Alphonse August Killian

Alphonse August Killian, 87, of Blair and formerly of Independence, passed away on Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at the Black River Memorial Hospital, Black River Falls. Alphonse was born on March 15, 1923 to Peter and Anna (Palkowski) Killian. He was raised on his family farm near Independence, Wisconsin where he attended school. On October 29, 1945, he married Blanche L Saverinski. They bought their first home in Independence where they lived for nearly twenty years. He was employed for many years as a construction worker for Pientok Construction. In 1963 he went back to what he enjoyed most when the family purchased a farm near Blair. He farmed until 1973 when he was forced to retire for health reasons. They moved to Buffalo City where he was able to enjoy another passion – fishing. He not only loved fishing and the outdoors, but was an excellent cook so his numerous catches were enjoyed by his entire family. He enjoyed helping others and was the neighborhood handyman while living in Buffalo City. He loved to play cards and spent many hours doing so and teaching his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren the games. In 2000 he and his family moved to Eau Claire where his was able to have a garden. He enjoyed mowing lawn and raising chickens on their small hobby farm. In 2006, the family returned to Blair. He lived a long and productive life and will be missed by his family. He was a story teller and through his stories generations of his family will remember what it was like growing up in the depression, farming with horses and driving a car on dirt roads. Alphonse is survived by his wife Blanche of Blair; a daughter, Patricia Schultz (Phil Hammond) of Murrieta Calif.; a son, Richard Killian of Blair; grandchildren, Mark Schultz (fiancée, Loni Tingco), Tammy (Matthew) Forseth, great grandchildren, Morgan Hewitt, Jackson Forseth, Christopher Schultz, Carter Schultz, Dominick Forseth, all of Eau Claire; sisters Irene Schoenberger of Willow Springs, Ill. and Bernice Soppa of Arcadia; numerous nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters in law and other family and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Alex and Donald, an infant sister, Valeria and a son-in-law, Larry Schultz. The family wishes to thank the staff from Black River Memorial Hospital, Black River Memorial Hospice and Home Care, Western Wisconsin Cares, Gemini Home Health and special care provider, Sue Duha for the care and kindness they extended to Alphonse and his family during the past several months. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at the SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Independence, with Rev. Nathan Thainase officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Monday, July 19, 2010 with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. followed by a rosary at Edison Funeral Home, Independence, and one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Alphonse August Killian, please visit our flower store.