Story originally printed in the Westby Times or online at www.westbytimes.com
Published - Monday, June 30, 2008
Obituaries for week of June 26, 2008
Ardell “Ardy” R. Aarstad | Bernard C. Dregne | Pauline Marie Constalie | Edith Clark | Raymond W. Korn
Ardell “Ardy” R. Aarstad
Ardell “Ardy” R. Aarstad, age 83, of La Crosse, died on Thursday, June 19, 2008, at the Hillview Health Care Center, surrounded by his family.
Ardy was born in Westby, on August 11, 1924, to Anton and Sadie (Nelson) Aarstad and grew up in Viroqua, graduating from Viroqua High School in 1941. After attending for one year at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and was a B-29 pilot until 1946, when he returned to University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and graduated in 1949. He was also a member of the Beta Sigma Chi fraternity at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Ardy taught for one year in Gays Mills and then continued his teaching career at Logan High School until 1966. He taught many academic subjects and coached track, cross-country, gymnastics and started the wrestling program. In 1966, he joined the faculty at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse as associate registrar, where he served until his retirement in 1988. Ardy married Jane Mitchell in 1950 and they have two children, David and Jennifer, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Ardy was one of the founders of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater La Crosse, serving on the board of directors since 1964 and was inducted into the Boys and Girls Club Wall of Fame in 1986. He also served as treasurer for the Retired Teachers of La Crosse and served on the board of directors of the Logan Alumni Association and was also honored as an inductee on the Logan High School Wall of Fame. He also served on the church council of English Lutheran Church in La Crosse for several years. Ardy loved being involved with Norskedalen and had served on the board of directors, as executive committee treasurer and on its Investment Committee for many years. He also enjoyed his association and friendships as a member of the La Crosse Antique Engine Club over the years.
Ardy was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and a loyal and faithful Cub fan.
He is survived by his wife, Jane; his son, David (Kathy) Aarstad of La Crosse; his daughter, Jennifer (Steve) Dunn of Sparta; his six grandchildren, Nicole (Jason) Bishop, Ryan, Christofer and Anthony Aarstad, and Kayla and Nicholas Dunn; and his great-granddaughter, Chloe Bishop. He is further survived by a sister, Shirley (Kossie) Thompson of Snellville, Georgia and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and two sisters, Lorraine Aarstad and Marilyn Johnson.
Friends and family are invited to a celebration of Ardy’s life to be held on Saturday, June 28, 2008, from 1 to 3 p.m., at the Cleary Alumni and Friends Center, 615 East Ave. No., on the UW-La Crosse campus. There will be time for sharing personal remembrances of Ardy beginning at 2 p.m. A private family burial will be held at Oak Grove Cemetery. Memorials can be directed to the Norskedalen Nature and Heritage Center, the Boys and Girls Club of Greater La Crosse, the UW-La Crosse Foundation or English Lutheran Church in lieu of flowers. The Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse is assisting the family with arrangements.
Bernard C. Dregne
Bernard C. Dregne, age 93, passed away on Tuesday, June 17, 2008.
He was born on January 11, 1915, in rural Vernon County to Solfest C. and Christine (Yttre) Dregne. Bernard attended grade school in rural Vernon County; graduated from Viroqua High School in 1932 and from the University of Wisconsin in 1940, with a degree in agricultural education. Upon graduation, he was employed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Medford. At the beginning of World War II he entered the Army and was trained in flight control at a Royal Air Force base in Watchfield, England. He served in the Army until 1946, as a flight control officer, with the 44th Bomber Group, reaching the rank of 1st Lieutenant. Returning from military service, he resumed employment with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Farmers Home Administration) as county supervisor in Baldwin, Lancaster, Viroqua, Dodgeville and the state office in Madison. He was united in marriage to Miriam Antilla on June 9, 1950. After retiring in 1979, he spent time working at his small Vernon County farm, volunteered as a tax aide and delivered meals for Meals on Wheels for many years for the Middleton Senior Center. He was a faithful Badgers fan. Bernard was a NARFE (National Association of Retired Federal Employees) member since retirement.
Bernard is survived by his wife, Miriam; daughters, Mary (Michael) McKenna and Barbara (Wayne) Wahler; grandchildren, Patrick, Christine (Scott Hoebel), Nicholas and Derek; sister, Margery (Conrad) Solverson; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Sylvan and Cal Irwin Dregne and Cachel Fredlund.
Memorial services were held at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Middleton on Friday, June 20, 2008, with the Rev. Katya Ouchakof presiding. Inurnment will be in the Viroqua Cemetery at a later date. Friends called on Friday before the time of the service at the church. Memorials may be directed to Cancer Research, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church or to the donors choice.
The Gunderson West Funeral & Cremation Centers, 7435 University Ave. in Middleton, Wisconsin, served the family.
Pauline Marie Constalie
Pauline Marie Constalie, 88, of Westby, died suddenly at her home, on Sunday, June 22, 2008, surrounded by her family.
