05/03/2013 11:22 AM

Patsy Gander

PATSY GANDER

Patsy Gander, 74, of Gays Mills, passed away on Thursday, May 2, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in LaCrosse.

She was born in Janesville, Wis. on June 21, 1938 to Stanley and Dorothy (Nelson) Schrader.

She is survived by her children:  Karla Gander of Gays Mills, Donald (Jessica) Gander of Viroqua, and Teresa (Tory) Tryggestad of Viroqua;  3 grandchildren:  Ashlee Gander, Morgan Gander, and Owen Gander; and 2 nephews:  Jordan Schrader and Dustin Schrader.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and 2 brothers:  Jim Schrader and Calvin Schrader.

Funeral services will be held at the North Clayton Methodist church on Tuesday, May7, at 11 AM.  Pastor Tom Tarver will officiate and burial will be in the North Clayton Cemetery. Friends may call at the Sime Funeral Home in Readstown on Monday from 4 to 7 PM, and on Tuesday at the church from 10:30 AM until time of services.

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03/29/2013 07:40 AM

Betty J. Grim

Betty J.  Grim, 80, of Richland Center, went to be with the Lord on March 28, 2013 at Sannes Skogdalen Nursing Home in Soldiers Grove.

Per her request, no services will be held at this time.  A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Betty was born on May 18, 1932, to Vella and Robert Jeffries in Bell Center, Wisconsin.  She remained a Wisconsin resident throughout her life. She married Gordon Grim on February 9, 1950.

Her interests included bowling, traveling, and all sorts of movies, especially westerns. She worked many years in retail–both at Schultz brothers in Richland Center and Walmart in Viroqua.  She enjoyed selling Avon for over 15 years.

She is survived by her husband of 63 years:  Gordon Grim, and daughter: Julie Grim; 2 grandsons and their spouses:  Jonathan and Maya Grim, and Andrew and Jana Grim; and 4 great grandchildren:  Jade, Kyle, Jeremy, and Caleb.  Also numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her sons:  David, Terry, and Michael Grim, granddaughter: Kathy Grim-Kinnison, and her brother Lyle and sister Delores.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider donations to the Sylvan Cemetery
Association.

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03/21/2013 10:11 AM

LaVon Hansen

LaVon Hansen, 84, of Soldiers Grove, passed away on Thursday, March 21, 2013 at Sannes Skogdalen nursing home in Soldiers Grove, where he had been a resident since 2010.

             He was born on Feb. 17, 1929 in Hansen Hollow. Richland County to Andy and Mary (Dahlberg) Hansen.  LaVon stayed on the farm until marrying Emily Popp in 1951.  They moved to Beloit, working in the carpentry business.  They had three sons:  Dean, Marvin, and Richard.  They moved to Soldiers Grove and later divorced.  He continued doing carpentry work, starting his own business–Hansen Building.  In 1963 he married Sandra Salmon, having two daughters:  Jona and Kindra, and a stepson Jerry. 

             After “retiring”, his son Marvin took over the business in which LaVon continued to work.  LaVon enjoyed tilling gardens, gardening, and going North with the guys.

             He was a longtime member of the Eagle Aerie #2707 in Viroqua and many snowmobile clubs.

             He is survived by his wife:  Sandra of Readstown; his children:  Dean (Mary Jo) of Illinois, Marvin (Rita) of Soldiers Grove, Jona (Chad) Wright of Soldiers Grove, Kindra (Robert) of Gays Mills, and stepson Jerry (Lori) Bekkum of Prairie du Chien; 2 sisters:  Alice Jenne of Illinois, Carol Ann (Ray) Gray of Texas; 12 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

             He was preceded in death by his parents, a son Richard, and 2 sisters:  Ila Jean Bettes and Marie Herbst.

             Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 25, at 1 PM at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Soldiers Grove. Pastor Lori Betz will officiate and burial will be in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Soldiers Grove.  Friends may call at the Sime Funeral Home in Readstown on Sunday from 4 to 8 PM, and at the church from noon until time of services on Monday. Online condolences may be sent to simefuneralforum.com.

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02/27/2013 11:53 AM

Ellsworth Hirschfield

Ellsworth Hirschfield, 78, of Soldiers Grove, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013 at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in LaCrosse.

             He was born near Westby, Wisconsin on May 5, 1934 to Edgar and Helen (Evans) Hirschfield.

             He worked for Harold Egge Moving Company of Viola.  He also worked for the Kickapoo Watershed Project.  He also worked on various farms and in tobacco.

             In his younger years, he enjoyed fishing and hunting. He loved to watch the news and older TV shows.  He never had a bad word about any person he met and he was willing to help out anyone he could.   He was quiet and reserved.  He loved to read and learn, even though he was not used to the new technological things in the world around him.

             His friends Pam McColley and Audrey Anderson handled his final arrangements.

             Memorials may be given to the estate. 

             Funeral services will be held  at Sime Funeral Home in Readstown, Wis. on Wednesday, March 6 at 2 PM, with burial in the Readstown Cemetery. Pastor Wayne Rayner will officiate. Burial will be in the Readstown Cemetery. Friends may call from 1 PM until time of services.

