George E. Nettum

George E. Nettum, age 86 of Viroqua, died Friday, March 7, 2008 in Madison. George Evans Nettum, died peacefully in his sleep, Friday, March 7, 2008, 3 days from his 87th birthday. He was born March 10, 1921 to Arthur and Mabel Nettum. He grew up, briefly in Los Angeles, mostly around Edgerton, as a farm boy. He was a gifted athlete, lettering in football, basketball and his favorite, baseball, at Edgerton High School. He was later inducted in the inaugural Edgerton High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He went on to earn his freshman numerals in baseball at the University of Wisconsin- Madison. His studies at the University were interrupted by his service as a pilot in the Army Air Corps during WWII. He was married during the War to Mildred Gessert. They were married for 61 years before her death in 2005. He graduated from the University in 1946 with a BS in agriculture. He went on to teach high school vocational agriculture and then became a Veteran Farm Trainer in Dane and Rock Counties. In 1953 he moved his family to Viroqua where he served as the Tobacco Extension Specialist for the UW Extension Service. In 1957 he became the General Manager of the Northern Wisconsin Co-operative Tobacco Pool, a position he held for over 50 years, when failing health lead to his retirement. He was active in the community, serving as a board member of the Viroqua Schools, Good Shepard Lutheran Church, Chamber of Commerce, the State Bank of Viroqua, Kickapoo Reserve Management Board, and the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Federation of Co-operatives. He was on the Vernon County Board of Supervisors for 35 years, where he was active in many areas, but he had a special interest in soil and water conservation. He went on to serve in numerous local, regional and national conservation organizations. He was instrumental in the establishment of Southwest Badger Resource Conservation and Development Council. He was the recipient of numerous acknowledgments of his contributions to the community, and he was honored to have received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Universitys College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He was a quiet, humble and virtuous man with a wry sense of humor who led by example. He was preceded in death by his parents; 2 brothers, Don and Reuben, and a granddaughtaer Tena. He is survived by three sons, John (Mary Sue) of College Station, TX, Dr Scott (Billie) of DeForest, and Dr. James (Viki) of Madison, 9 grandchildren and one great grandchild. There will be visitation from 9 to 11 am, Tuesday, March 11, at Good Shepard Lutheran Church, Viroqua, WI, followed by funeral services. The Rev. Margaret Eiben Hoversten and The Rev. Lindsay Paul Jordan will officiate with burial in the Viroqua Cemetery. In lieu of flowers and plants, the family would welcome contributions to the George and Mildred Nettum Scholarship Fund for Viroqua High School students pursuing careers in agriculture. The Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home of Viroqua is serving the family.