James “Jim” Peters
James “Jim” Peters, age 69 of Viroqua and formerly of Juneau and Beaver Dam in Dodge County, died at his new home, peacefully surrounded by family on Tuesday, June 30, 2009, after a two-year struggle with COPD.
He was born on April 3, 1940, in Milwaukee, to Alfred and Bernadine (Straub) Peters. He graduated from West Bend High School in 1958. On Jan. 27, 1962, he married Ann Offerdahl at Menomonee Falls. They lived in Menomonee Falls, where he worked at D & L Foundry and worked as a trucker. They moved to Richfield, where he worked in construction. In 1975, they moved to Juneau, where he completely remodeled their home. He then started his own business called U Call I Haul in Dodge County. He was a licensed mover and then built more than 100 storage units, which he sold in January 2009. He held membership with the Wisconsin Storage Association, the Beaver Dam Chamber of Commerce, and had been a volunteer fireman in Juneau. He was an animal lover, especially cats, (currently Trixie and Slin-ky). He enjoyed music and was an avid Sheepheads and Cribbage player. On June 6, 2009, he and Ann moved to their retirement home in Viroqua.
Jim is survived by his wife, Ann of Viroqua; one daughter, Julie Ann Peters of Janesville; one son, Daniel Peters of Enterprise, Kan.; and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 12, 2009 at the Thorson-Reetz Funeral Home in Viroqua, with Pastor Kathy Ingbritsen officiating. Burial will be in the Viroqua Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home from noon until the time of services on Sunday, June 12. The family suggests memorials to the charity of their choice.
James “Jim” Sisbach
James “Jim” Sisbach of Wasilla, Alaska, and Viroqua, passed away suddenly at his home on Dec. 14, 2008.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 11, 2009, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Viroqua, at 11 a.m. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. until the time of services.
Jim is the son of Ruby Sisbach and Eileen (Ray) Getter of Viroqua.
Virginia Lane
Virginia Lane, age 90, died June 30, 2009, at the Norseland Nursing Home in Westby, where she had been a resident since early 2008.
Virginia Lorraine Peterson was born Nov. 15, 1918, to James and Alma (Mau) Peterson, at her grandparent’s home at rural Truman, Minn. She was the first World War I “war baby” of the county, her father being in the Armed Forces. She grew up on a farm in neighboring Watonwan County, and in her midteens started working for couples who needed temporary domestic help—usually living in and helping when there was a new baby in the family. It was while she was with one of these families that she met Alson, who was working for the same people as a farmhand. Virginia and Al married on Feb. 9, 1941, and continued hiring out to area farmers for a few years until buying their own farm near Trimont, Minn., where they worked together and raised their two daughters. At Waverly Lutheran Church of rural Truman, where she had been baptized and confirmed, she remained very active with such things as choir, Ladies Aid, and church council, as well as teaching Sunday school, and serving as church historian. Traveling enthusiasts, they visited most of the lower 48 states over the years, and went on a tour of the Holy Land. Every summer they brought the grandchildren to spend time on their farm, until 1988 when they moved to Westby to be near their daughters and families. Vir-ginia en-joyed sewing, quilting, writing pen-pals, playing Scrabble, taking pictures and clipping newspaper items of all types for her scrapbooks.
In addition to her husband Al, Virginia was preceded in death by her parents; and her only sibling, Vernon Peterson.
She is survived by her two daughters, Delene (Ray) Hart of Genoa and Janet (Dennis) Letterly of Cashton; grandsons, Daniel (Rebecca) Hart, Steven Letterly, Ryan (Jenny) Letterly and Randy Letterly; granddaughter, Rachel Hart; great-grandchildren, Mercadise Ditler and Kenneth and Alison Letterly; one sister-in-law, Faye Barnes of Kansas; one aunt; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held on Friday, July 3, 2009, at the Bethesda Lutheran Brethren Church in Westby. Pastor Jim Folz officiated with burial in the Bethesda Cemetery. Friends called on Thursday evening at the Vosseteig Funeral Home in Westby.
Online condolences may be offered at www.vosseteigfunera lhomes.com.
The Vosseteig Funeral Home of Westby served the family.
Donald Henry Morrison
Donald Henry Morrison, age 65 of La Crosse, died on Monday, July 6, 2009, at his home.
He was born Oct. 26, 1943, to Herbert and Katherine (Mae) Morrison. Donnie followed in his dad’s footsteps and was a bricklayer for many years in La Crosse and area. He worked on many beautiful and outstanding structures which he loved to point out to his family. He also loved the Mississippi River and had many great times showing family and friends his fishing techniques. He commercial fished and also was a guide.
