Ilene A. Ekern

Ilene A. Ekern, age 74 of Westby, WI died August 29, 2007. Ilene Ann Ekern, age 74 of Westby, passed away unexpectedly at Vernon Memorial Hospital in Viroqua on Wednesday, August 29, 2007. She was born January 4, 1933 in the Town of Christiana, Vernon County. She was raised by Nordahl and Rena (Hansen) Egstad. She attended and graduated from Clockmaker Grade School and Westby High School. She married Richard Ekern on February 23, 1952. They lived most of their married life farming in Vernon County on the Egstad homestead. They moved to Westby twenty-one years ago.She is survived by her husband of fifty-five years and four children: Reid (Nancy) of Viroqua; Renee Joseph (Tom) of La Crosse; Randy (Marna) of St. Louis, MO; Todd (Vicki) of Rockford, IL; six grandchildren: Rebecca (Nick) Keaty, Greta Ekern, Luke (Tricia) Schulz, Paul Schulz, Meghan Ekern, and Emily Ekern; one great-grandchild, Finnegan and one brother Martin (Catherine) Egstad of Stoughton.Ilene was an active member of the Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church, volunteered at the Bethel Buttik, and loved making meatballs and lefsa for church functions. She enjoyed morning coffee and "worldly" conversations with close friends, playing cards and most importantly serving others. Her tireless concern that everyone have enough food to eat and always wear a life jacket when near the water will always be remembered by those who knew her. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 2, 2007 at the Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church in Westby, WI. Pastor Julie Wollman will officiate with burial in the Coon Prairie Cemetery. Friends may call on Saturday from 4 7 at the Vosseteig Funeral Home, 708 S. Main Street, (Hwy. 14 South) in Westby. Friends may also call at the church from 12:00 noon until the time of service at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. In lieu of flowers the family request monetary or non-parishable food donations be given in Ilenes memory to the Bethel Buttik, to area flood victims or to Westby Coon Prairie Church for a new floor in the kitchen.The Vosseteig Funeral Home of Westby is serving the family.