Francis B. Richgels
LANCASTER, Wis. — Francis B. Richgels, 90, of Lancaster died Thursday, July 31, 2008, at the Don and Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center in Madison.
He was born on June 7, 1918, in Fennimore, Wis., the son of Barney and Elizabeth (Bunzel) Richgels. On Sept. 2, 1941, Francis married Catherine Weber at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Madison. She died March 18, 1997. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. After his service in the army, Francis and Catherine became residents of Lancaster, where he became an independent insurance agent in 1952 and owned and operated the F.B. Richgels Agency until 1975, when the agency name was changed to the Richgels Schaefer Agency Inc. Francis retired from the insurance business in 1992.
Francis was active in the Independent Insurance Agents Association of Wisconsin and the Southwest Wisconsin Insurance Agents Association. He served on the Lancaster Zoning Board of Appeals for 20 years and as a volunteer for the cancer drives and the United Way. He was also a board member of the Grant Regional Health Center Foundation, where he was instrumental in initiating the health center golf outing, which continues as an annual event. In 1987, Francis served as co-chairman of the Capital Fundraising Campaign for the current health center. He was a member of
St. Clement Catholic Church, where he served as a parish trustee on the finance committee and on the Special Gifts Campaign. Francis served as a member of the Diocesan Strategic Planning Committee and was a member and former grand knight of Knights of Columbus Council No. 2820.
Survivors include his children, Bernadette Ann (Thomas) Schaefer and Kathryn Elizabeth (Robert) Mumm, both of Lancaster, Thomas Bernard (Karla) Richgels of Madison, Paul Anthony (Jayne) Richgels of De Forest, Wis., Michael Joseph (Ann) Richgels of Onalaska, Wis., and Teresa Ruth (Loren) Alderson of Fennimore, Wis.; 27 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandson; one son-in-law, Al Turner of Rockville, Md.; and two brothers, Lawras Richgels of Madison and Jerome (Ann) Richgels of North St. Paul.
In addition to his parents and his wife, Francis was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Frances Turner; a great-granddaughter, Caitlin Elizabeth Recker; as well as two sisters and five brothers.
Francis’s greatest joy in life was his family and his grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 4, at St. Clement Catholic Church in Lancaster, with Father William Seipp officiating. Burial will be at St. Clement Cemetery in Lancaster. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, at St. Clement Catholic Church in Lancaster and from 9:30 a.m. until time of services on Monday, Aug. 4, at the church.
Schwartz Funeral Home in Lancaster is assisting the family. Online condolences may be offered at www.martinschwartzfuneralhomes.com.
Lois P. Moen
TAMPA. Fla./LA CRESCENT, Minn. — Lois Peterson Moen passed peacefully Thursday, July 31, 2008, at St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac, Wis., after suffering a stroke Sunday, July 20, 2008.
Lois was born on Aug. 13, 1920, in Duluth, Minn., to Carl and Agnes (Hanson) Peterson. She graduated from Duluth Central High School in 1938. Lois worked as a bookkeeper for the YWCA in Duluth and later worked for the Norwegian Consulate.
She married Edmund Olaf Moen on Oct. 26, 1040, and celebrated 53 years of marriage to the “love of her life.” Lois and Eddie moved from Duluth to
La Crescent in 1959 and later moved to Bradenton, Fla. She moved to Tampa in 2004. Lois and Eddie spent many years traveling the world and enjoyed the many friends they met along the way.
She is survived by her son, Jeffrey Moen of Tampa; her daughter, Kristen Harring of Onalaska, Wis. (fiance Dr. James Graf); and her three beloved grandchildren, Nicholas, Benjamin and Alyssa Harring, all of Onalaska, and their father, Nick Harring of Viroqua, Wis. She is further
survived by her dear friend, Dale Melvin of Tampa; her sister, Jean Pearson of Edina, Minn; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Eddie, on March 3, 1994; her parents, Carl and Agnes; and her two sisters, Arlene Larson and Marjorie Hedberg, both of Duluth, Minn.
Lois was a positive and happy person and lived life to the fullest right to the end. She will be missed and loved by all.
A memorial service will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 4, at United Methodist Church in La Crescent. Visitation will be 5:30 p.m. to services Monday at the church. A memorial service will also be held at a later date in Tampa. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Hospice Hope of Fond du Lac or Gundersen Lutheran Hospice of La Crosse.
“Precious Lord take my hand softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling."
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, of Onalaska passed away Wednes-day, July 30, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse.
He was born to Kester and Gertrude (Roeschen) Allen on May 30, 1923, in Columbus, Ohio.
He was a World War II veteran and served for 21/2 years in the South Pacific and was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He was a member of the VFW and Onalaska American Legion Post 336. Upon returning home, he married Jean Martinson at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in La Crosse on June 15, 1946.
He and his father then built a small resort in the north woods near Lac du Flambeau, Wis.
After returning to La Crosse, Richard worked for a time at Dairyland Power Cooperative and later as an engineer for the CB&Q Railroad. He retired at the age of 60, with 30 years of service. He played handball at the YMCA and golfed as along as his health permitted. He then acquired property in rural Galesville, Wis., where he planted trees and enjoyed the outdoors.