He is survived by his son, Dan (Andrea) Morrison of Viroqua; his daughter, Tara (Roger) Lucey of Westby; five grandchildren, Heather and Seth Morrison, Allisa and Landon Lucey and Bradley Adams; one great-grandson, Gabe; two sisters, Alma (Jerry) Umberger of Stoddard and Hattie (John) Vickrey of Wenatchee, Wash.; two step-sisters-in-law, Joyce (Robert) Morrison of La Crosse and Betty (Glenn) Schmidt of Holmen; and many nieces and nephews. He was married to Carol (Helgeson) McLees for 28 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Katherine and Herbert Morrison; brother, Harry Morrison; his stepbrother, Robert Morrison; nephews, Robbie Morrison and Jerry Morrison.
A quiet memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. at the Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home, 123 W. Decker Street (Hwy. 56) in Viroqua on Thursday, July 9, 2009. Family and friends may call from 1 p.m. until service time. The Rev. Margaret Eiben Hoversten will officiate.
Online condolences may be offered at www.vos seteigfuneralhomes.com.
The Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home of Viroqua is serving the family.
Inez Paula Kanable
Inez Paula Kanable, age 95, a resident at Vernon Manor, Viroqua, died Monday afternoon, June 29, 2009, at the Manor.
She was born on June 3, 1914, to John Henry and Nora Belle (Clark) Smith in Viola. Inez grew up in Viola and was a graduate of Viola Public High School, class of 1932. She married Gerald Elvin Kanable on Nov. 1, 1941, in St. Charles, Mo. Inez was employed by the Elgin Watch Company in Elgin, Ill., for seven years. During World War II, when Gerald was overseas, she was employed by the Badger Ordinance Works in Baraboo, Wis., as a policewoman. Inez and Gerald lived in many states and foreign countries, including China, Japan, Turkey, France and Germany. Inez became interested in archeology while in Turkey and made trips to the Hittite and Roman ruins there and also in Syria, Jordan and the Holy Land and Egypt. The couple’s hobbies were trailer traveling and genealogy. Inez published a family genealogy book in 1976 “In my Father’s House were many, many Smiths.” They lived their last years after Gerald’s retirement from the Air Force in 1970, in Willingboro, N.J.
Inez is survived by a number of nieces, nephews, grandnieces and nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Col. Gerald E. Kanable on July 8, 1998, in Willingboro, N.J.; sisters: Cora Ann, Sarah Mae, Nora Pearl, Dott Lucille, Bonnie Aline; and brothers, Roy Orville and Guy Lawrence Smith.
Funeral services were held on Thursday, July 2, 2009, at the Viola United Methodist Church in Viola. Officiating at the service was Pastor Laverne Larson with burial in the Viola Cemetery. Ginger McCauley was the organist and American Legion Hamilton-Harris Post 447 Auxiliary conducted a memorial service. Casket bearers were Rex and Keith Smith, Jacob Steiger, Brian, Susan and Lori Fink. Visitation was held prior to the service at church.
The Thorson-Reetz Funeral Home, Viroqua is assisting the family with arrangements.
Online condolences may be made at www.thorson-reetz.net.
John Truman Hoffland
John Truman Hoffland, age 64 of Eau Claire, Wis., passed away the morning of Saturday, July 4, 2009, at his home in Eau Claire.
John was born May 3, 1945, in Baraboo, Wis., to Palmer and Georgia Hoffland. He grew up on a dairy farm on Cherry Grove Ridge, east of Viroqua, and graduated from Viroqua High School in 1963. John attended the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and later graduated from Brown Institute in Minneapolis in 1970, and Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1973. John was enlisted in the United States Army from 1965-68, receiving an Honorable Discharge after achieving the rank of SP5. John’s career in broadcasting began as a teenage disc jockey at WVRQ in Viroqua. He was later on the news staffs at WIZM-AM in La Crosse; KWWL-TV in Waterloo, Iowa; and WKBT-TV in La Crosse. John took a news producer position at WEAU-TV/WAXX-FM/WAYY-AM in Eau Claire in 1978, then became a producer at WCCO-TV in Minneapolis in 1979. He returned to WAYY as senior editor in 1980, and was named news director at WEAU/ WAXX/WAYY in 1981. John became executive producer/assistant news director at WITI-TV in Milwaukee in 1983, then returned to WEAU as news director in 1986. He was the recipient in 2002 of the Carol Brewer Award for outstanding service to broadcast journalism. John retired in 2007, becoming a news anchor/reporter for WAYY. He again returned to WEAU as news director in 2008. He inspired so many lives for the better.
John is survived by his wife, Penny; his son, Lukas Anthony; the family dog, "Capi;" his brothers, Palmer Jr. and Phillip of Viroqua; and many relatives. He was dearly loved, and will be greatly missed.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A memorial service was held Wednesday July 8, 2009, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Eau Claire. Pastor David K. Anderson officiated. Friends called at the church Wednesday morning before the time of services. Military honors were conducted by American Legion Post #53 following the service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the family.
Friends may offer condolences online at www.fullerspeckien.com.
Fuller Speckien Hulke Funeral Home of Eau Claire, Wis., assisted the family with the arrangements.
