Elsie G. Gilbertson
SARATOGA, Calif. — Elsie Genorra Gilbertson, 103, passed away on Sunday, July 20, 2008, at Saratoga Retirement Community, 14500 Fruitvale Ave., Saratoga, 95070, where she had been a resident for the past five years. Her death occurred four days before her 104th birthday.
Elsie was born July 24, 1904, and raised with 11 children on the family farm in Long Coulee, Holmen.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Annie O. (Thompson) Gilbertson; and her 10 brothers and sisters, Roland, George, Axel, Storm, Aborah (Knutson), Margaret (Bills), Esther (Ballantine), Otto, Arnold and Tillman Gilbertson.
She attended school in Long Coulee, Holmen High School and business school in La Crosse. Her employment career was spent with employers in La Crosse, Minneapolis, Chicago, and Oakland, Calif. In Oakland she was employed in an administrative capacity with the Loyal Protective Life Insurance Company, from which she retired in the late 1960s.
She remained in Oakland where she was active in drama and the formation of Stage Bridges, a senior citizen theatrical group. She was a frequent vacation traveler and active in ballroom dancing, teaching senior citizens and received numerous performance awards.
Elsie is survived by nieces and nephews, Archie Bills of Hixton, Wis., Lola Mae Krachel of Onalaska, Stanley Gilbertson of Galesville, Beatrice Ranieri of Bella Vista, Ark., and Knute Gilbertson of Minnetonka, Minn.; and 13 great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was confirmed in 1919 at Holmen Lutheran Church. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, at Holmen Lutheran Church, 228 Morris St., Holmen, with visitation at 1:30 p.m. at the church. Interment will be in the family plot in Long Coulee Cemetery, Holmen.
Richard W. Allen
ONALASKA — Richard W. Allen, 85, died Wednesday, July 30, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Friday at Dickinson Family Funeral Home, Onalaska. Military honors will be at Oak Grove Cemetery, La Crosse. Family and friends may call from 10 a.m. until the tme of services Friday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Kidney Foundation at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center or First Lutheran Church, Onalaska. A complete obituary will follow.
Jeffery Ward
ONALASKA — Jeffery Ward, 52, of Onalaska died Tuesday, July 29, 2008, at his home. A full obituary will be provided by Dickinson Family Funeral Home.
