Obituaries

Monica R. Sylla

Monica R. Sylla

Oct 5, 2012

Monica R. Sylla, 94, of Independence, died Friday, October 5, 2012. Monica was born January 9, 1918, in rural Independence, to Francis and Hattie Misch. She was later adopted and raised by John and Julia Sygulla. She married Dominic Sylla June 10, 1940 at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Independence. He died January 14, 2003. She is survived by...

Sara Mathson

Sara Mathson

Sep 20, 2012

Sara Mathson, 37, of Blair, died Thursday, September 20, 2012 at her residence. Sara was born May 14, 1975 in La Crosse to Keith and Penelope (Weist) Mathson. She worked as a CNA in Wichita, Kan. and Trempealeau County Health Care Center. Sara loved caring for people. She was a Milwaukee Brewers fan and enjoyed country music, movies and playing...

Alvina M. Goard

Alvina M. Goard

Sep 1, 2012

Alvina M. Goard, 90, of Arcadia, formerly of Independence, died Saturday, September 1, 2012 at Tri-County Memorial Hospital, Whitehall. She was born February 21, 1922 in Chimney Rock Township, Trempealeau County, to Ole and Julia (Gruntzel) Olson. She married Hugh D. Goard on November 7, 1945 in Eleva. He died July 30, 2002. The couple lived in Illinois for five...

Dominic O. Giemza

Dominic O. Giemza

Aug 22, 2012

Dominic O. Giemza, 78, of rural Arcadia, died Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at Grand View Care Center, Blair. Dominic was born May 29, 1934 in Arcadia Township, Trempealeau County, to Albert and Angeline (Sobotta) Giemza. Dominic worked at Whitehall Packing Plant and then at Ettrick Sales Barn. He raised beef cattle and did custom hay cutting and raking. He belonged...

Ernest Miemietz

Ernest Miemietz

Aug 15, 2012

Ernest Miemietz, 87, of Independence, died Wednesday, August 15, 2012, at the Pigeon Falls Health Care Center. Ernie was born October 27, 1924 in Burnside Township, Trempealeau County, to John and Gertrude (Klimek) Miemietz. He married Adeline Slaby on June 25, 1952 at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. She died July 8, 1998. Ernie hauled milk for Independence Creamery...

Pelchie Hotchkiss

Pelchie Hotchkiss

Aug 3, 2012

Pelchie Hotchkiss, 95, of Independence, died Friday, August 3, 2012 at Pigeon Falls Healthcare Center. Pelchie was born September 15, 1916 in Independence to Michael and Victoria (Skroch) Kampa. She married R. Addison Hotchkiss August 21, 1941 at St. Michael's Catholic Church, North Creek. He died May 16, 1993. Pal was a member of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church,...

Adolph A. Kampa Jr.

Adolph A. Kampa Jr.

Jul 2, 2012

Adolph A. Kampa Jr., 67, of rural Independence, died Monday, July 2, 2012 at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Adolph was born April 10, 1945 in Chimney Rock Township, Trempealeau County, to Adolph and Angeline (Sluga) Kampa. Survivors include three children, Robin (Lisa) Kampa of Independence, Timothy Kampa of Winona and Jessica Kampa of New Philadelphia, Ohio; a...

Donald N. Kloss

Donald N. Kloss

Jun 17, 2012

Donald N. Kloss, 75, passed away on Sunday, June 17, 2012, surrounded by his family at his home in Independence following a battle with melanoma. Don was born on Sept. 16, 1936, in Trempealeau County, to Tekla (Wiersgalla) and Peter Kloss. He graduated from Independence High School and then served in the U.S. Navy, where he spent time on Ascension...

Joseph E. Gill

Joseph E. Gill

Jun 15, 2012

Joseph E. Gill, 57, of Arcadia, Wis., formerly of Milwaukee and Racine, died Friday, June 15, 2012 at Mayo Clinic Health System in Arcadia. He was born November 18, 1954 in Racine to Edward and Gladys Gill. He graduated from Case High School in Racine. Joe spent most of his life managing restaurants in the Milwaukee area, for which he...

James P. Weist

James P. Weist

Jun 4, 2012

James P. Weist, 63, of Miami, Florida, formerly of La Crosse, died Monday, June 4, 2012 at his residence. He was born May 15, 1949 in Evanston, Ill. to Walter and Verna (Calkins) Weist. Jim graduated from Central High School in La Crosse. He attended the UW-Madison before serving in the U. S. Army as a translator/interpreter in Viet Nam....