             Online condolences may be send to simefuneralforum.com.

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02/20/2013 07:45 AM

Richard Olson

Richard Olson, 58, of Soldiers Grove, Wis and Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, passed away on Monday, Feb. 18, 2013 at Vernon Memorial Hospital in Viroqua, Wis.

He was born near Soldiers Grove, on May 30, 1954 to Harold and Edna (Groves) Olson.

He graduated from North Crawford High School.   He was a Master Cheese Maker in Wisconsin, Michigan,  Ohio, and Pennsylvania.  He was the owner and president of Nish Na Be Cheese Company.  He had also been head of central plant for the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.  He was a member of the Soldiers Grove Lions Club.  His hobbies included carpentry,  wood working, and tinkering.  He was Mr. Fix-It.  He could fix anything or he would find somebody who could.  He also had a love of horses, playing pool, traveling, camping, and teaching what he knew.  He loved most spending time with family.

He is survived by 4 sons:  Eric (Brandy) Olson of Glide, Oregon, Ben Olson of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Joshua Jackson of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan and Tyler Olson of Mt. Pleasant; 3 daughters:  Shannon (James) Prill, Samantha Olson and Lisa Olson, all of Mt. Pleasant; 2 grandchildren:  Justine and Ethan; 2 brothers:  Roderick (Patty) Olson and Don (Patricia) Olson both of Soldiers Grove, and 1 sister:  Cheryl Mickelson of Gays Mills.

He was preceded in death by 1 daughter:  Jordan Olson; his parents, and 1 infant brother:  Robert Olson.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, Feb. 25, 2013 at 1 PM at Our Saviors Lutheran Church. Pastor Steve Fossum will officiate. He will be buried in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Soldiers Grove. Friends may call at the church on Sunday from 4 to 6 PM, and on Monday from noon until time of services.  Online condolences may be sent to simefuneralforum.com.

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02/19/2013 02:40 PM

William James

William James, 89, of Soldiers Grove, Wis., passed away on Monday, Feb. 18, 2013 at Vernon Memorial Hospital in Viroqua.

He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on June 25, 1923 to Edward and Lillian (Bipus) James.  He married Pauline Dillow on Feb. 14, 1950 in Pittsburgh.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, serving in England and France.  He worked for the U.S. Post Office in Pittsburgh for many years.  He was also a television repair man.  Among his hobbies was his loved for Big Band music, as well as tinkering with T.V.s.

He is survived by his wife:  Pauline of Soldiers Grove; 1 son:  David (Karen) James of Pittsburgh; 1 daughter:  Diane (Michael) Dishnow of Soldiers Grove; 10 grandchildren, 7 great grand children.

He was preceded in death by 1 daughter:  Doris; 1 son:  Michael; 1 brother:  Earl Protzman.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 22, at 1 PM at the Sime Funeral Home in Readstown.  Pastor Curtis Matz will officiate and burial will be in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Soldiers Grove.  Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from noon until time of services.

The Wm. A. Schoville Post #220 of the American Legion will provide military rites.  Online condolences may be left at simefuneralforum.com.

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02/14/2013 04:20 PM

Arlis Buroker

Arlis Buroker, 81, of Janesville, Wis. passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013 at Evansville Manor in Evansville, Wis.

             He was born on May 30, 1931 at North Clayton to Alvin and Florence May (McCumber) Buroker.  Arlis married Nancy Sue Banta on March 21, 1953.  She passed away on Feb. 26, 2012.

             He joined the U.S. Air Force as a young man, serving at bases in Salina, Kansas and Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Arlis later finished his career in the Army National Guard.  Outside of the military he worked as a driver for JATCO out of Janesville. 

             He enjoyed bowling and was an avid golfer.  Arlis lived for his Saturday morning grouse hunts with Gordie, Bill, Jim, and his boys Mike and Rick.

             Arlis is survived by his sons:  Michael (Sue Jenson) Buroker of Eau Claire, Richard (Linda) Buroker of Janesville; 2 grand daughters:  Renae Bliss and Shannon Beaumont; 2 great grandchildren:  Alyssa Bliss and Jalen Shannon; and 2 brothers:  Cecil Buroker of Onalaska, and Gordon (Ardith) Buroker of Blanchardville.

             He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents, 3 brothers:  Myron, Ellis, and infant Duane; and 5 sisters:  Dorothy, Lela, Hilda, Evelyn, and Leona.

             Funeral services will be held on Monday, Feb. 18, at 1 PM at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Soldiers Grove. Pastor Steve Fossum will officiate and burial will be in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Soldiers Grove. Friends may call at the church from 11 AM until time of services at the church.  Online condolences may be sent to simefuneralforum.com.

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02/10/2013 02:29 PM

Kenneth Ellison

Kenneth Ellison, 85, of Gays Mills, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013 at Vernon Memorial Hospital in Viroqua.

He was born in West Chicago, Illinois on July 31, 1927 to Luther and Frances (Johnston) Ellison.  He married Ginny Prohasco on Dec. 14, 1963.

