Marvalene Burt

Marvalene Burt, 93, of Viroqua, died Friday, June 17, 2016. Marvalene M. Burt, 93, of Viroqua, passed away Friday morning at Gundersen Health Facility in La Crosse surrounded by the family she loved so much. She was born Nov. 7, 1922 near West Lima, rural Vernon County, to Burrell and Glennye (Braithwaite) Coy. Marvalenes father died when she was 3 years old. She and her three brothers were raised by a single mother during hard times when money was scarce but family love was abundant. She learned about work and sacrifice at a young age - a lesson she carried throughout her life. She graduated from West Lima High School in 1940, and on June 1 of that same year married Floyd Burt, a West Lima native who taught school in rural Vernon County. At that time, Floyd and his brother, Durward, were in the process of building a cheese factory in Bud, a tiny unincorporated community near Viroqua. For several decades she helped run the family business that gained a sterling reputation for producing quality cheddar cheese. The couple operated the factory until the mid-1980s when they retired from the business but continued living in Bud for several more years before moving to Viroqua. Floyd died in 2011 just months before their 71st wedding anniversary. In addition to raising their two children, Terry (Dana) Burt of La Crosse and Sue Fischer of Eagle River, Marvalene was instrumental in the success of the cheese business, including performing payroll and other bookkeeping functions as well as occasional hands-on factory work as needed. Marvalene was preceded in death by her three brothers, all U.S. Army veterans of World War II. They are Bernal (Elaine) Coy of Richland Center, Bernard (Faye) Coy of Viroqua and Ronald (Betts) Coy of Globe, Ariz. Also preceding her in death was son-in-law James Fischer of Eagle River. She was active in the Order of Eastern Star for 68 years, serving in numerous offices in Viroqua #35. She was honored earlier this spring by receiving an appointment as Grand Representative of Connecticut in Wisconsin and spent several days in Stevens Point with her oldest grandchild, Amy, at Grand Chapter, an Eastern Star event in Stevens Point. For many years she thoroughly enjoyed the crafts, needlework and other projects with her many long-time friends and neighbors in a homemakers club in the Bud area. She was fond of telling stories about Floyd and her in the days before air conditioning when they ended a long, hot summer work day with a motorcycle ride and a visit to a nearby pond for a cool, refreshing dip. In later life they upgraded to the comfort of a motorhome and often travelled, caravan style, with their RV friends. They sometimes spent the coldest part of Wisconsin winters in the sun and warmth of Arizona. In recent years, even as her eyesight was failing, Marvalene followed the fortunes of the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team and her favorite player, Ryan Braun. She is survived by 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Terrys children are: Amy Burt of Milledgeville, Ga.; Randall Burt of Grafton, Wis.; Erich (Lori) Burt of West Salem; Brenda (Chris) Matthews of Frankfort, Ky.; and Michelle (Brian) Thomas of Austin, Tex. Sues children are: David Fischer of Rhinelander; Patrick (Cindy) Fischer of Green Bay; Shelly Fischer of Raleigh, N.C.; Melissa (Tim) Tanke of Green Bay; Amanda (Paul) Bushmaker of Stevens Point. She was also extremely proud of her 11 great-grandchildren: Collin and Cooper Matthews; Joe and Ben Tanke; Adelyn, Lauren and Olivia Burt; Nathan Fischer; and Simon, Max, and Ava Bushmaker. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 21, 2016, at the Viroqua Church of Christ, 825 Nelson Parkway, with burial in the Viroqua Cemetery, Visitation at the church will be one hour prior to services. Friends may also call Monday from 4 to 6 p.m. at Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home, 123 W. Decker St. (Hwy 56) in Viroqua with an Eastern Star service at 5:45 p.m. Online Condolences may be offered at www.VossFH.com The Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home of Viroqua is serving the family.