Kathy Sonsalla

Kathy Sonsalla

May 29, 2012

INDEPENDENCE – Kathleen "Kathy" Sonsalla, 64, of Independence, died Tuesday, May 29, 2012, at her home surrounded by her loving family. Kathy was born July 4, 1947 in Stevens Point, Wis., to Earl and Regina (Stanczyk) Soule. She married Edward "Sonny" L. Sonsalla February 4, 1967 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, Arcadia. Kathy will always be remembered for her generosity....

Wilfred J. Smieja

Wilfred J. Smieja

May 25, 2012

Wilfred J. "Willie" Smieja, 83, of Independence, died Friday, May 25, 2012, at Tri-County Memorial Hospital, Whitehall. He was born September 2, 1928 in Independence to Roman and Christine (Reck) Smieja. He married Evelyn Kotlarz on November 19, 1952 at SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Independence. Willie served in the U. S. Army in Germany during the Korean...

Jeanette A. Buchholz

Jeanette A. Buchholz

May 17, 2012

Jeanette A. Buchholz, 75, of Independence, died Thursday, May 17, 2012, at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse surrounded by her loving family. Jeanette was born January 19, 1937 in Independence to Clifford T. and Blanche (Kokott) Marsolek. She married Richard Buchholz November 7, 1959 at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Independence. He died April 25, 1982. Jeanette...

Melvin Wirth

Melvin Wirth

May 15, 2012

Melvin Wirth, 64, of Independence, Wis., formerly of Austin, Minn., died Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester, Minn. He was born June 5, 1947 in East St. Louis, Ill. to Fred and Florence Wirth. Melvin served in the U. S. Army in Viet Nam. He was employed at Hormel in Austin, Minn. for 41 years until retirement....

Florence Severinski Gariepy

Florence Severinski Gariepy

May 1, 2012

Florence Severinski Gariepy, 77, of Riverside, Calif., formerly of Independence, died Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at her home in Riverside. Florence was born February 25, 1935 in Independence the last of eight children to Joseph and Agnes Severinski. She married David Arthur Gariepy. Survivors include her daughter, LeAnn Baxter of Riverside, Calif.; two grandchildren, Jocelyn and David Baxter both of...

Arlene Wiench

Arlene Wiench

Apr 10, 2012

Arlene O. Wiench passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, April 10, 2012, at the age of 73, surrounded by family at Banner Heart Hospital in Mesa, Ariz. Arlene was born in Fountain City, Wis. on July 5, 1938, to John and Florence (Abts) Grossell. Arlene worked at St. Joseph's Hospital in Arcadia, Wis. as a nurse's assistant for five years. She retired...

Cletus Joseph Pronschinske

Cletus Joseph Pronschinske

Apr 10, 2012

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...

Veronica Gawenda

Veronica Gawenda

Apr 8, 2012

INDEPENDENCE – Veronica Gawenda, 90, of Seneca, Wis. formerly of rural Osseo, died Sunday, April 8, 2012 at Thornton Manor Nursing Home in Lansing, Iowa. She was born September 11, 1921 in Milwaukee, Wis., to William and Victoria Zyzniewski. She married Casimir "Casey" Gawenda. He died August 26, 2006. Survivors include three sons, Charles Gawenda of Champlin, Minn., Kenneth (Margie)...

Gertrude "Gertie" Sura

Gertrude "Gertie" Sura

Mar 21, 2012

INDEPENDENCE – Gertrude "Gertie" Sura, 67, of Independence, died unexpectedly Wednesday, March 21, 2012, at Tri-County Memorial Nursing Home, Whitehall. Gertie was born January 11, 1945 in Trempealeau County, Wis., to John and Tillie (Thoma) Sluga. She married Ernest Sura November 16, 1968 at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Independence, Wis. The couple farmed in Chimney Rock Township. She...

Betty Finley

Betty Finley

Mar 16, 2012

INDEPENDENCE, WIS. – Betty Finley, 80, of Whitehall, Wis. died Friday, March 16, 2012, at Tri-County Memorial Nursing Home, Whitehall. Betty was born October 7, 1931 in Edgerton, Wis., to Fredrich and Dorothy (Holmes) Zahn. She married Malcolm Ely McNamara March 10, 1948 in Milton, Wis. He died December 31, 1963. She married Thomas E. Finley March 3, 1968. Betty...