Ken loved riding motorcycles, custom painting cars and motorcycles, wood working, playing golf, and fishing.

He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.  He worked in his own paint and body shop in Stockton, Illinois.  He later moved his family to Eastman, Towerville, and finally to a home he built in Gays Mills, Wisconsin, where he built a home.  He continued the upholstery business that he started in Towerville. He retired in 1993, devoting more time to wood working.

He was preceded in death by his son:  LCPL Jesse James Ellison; his wife of 47 years: Ginny Ellison; his mother Francis Ellison; his father:  Luther Ellison; a sister: Lois Goldbeck; a brother Farrell Ellison, and a sister: Vi Lindsay.

He is survived by daughters:  Penny (Dean Johnson) Nelson and Kim Carlson both of Sparta; sons:  Daniel (Keith Richardson) Carlson of Washington, D.C., Gary (Sharon) Carlson of Meridian, Idaho, William (Teri) Carlson of Jessup, Georgia; 19 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; a brother: Jesse Ellison of Brazil, Indiana;  and many nieces and nephews.

There will be no services. Burial will be in the Gays Mills Cemetery at a later date.

The Sime Funeral Home of Readstown is serving the family.

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02/08/2013 07:47 AM

Ronald A. Swiggum

Ronald Swiggum, 63, of Soldiers Grove, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013 at University Hospital in Madison due to complications of ALS/Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Ron was born on July 26, 1949 to Gordon and Marie (Johnson) Swiggum of Towerville.

After the death of his parents, while Ron was still in High School, he lived with the Albert Wee Family of the Star Valley/Towerville area.  This is where Ron began his lifelong farming career working on the Wee farms spending countless hours caring for their cattle and hog operation, working the crop land to feed the livestock he loved and cared for with his nurturing and gentle ways.

Ron is survived by his sister:  Diane Cody, brothers:  Jeff (Sharon Enke) Swiggum, Gordie (Wendy) Swiggum, proud Uncle to Denise Nechvatal, Ed Cody, Jr., Josh, Jesse, and Shannon Swiggum, great nieces and nephews: Cody, Caylee, and Coltan Nechvatal, and Aiden Swiggum, Aunt Marge Swiggum and many cousins, other relatives and friends.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Gordon and Marie Swiggum, brother and best friend in life Larry who was killed in Viet Nam, grandparents Frank and Maude Taylor, Clarence and Nellie Swiggum, and Melvin and Martha Johnson.

A memorial gathering will be held on Sunday, Feb. 10, at 4 PM at the Sime Funeral Home in Readstown. Pastor Curtis Matz will officiate. Burial will be in the North Kickapoo
Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be from 2 until 4 PM.

Ron was a man of few words but his gentle nature and his warm loving smile will remain in our hearts forever.  We love you Ron and we are all happy you’re now back in the driver’s seat “free” to roam the hills and valleys of Crawford County where you belong!

Online condolences may be sent to simefuneralforum.com.

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02/04/2013 08:08 AM

WALTER HUFFAR

Walter Huffar, 84, of Viola, formerly of Woodstock, Illinois, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013 at Vernon Manor in Viroqua.

             He was born on April 5, 1928 in Clinton, Wisconsin to Jesse and Dottie (Strait) Huffar.  He married the late Dolores Diedrich in 1953 in Woodstock, Illinois.  She passed away on July 24, 2011.

             He is survived by 4 children:  Timothy (Helen) of Woodstock, Ill., Thomas (Doris Lynne Ferguson-Hilderbrand) of Anderson Island, Washington, Theodore (Nan) of Marietta, Georgia, Terri (Dane) Kanable of Viola, Wis. ; 11 grandchildren:  Lonny Huffar, Sarah (Mike) Riopell, Jason (AnneMarie) Kanable, David (Kelly) Kanable, Bryan Huffar, Stephanie Huffar, Ronni, Christopher, and Tayllor Hastings, Kendra (Aaron) Pingul, and Kyla Richardson; and 9 great grandchildren:  Ethan, Dane, and Harley Kanable, Braydon Huffar, Colbie Grace Riopell, Kaelyn and Ella Kanable, Kaelyn and Leah Pingul; and 2 brothers:  Neil and Barney (Dolores) Huffar, and 1 sister:  Alice Heebner and sister-in-law:  Mabel Huffar.; and he was “uncle Wally” to everyone in his huge extended family.

             He was a veteran of the Korean War, with the 11th Airborne Rangers.  He owned and operated several businesses in Viola, with his pride and joy being Natures Wood, with his wife Dolores and daughter Terri.  They made fine wood furniture and wood items.  He worked in the construction industry in McHenry, Illinois when they lived in Woodstock.   He loved traveling, camping, hiking with grandchildren, collecting antiques, and just being with family and friends.  Family was most important to him.

             A celebration of Walter’s life will be scheduled for late Spring, with the internment at that time in the Viola, Wisconsin cemetery.  Notification will  be sent.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alzheimers Foundation.

             Online condolences may be sent to simefuneralforum.com.

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