle with cancer.
She was born Oct. 23, 1957, in Starbuck, Minn., to Gordon and Evelyn (Rosten) Finstad. On May 19, 1979, she married Dennis DeGier in Starbuck. Mary was a stay-at-home mom for many years while Dennis farmed. When she and Dennis moved to La Crosse in 1987, she worked as an in-home daycare provider. More than anything else she was a loving wife and mother who enjoyed caring for her family. Mary loved to watch her kids and grandkids grow and participate in various activities. Her quiet strength and selflessness permeated every aspect of her life, and we will miss seeing her warm smile.
Mary is survived by her husband, Dennis; two daughters; Sara (Tony) DePaolo and Shelly Adams, both of Onalaska, Wis.; a son, Jeff (Kari) DeGier of Onalaska; two grandchildren, Brayden and Kaia DePaolo, both of Onalaska; her mother, Evelyn Finstad of Starbuck; a brother, Paul (Deb) Finstad of Fargo, N.D.; a sister, Lou Ann (Ted) Schmidt of River Falls, Wis.; a sister-in-law, Cher (Foster) Bucher of Centralia, Wash.; four brothers-in-law, Randy (Brenda) DeGier of La Crosse, Jerry (Jill) DeGier of Sun Valley, Calif., Kenny (Jean) DeGier of Echo, Minn., and Greg DeGier of Alexandria, Minn.; and many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
She joins for eternity her father, Gordon, who was very special to her.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 11, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1201 Avon St., La Crosse, with the Rev. Mark W. Rieke presiding. Burial will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery, La Crosse. Friends and family may call on Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse, and again at the church on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of services. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Immanuel Lutheran Church.
Earl R. ‘Roger’ Genz
LA CROSSE -- Earl R. “Roger” Genz, 79, of La Crosse passed away while surrounded by his loved ones Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse.
He was born Sept. 2, 1928, in La Crosse to Earl and Olga (Julson) Genz. He attended Logan High School and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. On Oct. 20, 1956, he married Helen Kolb in La Crosse. Roger retired from the La Crosse Fire Department with the rank of captain in 1985. He enjoyed hunting and fishing in his early years, playing euchre with his family, gardening, old movies, history, spending time with his grandchildren and sharing stories with his many friends. He also will be remembered as a really good cook and an avid Green Bay Packers fan.
Roger is survived by his wife, Helen; four children, James Genz of La Crosse, Linda Wing of La Crosse, Karen (Daniel) Balduzzi of Onalaska, Wis., and David Genz of La Crosse; five grandchildren, Jessica and Adam Wing, Annie and Allison Balduzzi, and Gavin Genz; one sister, Lorraine (Gerald) Heath of Onalaska; sisters-in-law, Tomee and Avanelle Genz; and cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Duane and Gerald Genz.
Funeral services will be at noon Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008, at Bethel Lutheran Church in La Crosse. Pastor Judd Larson will officiate. Entombment will follow in Oak Grove Garden Mausoleum, La Crosse. Friends may call on the family at the church Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of services. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Bethel Lutheran Church, 1931 Loomis St., La Crosse, WI 54603. Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be given at Schumacher-Kish.com.
Helen M. Knudson
HOLMEN — Helen M. Knudson, 70, of Holmen passed away Saturday, Aug. 2, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse.
She was born in La Crosse on Oct. 22, 1937, to Theodore and Philomene (Koel) Peterschmidt. She married Richard Knudson in La Crosse on Nov. 12, 1960.
In addition to her husband, Richard of Holmen, she is survived by her daughter, Sharon (Kathy KasaKaitas) Knudson of La Crosse; one son, Steve (Lisa) Knudson of Madison; one granddaughter, Hannah Knudson of Madison; and one brother, James (Jane) Peterschmidt of Eau Claire, Wis. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 11, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Holmen. The Rev. Robert Schaller will officiate. Private family burial will take place at a later date. Friends may call at the church on Monday from 10:30 a.m. until time of services.
Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of Onalaska is assisting the family.
Joan Mary Sobotta
ONALASKA/ARCADIA, Wis. — Joan Mary Sobotta, 74, of Onalaska and formerly of Arcadia died peacefully in her home on Monday, Aug. 4, 2008.
She was born in Winona, Minn., on Sept. 1, 1933, to Matthew and Mildred (Smith) Feltes. She attended St. Aloysius School and graduated from Arcadia High. Joan married Dominic T. Sobotta on her birthday in 1951. He died on April 4, 1978.
They lived in Winona for 10 years and she worked for JCPenney Co. They operated the family tavern, Matt’s Place, in Arcadia for 27 years. After Dominic’s death, Joan moved to Onalaska and worked at The Prairie Gift House, and then opened a day care for many years. She was in charge of the Prayer Chain at St. Patrick’s, and her home was always open to friends — the coffee was always on. Joan was an avid angel collector.
Joan is survived by the loves of her life, son, Terrence (Candace) Sobotta of Iowa City, Iowa; daughters, Jill Sobotta (Charles Roterud) of Sun Prairie, Wis., Holly Sobotta of Onalaska and Heidi (Robert) Lewer of Kenosha, Wis.; grandchildren, Zach and Andy Sobotta and Matthew, Ryan, AnnMarie and Mary Louise Lewer; honorary granddaughter, Erin Knadle; great-grandchildren, Imara and Dominic Sobotta; and many, many friends.
Joan was preceded in death by her husband, parents and brother, Donald Feltes.
A Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1031 Main St., Onalaska. The Rev. Patrick Umberger will officiate, with interment at Calvary Cemetery in Arcadia. Visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. on Thursday before Mass at the church. Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Home is assisting the family.
