Obituaries
John J. Bower
Jul 24, 2026
John J Bower, 84, of La Crosse passed away peacefully on 7/24/2026 at his temporary home in the Lighthouse at Riverside Transitional Care. He married the love of his life, Paulita (Lita) Severson, on August 19, 1963. His early work life was in the restaurant industry. When their family grew, he started a 32-year career with the La Crosse Municipal...
Virgil W. Hegenbart
Jul 21, 2026
Virgil W. Hegenbart, 88, of La Crosse, died on Tuesday, July 21, 2026 at Benedictine Manor in La Crosse. He was born on December 8, 1937 in Rockland, WI to William and Doris (Dolan) Hegenbart. Virgil was a 1955 graduate of Cashton High School. He married Sharon Lind on December 28, 1957 in Sparta, WI. Virgil owned and operated Hegenbart...
Sharon H. Graw
Jul 21, 2026
Sharon H. (Hohlfeld) Graw, 82, of Onalaska, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on July 21, 2026, at Caretta Senior Living in Holmen, Wisconsin. She was born on May 5, 1944, in Trempealeau, Wisconsin, to William and Florence (Brom) Hohlfeld.
A devoted wife to Ron, loving mother of two, cherished grandmother of four, and the second youngest of seven children, Sharon will be...
Mary L. Schaller
Jul 20, 2026
Mary Schaller, 84, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 20, 2026, at Mulder Health Care Facility in West Salem, Wisconsin.
She was born Mary Louise Sieger on April 15, 1942, in Madison, Wisconsin, to Raymond and Romelda Sieger. She spent her childhood in Madison with her parents and younger brother, Joe, until tragedy struck when she was orphaned at the age...
(Dale) Scott Koblitz
Jul 18, 2026
Dale Scott Koblitz, 49, of La Crosse, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at his home. He was born on December 22, 1976, to Scott Koblitz and Katherine McLain. Though his given name was Dale, everyone knew him as Scott.
On September 1, 2001, Scott married Darcey Stevenson. They welcomed their daughter, Hayley, before later divorcing. On May 26,...
Jean D. Herlitzka
Jul 18, 2026
Jean Herlitzka, 90, of Onalaska, passed away peacefully on July 18, 2026, at Eagle Crest Senior Living Facility North. Jean was born May 11, 1936, to Wallace and Arline Keily of West Salem. She grew up in La Crosse and graduated from Central High School in 1953. On July 30, 1955, she was united in marriage to Richard (Dick) Herlitzka...
Marilyn J. Williams
Jul 16, 2026
Marilyn J. (Wilder) Williams, 91, of La Crosse, died on Thursday, July 16, 2026 at Benedictine Manor in La Crosse. She was born on October 5, 1934 in La Crosse to Elmer and Eleanor (Hase) Wilder. She married William “Bill” Williams on February 21, 1953 in Veedersburg, IN. Marilyn spent 25 years working as a housekeeper at Bethany Riverside in...
Doris A. Witmer
Jul 16, 2026
Doris Ann Witmer (Theis) died on July 16, 2026, at her home in La Crosse. She was born in Milwaukee, WI on December 24, 1932, to Alvin R. and Irene Theis. Doris graduated from Shawano High School in 1951 and attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison and Milwaukee, earning a library certificate. She worked on the Shawano County Bookmobile for...
Michael "Mike" James Kohnert
Jul 16, 2026
Michael James Kohnert, 79, of La Crosse, passed away on Thursday, July 16, 2026 at the Gundersen Health System. He was born on May 21, 1947 to Curt and Corrine (Kabat) Kohnert in La Crosse. Mike graduated from Logan High School in 1965 and then joined the Air Force. He was a Vietnam veteran. Returning home, he then attended UW-La...
Lanny D. Powlek
Jul 15, 2026
Lanny D. Powlek, 74 of Onalaska passed away at his home on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. He will laid to rest, next to his wife, Christine, at Oak Grove Cemetery in La Crosse on Friday, August 21, 2026 at 10:00 am.
