Jan. 20, 2021 Obituaries
Yvonne G. LaPorte
Yvonne G. LaPorte, 84, of Whitehall, passed quietly, Wednesday, January 13, 2021.
Yvonne was born August 13, 1936, in Stutsman County, ND, to William H. Carter and Lillian B. (Walters) Carter. She was one of 12 children.
Yvonne was a blessing to all who knew her. She was devoted to her children and always supported them in pursuing their dreams. “Grandma Von” had a special bond with all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as her four step-children.
She led a full life, and worked at many jobs along the way. Yvonne especially enjoyed teaching ceramics and operating the Flower Pot in Independence.
Yvonne had a passion to help others and spent her time during her retirement volunteering for Reaching Out Ministries in their food distribution area. She also spent countless hours sewing pillows, fabric gift bags, and filling them with toys and stuffed animals for the hundreds of children in the Runn School orphanage in Texas.
Yvonne is survived by nine children: David (Betty) Wolfe of Arcadia, Lenice (Greg) Pronschinske of Independence, Sandra (Tom) Jindrick of Hillsboro, Dale (Marie) Wolfe of Hixton, Charlene (Jim) Schank of Bayfield, CO, Annette (Scott) Blanchard of Hixton, Douglas (Sandy) Wolfe of Mazomanie, Tony LaPorte of Sun Prairie, Leslie Tomblin of Philadelphia, PA; a sister, Fern Chapman of Milton, WA; 23 grandchildren: Dean, Brenda, Dennis, Bridget, Darin, Damian, Tracy, Kelly, Michael, Christopher, Benjamin, Hunter, Cooper, Derek, Alexis, Ivy, Zachary, Claire, Carter, Kourtney, Austin, Abigail, Bryce; and 27 great grandchildren; step-children: Robin La Porte, Renee Meyer, Rita Marsolek and Roger La Porte.
There will be a gathering on Sunday, January 17, 2021, for immediate family in Independence. Due to COVID-19 gathering restrictions, we are planning a burial and Celebration of Life in May.
Memorials can be sent to her family, who will continue her passion of supporting the Reaching Out Ministries food program and the Runn School.
Online condolences may be offered at www.edisonfuneralhome.com.
Rose Prokop
Rose Prokop, 94, of Independence, died Tuesday, January 12, 2021, at Gundersen Tri-County Memorial Care Center in Whitehall.
Rose was born June 10, 1926, in Montana Township, Buffalo County, to August and Mary (Marsolek) Palkowski. She married Roman Prokop, September 3, 1946. He died January 18, 2004.
Rose farmed with her husband in Burnside Township. She was a farm wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Rose was an active member of Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. She enjoyed gardening, crocheting and visiting with family and friends.
Rose is survived by two sons: Richard Prokop and David (Peggy) Prokop; daughter, Pat (Jack) Luethi; four grandchildren: Jackie (friend, Doug Cooke) Luethi, James (fiancée Kaitlyn Vagt) Luethi, John (Jenny) Luethi and Jeff Prokop; three great-grandchildren: Joel Luethi, Micah and Lily Prokop; two sisters-in-law: Patricia and Loretta Palkowski; many nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial (with COVID-19 guidelines) will be held Saturday, January 23, 2021, at 10:30 a.m., at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Independence with Rev. George Thayilkuzhithottu officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Mass may be viewed on Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic School Facebook Live.
Visitation will be held at the church one hour prior to Mass.
COVID-19 guidelines for the Mass are posted on the funeral home website.
Online condolences may be offered at www.edisonfuneralhome.com.
Mary Ann Hanson
The family of Mary Ann Hanson are sad to announce that, after a brief illness, she died January 11, 2021.
Mary Ann was born in Viroqua, March 17, 1936, and grew up on farms in the Viroqua area. After moving to La Crosse in her senior year of high school, she graduated from Central High School in 1954. She had many interests, including gardening, ceramics, quilting and various arts and crafts hobbies. Above all else, she loved gathering with family and friends for fun and merriment. Everyone who ever had the good fortune to know her loved her for her kindness, warm-heartedness and fun-loving nature. Mary Ann was quick to laugh or to give comfort and encouragement, and she was always ready for a card game, which she usually won.
