John “Jack” H. Emerson
John “Jack” H. Emerson, 77, of Galesville passed away Friday, November 6, 2020, at the Trempealeau County Health Care Center in Whitehall.
John was born July 16, 1943, to Flavian and Vera (Conrad) Emerson. John married Roxie Beirne, April 17, 2009.
Jack loved the simple things in life. He took great pride in his yard. He enjoyed spending many hours planting flowers, pruning shrubs, and mowing lawn, making sure that everything looked beautiful. Nobody could mow his yard the “correct” way, but him. The yard was even more special to him when he could share its beauty with his loving mother, Vera, and many other family members, and his many friends. There were several gatherings on his deck during the summer months, which included stories about the “Good Old Days”, and much laughter. Jack also made sure he shared many of those old stories with his grandchildren, which in turn, earned him the affectionate nickname name of “Back-in-the-day, Grandpa Jack” since he’d always start a story with the words, “Back in my day…”
Jack was a cattle buyer for many years. Running the business F. J. Emerson & Sons with his father, Flip, going to weekly cattle sales in Ettrick, and Lewiston, MN. He also worked at Babson Brothers Co. in Galesville. Through these jobs, he developed many life-long friendships. On Sundays, besides church, the Packers were important. You could often hear Jack yelling at the T.V., even if the Packers were winning the game. Jack also loved to dance. If there was a 50’s or 60’s song playing, especially one sung by Elvis, it was hard to keep him off of the dance floor. We can all learn something from the way Jack lived his life. Enjoy the simple, little things in your life, because someday you will realize that they were the big things.
Jack is survived by his wife, Roxie; daughter, Kristin (Joseph) Lakey; step-daughter, Amanda (Travis) Tollefson; step-son, Jared (Erika) Happel; two grandchildren: Leslie and Kaileb Lakey; six step-grandchildren: Nicholas, Benton, and Chloe Tollefson, and Jase, Henry, and Evelyn Happel; six sisters: Rose (Rick) Jensen, Lori (Jim) Mahoney, Dorothy (Jim) Anderson, Carmen Rolbecki, Carla (Quentin) Eichman, and LaVonne (Todd) Peterson; two brothers: Jim (Tara) Emerson and Jeff (Chris) Emerson; brothers and sisters-in-law: Doreen Emerson, Ronda (Kelly) Hanson, and Rich (Chris) Beirne; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Jerry Emerson; brother-in-law, Ed Rolbecki; and a nephew, Jared Emerson.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, November 12, 2020, at 11:00 a.m., at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 20344 W. Ridge Ave., Galesville. Reverend Joseph Antony will officiate and burial will be at St. Bridget’s Cemetery in Ettrick. A visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m., until time of service.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.dickinsonfuneral
homes.com.