Sandra K. Bjorkman
Jul 14, 2026
Sandra “Sandy” K. Bjorkman, 77, of Holmen, WI, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse. She was born in La Crosse, WI, on August 24, 1948, to Donald and Mary Anderson (nee Pervisky).
While staying local her whole life, Sandy worked many jobs serving her community. After graduating from Logan High School in...
Richard G. Nimmo
Jul 12, 2026
Richard “Dick” Gail Nimmo, 89, of Trempealeau, passed away peacefully at home on July 12, 2026, following a brief illness, surrounded by his wife, Gloria Nimmo, and his granddaughter-in-law, Kendra Deschaine. Born on July 4, 1937, Dick lived a long and meaningful life centered on hard work and love for his family.
Dick and Gloria were united in marriage on May...
Michael W. Riendl
Jul 12, 2026
Michael Wells Riendl, 62, of Onalaska passed away on Sunday, July 12, 2026 at UW Health University Hospital in Madison, WI with his wife by his side after a short ten month, hard-fought battle with cancer. He was born September 4, 1963 in Viroqua to Tom and Julaine (Leahy) Riendl. He graduated from Westby High School in 1981 and later...
Betty M. Haas
Jul 11, 2026
Betty Marie (Johnson) Haas, age 98, passed away on July 11, 2026. She was born on September 17, 1927, in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She graduated from Logan High School in 1945. Betty was married to Robert Haas for 63 years and had two daughters.
Throughout her life, Betty was an avid reader, loved animals -especially dogs, dancing, and loved sharing her...
Sherry A. Churchill
Jul 9, 2026
Sherry A. Churchill, 89, of La Crosse passed away on Thursday, July 9, 2026 after a battle with cancer.
Sherry is survived by her husband, Lawrence “Larry” Churchill; children, Steve (Julie), Kevin (Amy), and Debbie (Ron Atkisson); grandchildren, Stephanie (Bryant) Neises, Nathan (Leonard Escalante), Jordan (Christine), and Kayla (Paul) Beron; and great grandchildren, Cohen and Colbi Beron.
Funeral services will be held...
Judith "Judy" Ann Hansen
Jul 8, 2026
Judith "Judy" Ann (Baumgartner) Hansen, 81, entered her eternal paradise on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Born to Susan (Hafner) and Ambrose Baumgartner, Judy was the second of fourteen children. She grew up on the family farm in Bush Valley, rural La Crescent, where she learned the values of hard work and the importance of family—qualities that would define her for...
Richard F. Shay
Jul 6, 2026
Richard Francis Shay
~ In Loving Memory ~
April 4, 1937 – July 6, 2026
Richard Francis Shay, 89, of La Crosse, Wisconsin, passed away on July 6, 2026, after a battle with lung cancer.
A lifelong resident of La Crosse and a man of deep and steady faith, Richard was known for a sharp wit and an endless rotation of dad jokes —...
Joseph J. Marcou
Jul 5, 2026
Joseph “Joe” Marcou, age 61, of Onalaska, passed away suddenly on July 5 (his father’s birthday) leaving behind a legacy of kindness, dedication, and deep love for his family. He was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin, on September 23, 1964, and later made his home with his family in Stoddard, WI. Growing up in a lively household as one of...
Patricia Claire Schmitt
Jul 5, 2026
Patricia Claire Schmitt, née Flanagan, was born in Chicago on October 29, 1946. As the only sister among six brothers, life was rarely quiet. There was always someone to keep up with, cheer for, or sing to sleep. Amid the joyful commotion of her brothers, she developed the strength, wit, and warmth that would become hallmarks of her life. She...
William Allen Espe
Jul 5, 2026
William "Bill" Espe, age 70, passed away at his home on July 5, 2026.
Bill was born on May 21, 1956, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, to Earl and Mary (Moosbrugger) Espe. After graduating from Aquinas High School in 1974, he attended the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, where he studied business.
Known to many throughout the La Crosse community as the "Candy Man,"...
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