James L. Stoffregen

James Laurice Stoffregen, 82, of Coon Valley died on Monday, June 6, 2011 at Franciscan-Skemp Medical Center in La Crosse. He was born on October 13, 1928 to Lawrence and Arla (Johnson) Stoffregen in Ladysmith. James graduated from Durand High School in 1946 and from Eau Claire State Teachers College in 1950. He married Barbara Richard on August 19, 1950. After graduation from college, he taught English, Theater and Social Studies at high schools in Phelps, Holcomb, Cameron and Rice Lake. In Rice Lake, he was a football and track coach. He was known by many of his students as "Rocky", a name he acquired as a football coach and kept as a theater director. He also achieved Masters degrees in English and in Theater. James was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Elks, and a founding member of the Rice Lake Curling Club. He was also an early member of the "Hardscrabble Players" and "Red Barn Theater" groups in Rice Lake. After retirement in 1988, he remained in Rice Lake and wintered in Apache Junction, AZ. In 2004, he moved to Coon Valley, where he became known as "Grandpa" to many of the local students and parents. He is survived by his children: Lawrence (Dorothy) Stoffregen of Coon Valley, Charles (Kathryn) Stoffregen of Sun Prairie, Susan (Jerry) Geurin of Oklahoma City, OK, Ronald (Diane) Stoffregen of La Crosse, Mary (William) Kolb of Mesa, AZ, and Amy (Steve) Dauscher of Osceola; grandchildren: Amanda (David) Temple, Dylan and Devi Stoffregen, Laura (Ryan) Smith, Erika Kott, Abby (Barry) Carr, Caroline (Jeremy) Larson, Timothy Geurin, Alex and Julia Stoffregen, Michael (Christi) Kolb, Kimberly Kolb, Katherine Kolb, Sara (Tristan) Sather, and Arla Dauscher; great-grandchildren: Noah and Colton Smith, Derek Kott, Kimberly Kellogg and Charlotte Kolb; daughter-in-law, Sheri; sister, Gertrude Bauer of Durand; brothers-in-law: Albert (Carol) Richard of Rice Lake, George (Lorna) Richard of Milwaukee, and James Miles of Arkansaw. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Barbara; and son, Daniel, sister, Margaret, and brother-in-law, Jacob. A visitation will be held on Friday, June 10, 2011 from 4 to 7 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. at the Vosseteig Funeral Home, 708 S. Hwy 14 in Westby. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, June 17, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 2411 23rd Street Rice Lake, WI 54868-9754. Father David Oberts will celebrate the Mass. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the church one hour prior to the Mass. In lieu of flowers and plants, memorials may be made to Westby Music Parents, Westby Syttende Mai Princess Scholarship Fund, UW Eau Claire Foundation and Knights of Columbus. The Vosseteig Funeral Home of Westby is serving the family.