Jerome D. Espe

Jerome D. Espe, 74 of Onalaska, formerly Viroqua, died Thursday, December 2, 2010. ONALASKA/HATFIELD/VIROQUAJerome D. Espe, 74 of Onalaska, formerly of Hatfield and Viroqua died on Thursday, December 2, 2010 at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital. His sudden death followed a heart attack and stroke at his home on Sunday afternoon, November 28, 2010.Jerome was born in Vernon County on July 29, 1936. He attended Asbury Elementary School and graduated from Viroqua High School in May, 1954. He was baptized and confirmed at Good Shepherd Lutheran church. He was united in marriage to Nellie M. Olson at Squaw Creek Lutheran Church on February 9, 1963. During high school he worked at Viroqua Telephone Co. After graduation he worked at Sparta Telephone and then OK Construction Co. before going to work at Vernon Telephone Cooperative on April 1, 1957. He started as a lineman at Vernon Tel and worked his way up to becoming manager then CEO before retiring in October, 2000. He was employed at Vernon Telephone for 43 years. He attended various telephone training schools. After Jerome retired they sold their home in Viroqua and moved to their cottage in Hatfield, WI. They had many good friends there and enjoyed many hours on their pontoon boat on Lake Arbutus and enjoyed watching the beautiful sunrise over the lake. He especially enjoyed watching and feeding the deer that came in the yard several times a day. He served one year on the Dewhurst Zoning committee.Jerome is survived by his wife, Nell of Onalaska; three children: Michelle Renee (Michael) Jones of Sparta, Anthony Douglas (Mary Terese ) of Onalaska, Jonathan Paul (special friend Kelly Chase) of Onalaska; two step-sons, John and Jeffery Matson of Kenosha; four grandchildren: Nicholas Jerome (Kate) Morrison of Waunakee, Brittany Lee Jones of La Crosse, Paige Anne & Brooke Alanis Espe of Onalaska; three step-grandchildren: Jason & Joshua Matson of Kenosha, Amy Fox of Black River Falls; and one step-great-grandson, Sean Fox; one sister, Estelle (Maynard) Olson) of Viroqua; one niece, Kirsten (Mark) Wilke of Oconomowoc; nephews: Torger (Lisa) Olson, Varick Olson both of Viroqua: several uncles, aunts and cousins along with many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ole & Lydia Espe of Viroqua. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, December 6, 2010 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Viroqua. Reverends Lindsay Paul Jordan and Margaret Eiben Hoversten will officiate with burial in the Viroqua Cemetery. Friends may call at the church on Monday from 9 a.m. until the time of the service at 11.In lieu of flowers or plants; memorials may be given to the Gunderson Lutheran Research Foundation for heart research or to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. The Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home of Viroqua is serving the family.