Homer D. Tresner, Ph.D.

Homer D. Tresner, Ph.D., age 94 of Viroqua, died Saturday, March 16, 2013. Homer D. Tresner, Ph.D., age 94 of Viroqua, died Saturday, March 16, 2013 at home. He was born on August 18, 1918 in Darlington, Wi to Bert and Julia (Rude) Tresner. He served in the United States Army Air Force with the weather service. Homer graduated from The University of Wisconsin with his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. where he was a member of the Sigma Xi, Phi Sigma, Departmental Fellowship, and Botany Department. He authored several research publications and spent his career in research in the Microbiology Dept. at Lederle Laboratories in Pearl River, NY. Following retirement, he and his first wife, Janet moved to LaFarge, Wisconsin where he continued consulting. On June 13, 1987 he married Veronica Swanson and they traveled the world together continuing his research. In addition to world traveling, Homer and Veronica enjoyed travelling in the western United States, where they fished as well as spent time together. Homer and Veronica shared a love of gardening and their individual hobbies complemented each other: Veronica would quilt and Homer made the shelves to display the quilts. Homer also enjoyed woodworking, woodturning, Rosemaling and painting miniature landscapes. In addition to his wife, Veronica, he is survived by children: Nancy Tresner of Ithaca, NY, Mary McKenna of Oneonta, NY; Catherine (Dave) Thurston of LaCrosse, Anita (Jeff) Burckhardt of Viroqua, Michael (Joyce) Swanson of Byron, MN and Gary (Sue) Swanson; 14 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents and first wife, Janet, he was preceded in death by one brother, Glen and one sister, Florence Sperry. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 21, 2013 at St. Marys Catholic Church in Viroqua. Monsignor Francis Abuah Quansah will celebrate the Mass. Burial will be in Darlington, Wisconsin. Friends may call at the church on Thursday after 9:30 a.m. The Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home of Viroqua is serving the family.