Pauline was born on June 1, 1920, to Ingvald and Anna Oium. She grew up on a farm in Timber Coulee. Pauline was united in marriage to Stanley Constalie, who passed away in 1978. Pauline was a faithful member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church; she was also an enthusiastic member of the Sons of Norway. There was no time more precious to Pauline than when she was with her beloved family. She cherished these get-togethers with her whole heart.
She will be sadly missed by her son, Fred (Mary) Constalie; grandson, Robert (Ingrid) Constalie, and their children, Kyle and Kate; granddaughter, Jenny (Mark) Luebke and their children, Erik and Elsa; her nieces, Paula Ebert and Annette Easterday; nephews, Mark Oium and Scott Meyer; brothers-innlaw, Arnold Meyer and Rand Constalie; along with many other relatives and friends.
Pauline was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Stanley; two sisters, Orella Allen and Beverly Meyer; one brother, Paul Oium; and a sister-in-law, Donna Oium.
A memorial service was Wednesday, June 25, 2008, at the Skogdahlen Lutheran Church, near Westby. Pastor Gary Daines officiated. Family and friends were invited for a visitation Wednesday, June 25, 2008, at the church, before the time of service. The Torkelson Funeral Home of Cashton assisted the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
Edith Clark
Edith Clark, age 80 of Westby, passed away peacefully June 19, 2008 after being in Hospice care at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center.
She was born November 4, 1927, to Stephan and Carla (Jacobson) Erlandson. She married Orville Clark on November 10, 1945. They spent most of their married life farming in the La Farge area. Edith worked for a short time at the Mauston Manufacturing Company in Hillsboro. Edith loved gardening, bird watching, making lefse, reading and collecting unique pieces of writing. When Edith and Orville moved to Westby, they became active members of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, where they worked as a team making lefse for church functions. They also started a lawn mowing service and could often be seen buzzing around town helping others.
Edith is survived by her husband, Orville; three children, Jim (Jackie Koppel) of Marshfield, Eileen (Eric) Nemec of Belleville and Barb Edwards of Albany; three grandchildren, Paul (Amanda) Nemec, Nicole Lenzer and Alex Lenzer and three great-grandchildren, Bryanna, Owen and Cooper. She also has three surviving sisters, Winnie Knadle, Marian Stanek and Caroline Erlandson: two surviving brothers, Harlen (Dode) Erlandson and John Erlandson.
She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters and five brothers.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, June 21, 2008, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Westby. Pastor Gary Daines officiated with burial in the Dell Cemetery, rural Westby. Friends called on Friday, June 20, 2008, at the Vosseteig Funeral Home in Westby. Friends also called at the church on Saturday until the time of service.
Online condolences may be offered at www.vosseteig funeralhomes.com.
The Vosseteig Funeral Home of Westby served the family.
Raymond W. Korn
Raymond W. Korn, age 79, of Cashton, passed away on Friday, June 20, 2008, at his farm on Bohemian Ridge.
Raymond was born on July 26, 1928, to Wenzel and Anna (Norlinsky) Korn, on the family farm in the town of Washington, La Crosse County. After graduating from Cashton High School, Ray served in the United States Army with the 5th Regimental Combat Battalion in the Korean War. He returned home and ran the family farm. Ray continued to live and work on the farm until his death. On June 1, 1954, he was united in Holy Matrimony to Audrey Hammes, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Norwalk. Together they raised five children on the farm. Ray was a member of the American Legion, V.F.W., Cashton Knights of Columbus and the Western Wisconsin Agricultural Museum. Ray loved the outdoors and had a keen interest in vintage equipment. One of Ray’s favorite pastimes was to purchase and restore tractors and other antique machinery. When he was not outside, he enjoyed listening to good old-time music.
Ray is survived by his wife of 54 years, Audrey; two sons, Daniel (Debby) Korn and their son, Nicholas, all of Cashton and William (Jane) Korn and their children, Amelia, Joshua, Lydia and Isabell Korn, all of Cashton; two daughters, Nancy (Donald B.) Korn-Smith of La Crescent, Minnesota and Paula (Ken) Silha and their children, Sam and Ted, all of Coon Valley; son-in-law, Randy Silha, his children, Weston, Wyatt, Walker and Wrenna of Woodbury, Minnesota; along with many other relatives and friends.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Patricia Lynn Silha; daughter-in-law, Marlene (Brueggen) Korn; two grandchildren, Jacqueline and Janessa Korn; two sisters, Agnes Silha and Dorothy Korn; and a brother, Victor Korn.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday, June 24, 2008, at St. Peters Catholic Church in Middle Ridge, Wisconsin. Father Francis Abuah-Quansah officiated. Burial with full military honors provided by Dickman-Spaeth VFW Post #8584 was at the church cemetery. Family and friends were invited for visitation on Monday evening, June 23, 2008, at St. Peters Catholic Church. The Cashton Knights of Columbus also lead a rosary.
The Torkelson Funeral Home of Cashton, assisted the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at www.torkel sonfuneralhome.com.
All stories copyright 2006 Westby Times and other attributed sources.