Mary Ann lived in Beaver
Dam with her daughter, Signe Schecher, for most of the past several years while spending her winters in Okeechobee, FL.
Mary Ann leaves behind many loving relatives: her sister, Janice Hauge, from Manhattan, MT; her sister, Jean Tryggestad, from Santa Ana, CA; her brother-in-law, Richard Albrecht, from La Crosse; her sister-in-law, Lois Tryggestad, from Viroqua; her son and son-in-law, Greg Schaefer and Steve Stoppel, from Los Angeles, CA; her daughter, Signe Schecher, from Beaver Dam; her son and daughter-in-law, Dan and Amy Hanson, from Minneapolis, MN; her granddaughter and son-in-law, Whitney Schecher and Paul Nelson, from Sun Prairie; her grandson and daughter-in-law, Andy and Erica Schecher, from Denver, CO; her grandson and fiancé, Steve Schecher and Savannah Armstrong, from Wauwatosa; her grandsons: Devin and Carter Hanson, from Minneapolis, MN; her step-daughter, Linda Reid, and her children, Nathan and Leah; her step-son, Mitchell Hanson; her step-daughter, Kareen Bisson, and her children, West and Mitchell; and her beloved dog, Bailey. She also leaves behind a host of friends from the many places where she once lived especially Arcadia, Elcho, Juneau, and Beaver Dam, WI, and Okeechobee, FL, where she spent her winters for the past several years.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Edwin Hanson, who died in 2010; her parents, Lyle and Ethel Tryggestad; her three siblings: Wyman Tryggestad, Eloda (Tootie) Albrecht, and Roger Tryggestad; her brother-in-law, Jim Hauge; and her son-in-law, John Schecher.
We will miss her dearly. No one will be able fill her spot in our lives. Even as we shed our tears, we hope and pray for the time when we will be reunited with her on the other side.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution in Mary Ann’s honor to the Dodge County Humane Society or a charity of your choosing.
Koepsell-Murray Funeral Home in Beaver Dam is serving the family. Online condolences may be made to www.koepsellfh.com.
Barbara “Bobby” Gronemus
Barbara “Bobby” Gronemus, 89, of Whitehall, died Sunday, January 17, 2021, at Grand View Care Center in Blair.
She was born November 21, 1931, in Sparta, to Irwin and Irene (Resch) Barry. Bobby married Lambert “Bert” Gronemus, October 12, 1949, at St. Mary’s Ridge Catholic Church in Norwalk He died January 19, 2005.
Bobby served in the Wisconsin State Assembly for 26 years, representing what was then the 91st District. She was especially proud to represent the farmers. Bobby loved fishing, flowers, dancing, farmers and her beagle dog and cats.
Bobby was a trustee at the Trempealeau County Health Care Center for many years. She was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church.
Survivors include three daughters: Michele Gronemus of Farmington, MN, Jackie (Eric) Baken of Pigeon Falls and Susie (Rocky) Williams of Elk River, MN; five grandchildren: Nick (Kristen) Carroll of Whitehall, Colleen (Mike) Readdy of Rockford, IL, Ryan Williams of Elk River, Walker Williams of Princeton, MN, and Bonnie Jean (Greg) Ives of West Salem; six great-grandchildren: Brian Readdy, Michael and Kevin Carroll, Hailey, Mia and Rylan Ives; great-great-grandson, Silar Readdy; sister, Maureen Gamadinger.
She was preceded in death by her husband; and brother, John P. Barry.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, January 22, 2021, at 10:30 a.m., at St. John’s Catholic Church in Whitehall, with Rev. George Thayilkuzhithottu officiating. Burial will be at Lincoln Cemetery in Whitehall.
Visitation will be held at the church one hour prior to Mass.
COVID-19 guidelines for the Mass are posted on the funeral home website.
Online condolences may be offered at www.edisonfuneralhome.com.
