ONALASKA, Wis. — Raymond L. Smith, 79, died Wednesday, July 16, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at First Lutheran Church, Onalaska. Burial with military honors will be in Onalaska Cemetery. Friends may call from noon until time of service Sunday at the church. A complete obituary will be provided by Dickin-son Family Funeral Home.
Tim A. Dienger
ONALASKA — Tim Alan Dienger was born Oct. 17, 1976, in La Crosse to Debra and Alan. He graduated from Onalaska High School in 1995. He went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he played for Barry Alvarez and the Wisconsin Badgers from 1995-1998 until he suffered a career-ending knee injury. He completed his bachelor of arts in political science with a certificate in public administration in 1999. He immediately began his graduate work in urban and regional planning at UW-Madison, which he finished in 2001. Tim had a successful and interesting career that took him to many different communities and allowed him to meet many wonderful people.
Tim met his wife, Jennifer, in 1998 when they became neighbors in the same apartment building. They were married July 1, 2000 on top of Rib Mountain in Wausau, Wis. Tim began one of his most important roles on Feb. 19, 2002, when he became a father to his son and “buddy,” Kealan James. His little princess, “pea,” Finola Marilyn, was born Aug. 27, 2004. Tim was an amazing father who gave of himself completely for his family’s happiness.
Tim had a strong sense of civic responsibility and believed in giving back to his community. He served in public safety by working for the Racine (Wis.) County sheriff’s department water patrol during college and by becoming a volunteer firefighter in Arlington, Wis., and Green River, Wyo.
He also loved working with youth. He coached football for Green River High School, where he helped lead the team to an undefeated state championship. In 2006, Tim returned to his hometown and became involved with the youth at his church, Sand Lake Wesleyan. This summer he had the opportunity to coach his son for the first time, volunteering as a T-ball coach.
Tim’s spiritual growth was fostered after returning home to Onalaska and becoming part of the Sand Lake Wesleyan Church family. He was challenged and inspired to develop a deeper personal relationship with his Savior by Pastors Jim Maness and Jeff Bond.
Tim had a profound love and respect for nature. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and also loved camping with his family. Tim was also an artist. Music was a passion of Tim’s, and he fulfilled a lifelong dream when he began playing guitar in 2007. He enjoyed writing lyrics about his faith, and hoped someday to be a Christian rock star. Tim loved to draw and created many wonderful images that he hoped to turn into a Christian clothing line.
As with everything he did, Tim followed his life’s motto, “Go hard or go home,” by wearing his faith on his sleeve, literally. He proudly tattooed an ichthus on his wrist as an outward symbol of his love for the Lord.
Tim felt called to a life of ministry but was uncertain of what that would mean. Tim never had the chance to follow his calling in the way that he imagined, but his purpose will be realized through all the lives he’s touched and by his impact on them. His life verse, Acts 20:24, has taken on a new and deeper meaning in his passing: “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”
In his own words, “I am always up for a challenge and love to push myself, sometimes a little too far as my body would probably tell you (based on surgeries, scars and many other injuries). I believe it is important to learn from your experiences/decisions and those of others. ‘Good judgment comes from experience, but experience is only gained through poor judgment,’ (Oscar Wilde) hence it is vitally important to experience life, to take risks, and to continue to learn. I also feel it is vitally important to maintain focus on the things in life that really matter and to live every day as if it is your last.”
Tim is survived by his wife, Jen; his son, Kealan; his daughter, Nola; his mother, Debbie (William) Barr; his father, Alan; his sister, Nicole; his half-siblings, Allie, Trina and Pete Dienger; his grandmothers, Marilyn (Uma) Pfaff and Delores Teale; his stepgrandparents, Donald and Betty Christianson; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his stepfather, Jeffery Christianson; his grandfathers, James Teale, Wallace Pfaff and Romea Dienger; and his grandmother, June Dienger.
Tim passed into eternity on July 13, 2008. Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Sand Lake Wesleyan Church in Onalaska. Friends may call at the church Friday from noon until services. Dickinson Family Funeral Home and Crematory of Onalaska is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Tim A. Dienger Memorial Fund.
Tim, you will be so deeply missed by all who love you. Our only comfort is knowing you are at peace. Your presence in still felt, and we will be reunited in paradise.
Raymond L. Smith
ONALASKA — Raymond L. Smith, 79, passed away Wednesday, July 16, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse.
He was born in Viroqua, Wis., on March 9, 1929, to Harold and Mabel (Sordahl) Smith. Ray served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. On Nov. 6, 1953, he married Maureen Kumlin at De Soto (Wis.) Lutheran Church.
Ray owned and operated Ray’s Heating and Air Conditioning and Ray’s Coulee Region Oil in Onalaska. He was an active member in the Onalaska American Legion and had served as commander at Post 336 and also as past state vice commander of Wisconsin. He was 40 et 8 past Chef De Gare of local 830 and past Grande Chef De Gare of State of Wisconsin, past parade marshall for Sunfish Days, a past member of the Onalaska Rotary Club, former city alderman of Onalaska, and former Sunday school superintendent and council member of First Lutheran Church in Onalaska.
Ray is survived by his loving wife, Maureen; a daughter, Susan Smith (Rick) Lovejoy; a son, Greg Smith; four grandchildren, Christopher Smith, Jennifer (Sean) Brownlow, Taylor Smith and Sarah Smith; stepgrandchildren, Ryan (Amy) Lovejoy and Brandon Lovejoy; great-grandchildren, Jackson Smith and Cole Brownlow; four sisters, Helen Miller, Shirley Latham, Mary Venegas and Jan (Roger) Bolstad; a brother, Fred (Barb) Smith; and many dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Eldon Smith.
Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, July 20, at First Lutheran Church, 410 Main St., Onalaska. The Rev. Jason Stanton will officiate, and burial with military honors will be in Onalaska Cemetery. Friends may call at the church Sunday from noon until the time of services.
Dickinson Family Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Clayton R. ‘Stub’ Amundson
HOLMEN — Clayton R. “Stub” Amundson, 85, died at Franciscan Skemp Medical Center on Wednesday, July 16, 2008.
He was born Oct. 14, 1922, in rural Holmen to Oscar and Mabel (Thompson) Amundson. He married Mae (Nemetz) on Nov. 14, 1942. Stub had worked for the Trane Co. for 17 years. He was popularly known and highly respected as the “Lefse Man.”
He is survived by his wife, Mae; a daughter, Betty (Loren) Black of Minnetonka, Minn.; a son, James (Kathy) Amundson of West Bend, Wis.; four grandchildren, Wendy Anderson, Timothy Amundson, Amy Kranz and Troy Black; great-grandchildren, Holly Butterfield, Emily Anderson, and Dylan and Skylin Amundson; and a sister, Adeline Sampson of Sparta, Wis.
Funeral services will be Saturday at 1 p.m. in Holmen Lutheran Church, 228 Morris St. The Revs. Dan Henderson and Glenn Borreson will officiate. Burial will be in Long Coulee Cemetery, rural Holmen. Friends may call at Dickinson Family Funeral Home, 515 McHugh Road, Holmen, from 5 to 8 p.m. today and at the church Saturday from noon until the services.
