Marguerite Lucia Widner

Marguerite “Marge” Lucia Widner, age 94, of La Crosse, Wisconsin, passed away on Friday, June 5, 2026, at Springbrook Assisted Living in Onalaska.

She was born on September 17, 1931, in La Crosse, daughter of William and Lucia Schuetze. Marge graduated from La Crosse Central High School in 1949 and was a proud member of the ‘49ers that would get together for many years. She enjoyed fishing with her father and uncle, and once, with a friend, swam across the Mississippi River.

After high school, she joined the Army and met the love of her life in San Francisco, Tom Widner, who was in the Navy at the time. They married shortly afterwards and eventually moved to La Crosse with their two sons. There she served as a den mother in Cub Scouts. A daughter was born in the early 60s, and the family moved to Brice Prairie to enjoy all that Lake Onalaska and the Mississippi River had to offer. While on “The Prairie”, Marge wrote a column for the Onalaska newspaper titled “The Prairie Press”. Her children remember how Marge helped make ends meet with the fifteen cents per column inch she made, and the children were in charge of filling up the books with stamps from the gas station and grocery store. The large garden she maintained also helped with the food budget.

The boys left for the Air Force in the early 70s, and the family moved back into La Crosse. Marge worked for the Social Security office through the 70s, and after their daughter graduated and left for college, Marge and Tom decided to expand their horizons. Marge discovered an opening in the Social Security office in Key West, Florida, and away they went, with Tom opening up a radio repair shop in Key West. They lived on Big Pine Key through the 80’s and enjoyed the tremendous fishing that was to be had.

Early 90s and again Marge and Tom decided a lifestyle change was in order. Throughout the 90s they traveled around America, pulling an Avion trailer and had a fishing boat secured to the topper on the truck. Summers found them camped at Goose Island to touch base with the family.

In the late 90s, Tom had a stroke and the great adventure came to an end. Back to La Crosse where Marge’s focus was on rehabbing Tom. Eventually the demands of primary caretaker were too much, and Tom was moved into Hillview Health Care. Marge made daily trips to visit Tom and eventually moved into adjoining Carroll Heights where she could visit him more conveniently. After Tom’s passing, she continued to reside at Carroll Heights and made many friends among the other residents. Her last adventure was a trip to Alaska where she joined her granddaughter Kate and husband on Kodiak Island, then joined a tour group that included some memorable fishing. In early 2025, Marge suffered a stroke and eventually came to live in the memory unit at Springbrook Memory Care.

In addition to her parents and Tom, Marge was preceded in death by a brother who died in infancy and her granddaughter, Amy Alisabeth Widner.

She is survived by two sons, Michael Widner (Susan Mueller) of Boscobel, WI, and Mark (Lynne) Widner of Glenwood, MN. A daughter, Patricia (David) Spaulding of Eau Claire, WI. She is also survived by a sister, Erika Hengel of La Crosse, WI. Further surviving her are her grandchildren Elissa Spaulding, Kate (Walter) Muelling, Andrew (Stephanie) Spaulding, JoAnne (Ashley) Ellis, Neva (Adam) Maxwell, Travis Widner, Jennifer Widner, Stephanie Swanson, Krystal Younggren, Zach (Cody Kast) Swanson, and Lizzie (Michael Ronzetti) Remrey; ten great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Springbrook Memory Care for their exceptional compassion, gentle care, and unwavering support during Marge’s final months. She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Visitation will be held from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home in La Crosse, with a Funeral Service beginning at 12:30 pm. Pastor Marty Yeager will be officiating. Burial will take place at Mormon Coulee Memorial Park following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made out to the Salvation Army.