Loretta Catherine Clarkin

Loretta Clarkin, 86, passed away peacefully on August 21st, 2025 in Onalaska, Wisconsin.

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 30th at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in La Crosse, Wisconsin with Father John Zweber officiating. As she was a member of the Catholic Daughters, there will be a rosary at 9:15 a.m. following a visitation at 9:00 a.m. at the church. Burial will follow Mass in the Mausoleum at the La Crosse Catholic Cemetery, 519 Losey Blvd S. Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, August 29th at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home, 200 West Avenue S., La Crosse, Wisconsin. Flowers may be sent to the funeral home.

Loretta (Gronemus) Clarkin was born on March 12th, 1939, to Henry and Elizabeth Gronemus on their family farm near Middle Ridge, Wisconsin. She was raised on the family farm along with her eight brothers and sisters. She graduated from Bangor High School in 1957. She met her future husband Donald Clarkin at a dance at the Concordia Ballroom in La Crosse, Wisconsin. They were married on June 7th, 1958. Loretta and Don built and managed various real estate properties together over the years. Loretta was very active at Blessed Sacrament Church in La Crosse and was a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. She volunteered with the Causeway Caregivers helping the elderly and disabled adults. She was also involved in Meals on Wheels. She had a great wit and sense of humor and always seemed to have a smile on her face that brightened everyone’s mood. She was also a bit feisty all the way to the end. In her younger years she enjoyed gardening, ice skating, and waterskiing with her family. She and Don travelled the world together from the Caribbean to Europe. They also made frequent visits to their cabin in northern Wisconsin to enjoy the solitude and wildlife. She was always up for adventures including hiking and whitewater kayaking out west into her 60s. Most of all what brought her joy was being around her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Donald Clarkin; her parents Henry and Elizabeth Gronemus; her brothers Leonard, Ernest, and Al Gronemus; sisters Eileen (Gronemus) Rebarczyk and Mary (Gronemus) Mangene; brother-in-law Michael Fukey; and great-nephew Jacob Gronemus. As well as her brothers and sisters-in-law Francis and Annette Clarkin, and Richard and Shirly Clarkin.

She is survived by her sisters Agnes (Earl) Hoscheit, Margaret (Jerome) Leuck, Rosie Fukey; sister-in-law Bernice Gronemus; her children Mark (Victoria) Clarkin, Linda (Michael) Mettille, Charles Clarkin, Angela (Jerry) Baumgartner, and Sherry (Eric) Pfaff; grandchildren David and Katie Mettille, Donald, Pearl, and Raphael Clarkin, Shane and Lance Baumgartner, and Boden and Colin Pfaff. Survivors also include many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Havenwood Senior Care, Riverside Transitional Care, and Agrace Hospice for their support.