Birger Elias Eklov

Birger Elias Eklov, age 85, passed away on September 29, 2021, at his Westby home surrounded by his loving family. He was born March 28, 1936, in Jonkoping, Sweden to Oscar and Sigrid (Johansson) Eklov. After graduating from Westby High School in 1955 he enlisted in the Army receiving an honorable discharge on September 6, 1957, with the rank of Specialist 3rd Class. He might say he got out of the frying pan and into the fire as he was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart on September 14, 1957, at Upper Coon Valley Lutheran Church. The fall of 1957 found him attending Southern State Teachers College in Springfield, South Dakota where he majored in auto mechanics. Following graduation, he chose to return to Westby to assist his father in the business, Eklov Texaco, which he purchased in 1970 and operated until January 1, 2004, when he retired upon the sale of the business. Birger was active in the Viroqua Chapter #35 and Sparta Chapter #18 Order of the Eastern Star serving as Warder and Sentinel as well as Grand Representative of Australia in Wisconsin in 2006-2009. He was a charter member of the Westby Lions Club, as well as a member of the Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church, American Legion, Solvang Lodge Sons of Norway, Past Master of LaBelle Lodge #84 F&AM, Scottish Rite-Valley of La Crosse and Madison as well as the Zor Shrine where his participated in the Firehouse Jesters as a clown for many years. Birger is survived by his wife, Phyllis; daughter Karri (David) Bjornstad of Onalaska; two grandchildren, Cole Bjornstad of Chicago and Karissa (Ryan) Chapman of Oxford, England; Swedish Exchange son, Tim Nilsson of Berlin, Germany, one sister, SivAnn Meyer of Viroqua, brother-in-laws, Orlin (Priscilla) Midtlien and Orin Midtlien both of Holmen along with nieces, nephews, relatives, friends plus family in Sweden. Birger is preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Sigrid Eklov, in-laws Oscar and Aletha Midtlien, and sister-in-law, Ria Midtlien. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 3, 2021, at Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church in Westby. Visitation will be held Saturday, October 2, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. at Vosseteig Funeral Home in Westby. Order of Eastern Star and Masonic Services will begin at 6:30 p.m. Additional visitation will be held Sunday at the church from Noon until the time of service. Burial will be in Westby Coon Prairie Cemetery with full military honors. Masks will be required at the church and encouraged at the funeral home due to COVID-19 pandemic. Birger’s family would like to express great thanks to the staffs at Bland Clinic-Dr. Calkins as well as Gundersen Clinic – Dr. Mariner and Lisa Gundersen; special friend Blane Charles and neighbors Mike Buchanan, Leah and Tyler Gehrking In lieu of flowers, memorials are encouraged to Gundersen Medical Foundation-Lung Cancer Research Fund, Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church – worship/music/virtual service fund or Country Coon Prairie Cemetery fund. In lieu of thank you's, the family will be making a donation to Gundersen Medical Foundation-Lung Cancer Research Fund in Birger’s name. Vosseteig Funeral Home in Westby is serving Birger's family. 708 S. Main Street Westby, WI 54667 608-634-2100