Edward Clements Averkamp

Edward Clements Averkamp, age 83, died on Saturday, July 1, 2006, at Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital. He was born on June 24, 1923, the third child in ten children to Anthony Bernard Averkamp and Catherine Reuter in Dickeyville, WI. Edward enlisted in the U.S. Army following the bombing of Pearl Harbor and served in the South Pacific and later in the Korean War. His travels during the wars gave him a lifelong interest in world news. He was a member of the Genoa American Legion Post and the Local Engineer Union #139. Although he had only an eighth grade education, he was an avid reader. He was married to Lois Lahey in 1946 (and divorced after 26 years of marriage). He was also a dedicated environmentalist and follower of then Gov. Gaylor Nelson. He planted 5,000 fir trees on his property on Ramrod Coulee in Genoa and became an American Tree Farmer. After the military service, he spent his entire work career as an operating engineer for Ed Kramer & Sons and he retired in 1986. He married Mary Larson in 1979 and later divorced. They later reconnected and spent many years together until his death. Mary was a dedicated caregiver to Edward in his last years. He is survived by four children, Catherine of Phoenix, AZ, Marcella (Ron Siggelkow) of Madison, Alan (Rose Averkamp) of Genoa, and Bonita (Jeff Stephenson) of Grafton; two inherited children, Brian (Laurie) Larson of Mauston, and Mary Jo Larson of Minneapolis, MN; and eight grandchildren: Max Butler, Eric Averkamp, Lauren Stephenson, John and Leslie Siggelkow; Michael Larson, Tanya Larson, and Logan Larson; three brothers, Eugene, Joe, and Dennis; two sisters, Kathryn Geltz and Lucy Berra; many nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors. He was preceded in death by his parents, and by siblings, Genevieve Walton, Margie Beau, Marie Curtis, and Ben Averkamp. Services will be held on Saturday, July 8, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. at the Vosseteig Funeral Home, 708 S. Hwy 14 in Westby with Father Robert J. Cook officiating. Friends may call on Saturday after 10:00 a.m. at the Vosseteig Funeral Home in Westby.