Obituaries

Oct 29, 2021

Richard “Dick” A. Heckart, the son of Vernon and Vivian (McDaniel) Heckart, passed away Friday, October 29, 2021. Richard was born in Avalanche, WI on December 31, 1935. He was the youngest of five siblings: Lillian Waddell, Glen Heckart, Patricia Hanson, and Janice Traxler. Richard, who was always called Dick, attended grade school and high school in La Farge....

Oct 28, 2021

Neil J. Draeger, age 33, of rural La Farge, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, October 28, 2021, at his home. He was born May 24, 1988, in Wisconsin to Phil Ulik and Marie Draeger. At the age of 7, Neil was welcomed into the family of Harold and Linda Nofsinger. For most of his schooling, he attended Viroqua Area...

Oct 25, 2021

Dustin Christopher Amundson, age 22, of Westby, passed away Monday, October 25, 2021. He was born October 20, 1999, in Viroqua to Jeremy Amundson and Sarah Bekkum. A beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, uncle, and friend, he left this world unexpectedly. Dustin had the kindest soul and heart. He was committed to friends and his family. He would...

Oct 25, 2021

Helen Hendrickson, age 94, of Viroqua passed away peacefully Monday, October 25, 2021, surrounded by her children. She was born December 12, 1926, to the late Alex and Helena (Eskestrand) Nelson. Helen graduated from Viroqua High School and immediately started working. On September 30, 1947, she married her hubby, Palmer Hendrickson, at the La Crosse Court House. After they...

Oct 24, 2021

Beverly Ann Peterson, age 86, of Viroqua, passed away Sunday, October 24, 2021, at her home. She was born August 15, 1935, in Monroe County to Alfred and Mary “Marie” (Running) Peterson. She grew up on her family farm until the death of her father, after which Beverly and her mother moved to Viroqua. Beverly began working in the...

Oct 23, 2021

Charles “Kent” Steinmetz, born on October 23, 1940, passed quietly in his sleep on the night of October 23, 2021. A gentle but strong man, Kent lived with undiagnosed cancer for quite some time and he put his walking shoes on for a marathon this fall. The beauty and quiet of the Kickapoo Valley Reserve was a sanctuary for...

Oct 21, 2021

James (Jimmy) Wayne Knudson, age 79, of Westby passed away Thursday, October 21, 2021, at his residence. He was born August 1, 1942. He was the son of Harold L. and A. Odrun (Eggen) Knudson. Jim was baptized and confirmed at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Westby, and became a member of Vang Lutheran in the 1980's where he...

Oct 20, 2021

Melissa “Missy” Karis, age 43, of Viroqua, passed away Wednesday, October 20, 2021. She was born November 21, 1977, to David and Mary Lundgren. Melissa graduated from Viroqua High School in 1996. After graduating, she worked at a couple of different farms near Cashton. She briefly worked in Lansing at a factory and after her daughter Stephanie was born,...

Oct 19, 2021

Donna Bassett, age 84, of Sparta, WI, formerly of Viola, WI, passed away peacefully Tuesday, October 19, 2021, at Bridgepath Apartments. She was born November 1, 1936, in Merrill, WI and graduated from Arbor Vitae-Woodruff High School in 1954, where she served as the Penny Queen. That same year, she married the love of her life, Gerry Bassett, in...

Oct 18, 2021

Duane Harold Mc Elhose, age 73, of La Farge, WI, passed away Monday, October 18, 2021. He was born January 27, 1948, in Burlington, WI, to Floyd and Betty (Turner) Mc Elhose. He graduated from La Farge High School and then served in the United States Air Force for 20 years. After he left the Air Force, he drove...

Oct 17, 2021

Richard “Dick” K. Walter, age 80, of rural La Farge, peacefully joined his parents and other loved ones in Eternal Life on Sunday, October 17, 2021. Dick was a loving and caring husband to Jo Ann (nee Rollins) for 60 years; a devoted Father to Rich (Sue) and Brent Walter; an adored Grandfather to Angela, Nicole, and Matthew; the...

Oct 14, 2021

Lois M. (Swiggum) Eitland Stueland, of Viroqua, passed away peacefully on October 14, 2021 at Vernon Memorial Hospital with her family by her side, as the church bells rang at 11:00 a.m. She was 72 years old. Lois was born April 10, 1949, to Leif and Lilah (Lunde) Swiggum. She and her siblings grew up on the family farm...

Oct 13, 2021

William Gerald Smythe, known to all as Bill, died Wednesday, October 13th, 2021. He was born April 2nd, 1940, in St. Paul, Minnesota to parents Norman and Helen (Kaminski) Smythe. The second of four Smythe children, he attended school in South St. Paul and the University of Minnesota where he majored in education.

Bill was...

Oct 11, 2021

Marie Lynn Townsend, age 73, of De Soto, passed away unexpectedly after a short hospitalization on Monday, October 11, 2021. She was born September 28, 1948, in Viroqua to Eldon and Eileen (Larson) Townsend. Marie played in the marching band and graduated from De Soto High School with the class of 1966. Following high school graduation, she attended Western...

Oct 9, 2021

Christine “Chris” Marie Bromeland, age 71, of Gays Mills, passed away Saturday, October 9, 2021. She was born December 12, 1949, in Beloit, Wisconsin to Ernie and Birdie (Jarchow) Wiedmer. She attended Clinton High School and following graduation she became a beautician. She married Thomas Bromeland and they were married for 25 years until they divorced. They adopted their...

Oct 7, 2021

Beverly J. Morgan, age 91, of Westby, died Thursday, October 7, 2021. She was born in Detroit, Michigan on May 31, 1930, to Garnet Ward Brockelbank and Ethel Rose (Zamba). She grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, where the family had moved in 1932 to escape the poverty of the Great Depression. Princeton was a wonderful place to grow...

Oct 5, 2021

Donald Carl Nelson, age 92, of La Farge, passed away Tuesday, October 5, 2021. He was born to Carl Marinus and Lillie May (Collins) Nelson on June 5, 1929, in Webster Township – Vernon County. Donald attended Lyons Grade School on Buchanan Ridge and graduated from La Farge High School in 1947. Donald lived with his grandma and parents...

Oct 5, 2021

Ronold “Ron” L. Hanson, age 71, of Viroqua, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 5, 2021, with his wife and sister by his side at Vernon Manor. He was born September 19, 1950, at his grandparents home in Crawford County, WI, the 2nd child of Reuben Sr. and Emma (Vance) Hanson. Growing up he lived in the De Soto...

Oct 1, 2021

Donald Johnsrude, age 97, passed away on Friday, October 1, 2021, at Soldiers Grove Health Services where he had been a resident since September of 2020. He was born May 14, 1924, to Josephine Johnsrud in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He grew up in Steuben, Wisconsin and was raised by his grandparents, Charles and Ellen Johnsrud. Farming was his passion. He...

Sep 29, 2021

Birger Elias Eklov, age 85, passed away on September 29, 2021, at his Westby home surrounded by his loving family. He was born March 28, 1936, in Jonkoping, Sweden to Oscar and Sigrid (Johansson) Eklov. After graduating from Westby High School in 1955 he enlisted in the Army receiving an honorable discharge on September 6, 1957, with the rank...