Laverne O. Ostrem

LaVerne O. Ostrem, age 84 of Viroqua, died December 20, 2009. LaVerne O. Ostrem, 84, of Viroqua, died on Sunday, December 20, 2009, at Gundersen-Lutheran Medical Center, LaCrosse. He was born April 2, 1925, in Viroqua to Arthur and Hilda (Thompson) Ostrem. He married Lucille Strangstalien on February 9, 1945, at Vang Lutheran Church. He had been employed by Viroqua Leaf and retired from Farmers Mutual Hail of DeMoines, Iowa.He is survived by his wife, Lucille, by three daughters, Dianne (Dean) Dickinson, of La Crosse, Monica (Michael) Peterson, of Middleton, WI. and Marla (Stewart) Peterson, of Onalaska; by five grandchildren, Derek (Maria) Peterson, of La Crosse, Ryan (Mary) Peterson, of Milwaukee, Marissa Dickinson, of Minneapolis, Ashley Peterson, of Columbus, Ohio and Tyler Dickinson, of Minneapolis; by a sister, Ruth Ann (Marion) Clark of Viroqua; two brothers, Ardene (Harriet) Ostrem, of Viroqua and Charles (Catherine) Ostrem of Livingston, WI ; by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and by sisters, Lorraine Johnson, Eunice Sherry and Deloris Hokland.LaVerne was a proud Norwegian who enjoyed a life long passion for the Chicago Cubs, the Green Bay Packers, for time spent with his family at the Hatfield cottage, hunting with grandson Derek, golfing with his buddies, singing with the Viroqua Mens Choir and Lucilles wonderful cooking.Funeral services will be Wednesday at 11:00 A.M. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Viroqua. The Reverends Lindsay Paul Jordan and Margaret Eiben Hoversten will officiate. The "Men at Work" and the "Coffee Bunch" will serve as honorary pallbearers. Burial will be in Bethel Lutheran Church Cemetery. Friends may call at the Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home in Viroqua on Tuesday from 4-6 P.M. and at the church on Wednesday from 10:00 A.M. until the services. "We were blessed with the best Grandpa in the whole world. His gentle love for each of us was expressed in so many ways and will continue to influence our lives. He was proud of each of us. We love you Grandpacontinue, we pray, to watch over us." Derek, Ryan, Marissa, Ashley and Tyler