Lorraine S. Shoemaker
Lorraine S. Shoemaker, 90, of Whitehall, died Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse.
Lorraine was born May 5, 1933, in Arcadia, to Clifford and Anna (Giemza) Sonsalla. Due to her mother’s tragic death following her birth, Lorraine became a part of the family of her grandparents, Jacob and Teckla Sonsalla. She became a sister to her aunts and uncles and enjoyed living on their family farm. Lorraine often talked of the chores and the fun times she had swimming in the mill pond, ice skating in the winter and hanging out the “east end gang”.
Lorraine was raised with Polish heritage which she was very proud of, and shared it often with her children and grandchildren.
Lorraine attended Catholic School at St. Stanislaus Parish in Arcadia until the eighth grade and then graduated from Arcadia High School in 1951.
Lorraine was a born care taker. She became a Certified Nursing Assistant upon graduation from high school and remained in that profession into her seventies with most of those years working the night shift. Lorraine began this career at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Arcadia and then at Tri-County Memorial Hospital in Whitehall. She enjoyed her work, especially while working in the Obstetrics and Nursery until that unit closed. Even now, she would have people approach her and thank her for her kind and loving care.
When not working the night shift, Lorraine was taking care her husband, daughters, grandsons and any relative that needed her care and assistance.
Lorraine married James S. Shoemaker March 29, 1958, at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Arcadia. After Jim returned from the service, they settled in Whitehall where they lived their entire married life of 63 years and raised their two daughters, Donna and Dee Ann. Jim preceded Lorraine in death, April 14, 2021.
When Lorraine and Jim moved to Whitehall, they became members of St. John’s Catholic Church where Lorraine served as a gift bearer and chairman of the Fall Festival Carryout Committee. Her Catholic faith was very important to her.
Besides her work, she enjoyed fishing with her husband and cousins, visiting with relatives, patching clothes, going for walks, going out to eat with family and the hospital retirees and watching Family Feud. Lorraine especially loved her involvement with her grandsons and making her house their second home. She enjoyed watching them play softball and did not miss many of their games.
Lorraine is survived by her two daughters: Donna (Gary Rebarchek) Shoemaker and Dee Ann (Michael) Anderson both of Whitehall; two grandsons: Drew Anderson of Whitehall and Micah (Kaitlyn) Anderson of Onalaska; two sisters: Janet Peterson of Holmen and Emerine Weaver of Winona, MN; a brother-in-law, Don (Ann) Shoemaker of Osseo; two sisters-in-law, Joanne “Dolly” Shoemaker of Osseo and Shirley Warner of Janesville; numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents, Clifford, Anna, Rose, Jacob and Teckla Sonsalla; seven brothers: Clarence, Ernest, Apolinary, Vernon, LaVern, Leopold and Roland Sonsalla; a sister, Bonnie Sonsalla; six sisters-in-law: Bernice, Irene and Phyllis Sonsalla, Marjorie Ihle, Betty Wright and Annabelle Shoemaker and three brothers-in-law: Bartlett Weaver, Sidney Peterson and Charles Shoemaker.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held Thursday, June 1, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., at Saint John’s Catholic Church in Whitehall with Father George officiating. Burial will be at St. Stanislaus Catholic Cemetery in Arcadia.
Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service.
Jack Funeral Home in Whitehall is assisting the family with arrangements.
