Tomah Journal - Obituaries

Patrick D. Griffin, Evelyn E. Krukar, Quinn R. Strozewski

Patrick D. Griffin

TOMAH/VIROQUA/KENOSHA - Patrick “Pat” Dennis Griffin, age 77, of Tomah, died on Tuesday evening, Nov. 20, 2007, at the Tomah Health Care Center in Tomah where he had been a resident the past year. He was born on Feb. 27, 1930, in Kenosha to Dennis and Mary Elizabeth (Reid) Griffin. He graduated from St. James Catholic Grade School and in 1949 graduated from Mary D. Bradford High School. On June 23, 1951, he married Jean Schend. They lived in Kenosha until 1966 where he managed the Washington Road Lumber Company. In 1966 they moved to Viroqua where he managed the Taylor Lumber Company until 1983. From 1983 until 1995 he served as Viroqua City Clerk. While in Viroqua, he was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and currently held membership in St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tomah. In 2000, he and Jean moved to Tomah.

Pat is survived by his wife: Jean of Tomah; one son: Michael (Shelly) Griffin of Tomah; one daughter: Barbara Griffin of Clarendon Hills, IL; two grandsons: Timothy Griffin of Madison and Thomas Griffin of Tomah; one sister, Kathleen (James) Clinnin of Lansing, IL; one sister-in-law: Lois Griffin of Suring, WI; other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, James Griffin.

Funeral services were held on Monday, Nov. 26, 2007, at St. James Catholic Church in Kenosha with Father Dominic officiating. Burial was in the St. James Catholic Cemetery. Friends called on Friday, Nov. 23, 2007, at the Thorson-Reetz Funeral Home in Viroqua. Friends also called on Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007. at the Hansen-Lendman Funeral Home in Kenosha. Serving as pallbearers were Michael Griffin, Timothy Griffin, Thomas Griffin, Richard Schend, Brian Griffin, and Rex Blake. The family suggests memorials to the Salvation Army.

Evelyn E. Krukar

Evelyn E. Krukar, 94, of Tomah, died Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007, at A Touch of Home. She was born July 14, 1913, to August and Amelia (Kewit) Noth in the Town of Wilton. She graduated from the Tomah High School in 1931. Evelyn was united in marriage to Andrew Krukar, Aug. 25, 1956, at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church in Tomah. He preceded her in death on Nov. 7, 1984.

Evelyn worked at the Tomah Public Libriary, and as a secretary for Lester Gordon. She then worked at Fort McCoy as a secretary, where she met her husband, Andy. She accompanied her husband on his tour of duty in Germany and at the Presidio of San Francisco, where he retired from military service in 1965. After his retirement, they made their home in Colorado Springs. She was a member of the Rock of Ages Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs and a member of St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church. She was a volunteer at the Lutheran Braille, a member of the Retired Officers Association Auxillary, a member of the Retired Officers Wives Club, a member of the TROA Singles, and a former member of the Fine Arts Center, various other groups and organizations.

She is survived by nine nieces, Phyllis Zillmer of Tomah, Lucy (Robert) Sherwood of Tomah, Carol (Doug) Nevin of Wilton, Pauline Hockett of Fort Royal, VA, Letha Noth of Bangor, Beverly Barnett, Ruth Sour, Joan Borcher and Sherri (Robert) Lange of Littleton, CO; six nephews, Keith (Sandy) Stender of Fennimore, Charles (Connie) Stender of South Beloit, David (Sandy) Noth of Wilton, Ken Krukar, David (Fran) Krukar and Richard Krukar; a brother-in-law, Steve Krukar; many great-nieces and nephews, and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her brothers and sisters, Neta Radant, Raymond Noth, Corliss Noth, Adaila Olson and Mildred Stender; her brothers-in-law, John and Adam Krukar; her sister-in-law, Ann Gmitro, and her nephews, Orlo Noth, King Hockett and Wayne Zillmer.

Funeral services were today (Thursday), Nov. 29, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, 525 Superior Ave. Pastor Curt S. Backhaus officiated. Relatives and friends called at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Burial was in Oak Grove Cemetery, Tomah.

The Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.

Quinn R. Strozewski

Quinn R. Strozewski, 54, of Warrens, WI, passed away on Monday, Nov. 26, 2007, at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI.

Quinn was born in Tomah, WI, to Robert and Mildred (Moe) Strozewski on April 17, 1953. He grew up in the Mather area on a cranberry marsh. He attended Mather School and was a 1971 graduate of Tomah High School. During high school he worked at Kennedy Auto in Tomah, selling auto parts, but his true passion was on the cranberry marsh. Quinn took over the family marsh soon after graduating from high school.

He married Deborah Pease on Aug. 23, 1975, and together they worked on the family marsh. Quinn’s home was paradise to him. Some of his most enjoyable times were spent outside, hunting, trapping and fishing. When family and friends were around, Quinn was always ready to deal out the cards and play a game or two. He was an avid sports fan and watching the Chicago Cubs make a run for the World Series the last two years was very exciting. He was a genuine kind and helpful neighbor who will be missed by many.

He is survived by his wife, Deborah; his sister, Sue (Jim) Ritland of Black River Falls; his brother-in-law, Richard (April) Pease of Florida; sister-in-law, Kay (Chips) Chiappetta and family of Kentucky; nieces and nephews, Roberta (Jeff) Sevier and family, Nathan (Kristy) Knight and family, Ricky (Kathy) Pease and family, and Jared Pease; along with many other relatives and friends.

Quinn was preceded in death by his mom and dad; along with his mother- and father-in-law, Dean and Dorothy Pease.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, Nov. 30, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Tomah. Pastor Edwin Stigen will officiate. A private family interment will take place at a later date. Family and friends are invited for visitation today (Thursday), Nov. 29, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah. The Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah is assisting the family with arrangements.

Online condolences are available at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.