He is survived by his wife, Jean; a son, Richard Jr., and a daughter, Sheryl Arms, both of Galesville; a daughter, Carla of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.; a grandson, Scott Arms; a granddaughter, Kelly Chase of Onalaska; a granddaughter, Jennifer Arms of Black River Falls, Wis.; a great-grandson, Dustin Chase; a sister, Vivian McLaurine of Salem, Ore.; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father; a brother, Robert of New York; and a sister, Joyce Kocimski of La Crosse.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. today at Dickinson Family Funeral Home, 401 Main St., Onalaska. The Rev. Jason Stanton will officiate, and burial with military honors will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, La Crosse. Friends may call at the funeral home today from 10 a.m. until services.
Jeffrey Ward
ONALASKA — Jeffrey Ward, 52, of Onalaska died Tuesday, July 29, 2008, at his home.
He was born in Waupun, Wis., on June 17, 1956, to Glen and Joanne (Hermsen) Ward. He graduated from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 1982. Jeff married Karen Ball in Onalaska and they had one son, Joel, while residing in California. They were later divorced, and she preceded him in death. Jeff returned to Wisconsin, and he married Bernice Richter in Fond du Lac, Wis., on Sept. 25, 2000. He was in the cheese and dairy industry all his life and was most recently the plant manager of the Mindoro (Wis.) Cheese Plant, a job he truly loved. Jeff enjoyed boating in San Diego, golf, being outdoors and the Green Bay Packers.
He is survived by his wife, Bernice; son, Joel of Visalia, Calif.; parents, Glen and Joanne Ward of Holmen; a brother, Mark (Carol) Ward of Onalaska; niece, Katie Ward; nephew, Bryan Ward; and stepchildren, Faith Torres and Danielle, Jason and Aaron Ball.
Private family services will be held. Memorials are preferred in Jeff’s memory.
Dickinson Family Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Don Owen Rowlands
LA CROSSE -- Don Owen Rowlands, 80, of La Crosse passed away at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse of congestive heart failure Wednesday, July 30, 2008.
Don was born March 6, 1928, in Elkhart Lake, Wis., the only child of Owen and Helen (Drott) Rowlands. He married Marguerite “Muggy” Schauder on June 28, 1953. They later divorced. He married Janice Thaldorf on Dec. 26, 1997.
As a young boy, Don became involved in music and competed in music contests on baritone while his mother accompanied on piano. After graduating from high school in Elkhart Lake he worked his way through college as a head bellhop at the Schwartz Hotel in his hometown. He earned his bachelor of arts degree from Mission House (now Lakeland College) in Sheboygan, Wis. Later, he earned his master of music education degree at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. From 1951 to 1953, Don served in the 316th Army Band at Fort Jackson, S.C., playing first baritone in the marching and concert bands. Following his military service, he began his career in music education in Pittsville, Wis., and conducted high school bands (concert, marching, jazz, pep, etc.) and orchestra. He went on to conduct award-winning bands in Juneau, Baraboo, Sparta and Galesville, Wis., where he retired in 1984. Throughout his 30-year teaching career in the Wisconsin school system, Don also was active as a teacher and counselor at summer band camps at his alma mater, Lakeland College. In retirement, he taught instrumental music for several years at Aquinas High School in La Crosse. He also served as an insurance agent for Lutheran Brotherhood.
Don played baritone and/or euphonium in many municipal bands including Sparta, Kiel, Chatfield (Minn.), La Crosse, and the La Crosse DaCapo Band and Winona Brass Band. He was a member of American Legion Post 52, the Moose Lodge and, together with wife, Jan, the La Crosse Jazz Society. He sang tenor in many church choirs, including Zion Lutheran in Galesville, Wis., and Good Shepherd and Trinity Lutheran Churches in La Crosse. In his college days, he was a member of an award-winning barbershop quartet in Sheboygan named The Four Scholars. Don’s hobbies and interests included music, golf, fishing, woodworking, model railroading and gardening.
In addition to his wife, Janice, Don is survived by two sons, David (Mary Jo) of Rochester, Minn., and Michael of Holmen, Wis.; stepchildren, the Rev. Cindy (Larry) Arndt of Wilton, Wis.; Tim (Theresa) Thaldorf of La Crosse, Carey (friend Shari) of West Salem, Wis., and Tracie (Dennis) Hodgdon of Richfield, Minn.; grandchildren, Joshua Ziesmer, Nick Hutson, Kate Hutson, Jess (fiance Nick Polakowski) Hutson, Chazz Rowlands Hodgdon, Dutch Hodgdon, Joel (Lori) Arndt, Justin (Kirstin) Arndt and Dawn (Brad) Lindberg; great-grandchildren, April, Addison, Avery and Auggie Arndt; and special friends, Terri Baker, Sue Retzlaff, Kris Biesen and Sue Kammel. He was preceded in death by his parents; two cousins, Oswald and Harold; his Aunt Julia; and his beloved Aunt Irene.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in La Crosse. Pastor Roger Hjelle and Pastor Meredith McGrath will officiate. Friends may call at the church today from 5 to 7 p.m. and again on Saturday from 10 a.m. until time of services.
Memorials are preferred and can be directed to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Trinity Lutheran Church Senior Choir, La Crosse City Band, DaCapo Band, American Heart Association or Gundersen Lutheran Hospice.
The family wishes to express their special thanks to the many doctors and nurses of Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center who cared for Don, especially Bette Pedretti, Dr. Songsiridei, Dr. Brasic, Julie Thoftne and all the nurses and caregivers of the Gundersen Lutheran Hospice Department.
Schumacher Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse is in charge of arrangements.
