Cletus Joseph Pronschinske

INDEPENDENCE – Cletus Joseph Pronschinske, 83, of Independence, died Tuesday, April 10, 2012, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse. Cletus was born January 21, 1929 in Fountain City, Wis., to Alphonse and Agnes (Semling) Pronschinske. He attended a one-room country school until moving to Praug, Wis. and later Waumandee grade school. From there the family moved to Arcadia, where he went to catholic school and high school. He married Monica Karasch in Independence on November 11, 1953. They lived in Independence where they raised their nine children. He attended secondary schooling in La Crosse, Eau Claire, Detroit and New York. His schooling included real estate, computer programming which included robotics, refrigeration and electrical. He worked for Northern Investment as a field man. He managed Production Credit Association in Mondovi for 3 years. He was a maintenance foreman for Whitehall Packing for 13 years. From there he went to Trane Company in La Crosse. He was a maintenance and electrical foreman at Trane for 13 years. He started his own refrigeration and electrical business called ACRE Refrigeration Company. He retired from Trane Company and continued his business with ACRE Refrigeration Company. He later sold his business to his son, Greg. He married Lois Prudlick on October 30, 2004. They liked to go to old time dances and video-tape for their own collection. They also enjoyed going to local nursing homes and playing their videos for the residents. Also, Cletus and Lois gave the videos to T.C.C. T.V. so they could be shared by the T.V. audience. They lived in Strum until moving to Independence in 2007. Cletus was a member of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church and a 3rd Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Survivors include his wife, Lois of Independence; nine children, Dennis (Sandra) Pronschinske of Independence, Nancy (Ralph) Lyon of Whitehall, Greg (special friend, Roxanne Miescke) Pronschinske of Whitehall, Keith (Tammy) Pronschinske, Kirth (Peggy) Pronschinske both of Whitehall, Amy (Sam) Kotlarz and James (fiancé, Amy George)Pronschinske both of Arcadia, Jason (Valerie) Pronschinske and Tina (Paul) Sylla both of Independence; four brothers, Clarence (Beverly) Pronschinske, his twin, Quintin (Marion) Pronschinske, Linus (Phyllis) Pronschinske, and Francis (Bernice) Pronschinske; three sisters, Toni (Aaron) Smieja, Mary Lou (Linus) Soppa and Lois (Bill) Deeren; 20 grandchildren, Matthew (Anne) Pronschinske, Lydia (Patrick) Corran, Brittney, Kyle, Brooke, Jared, Sarah and Staci Pronschinske, Katie (Steve) Peterson, Aaron Pronschinske, Skylar Kotlarz, Alexis, Mariya and Kaeden Pronschinske, Emerson, Aubrie and Adison Pronschinske, Lauren, Brandon and Leah Sylla; three great-grandchildren, Paige and Grayson Pronschinske and Kaydence Peterson; two step-great-grandchildren, Anya and Aidan Marcou; three step-children, Aloze (Deb) Prudlick, Jr., Eugene (Renee) Prudlick and Charlotte (Jeff) Thomley; 12 step-grandchildren and 18 step-great-grandchildren. He is further survivied by nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. Cletus was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Monica on October 14, 1994; an infant grandson, Andrew Pronschinske; three sisters, Ermina Pronschinske, Dorothy Schaub and Vera Wozney; a brother, Aaron Pronschinske; three brothers-in-law, Melvin Schaub, Everest Wozney and John Klimek; and two sisters-in-law, Ellen and Rosemary Pronschinske. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 14, 2012 at the SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Independence, with Very Rev. Woodrow H. Pace officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Friday and 8-10 a.m. Saturday at Edison Funeral Home, Independence, where there will be a prayer service followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary at 7:30 p.m. Friday. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Cletus Joseph Pronschinske, please visit our flower store.