Story originally printed in the Tomah Journal or online at www.tomahjournal.com

Published - Monday, May 05, 2008

Obituaries for May 1

Arlene M. Dahl, Shirley A. Downs, Donald Dean Gerke, Bernice May (Erdman) Johnson, Elaine Kane

Arlene M. Dahl

Arlene M. Dahl, age 91, of Tomah, WI, passed away on Wednesday, April 30, 2008, at Close to Home in Tomah. She was born on Dec. 2, 1916, in Juneau, WI.

She is survived by her daughters, Gwen (Donald) Nelson of Tomah and Kim (Cliff) Recker of Waunakee; grandchildren, Nicole Nelson of Arlington, VA, and Andrew Nelson of Columbus, OH; and her sister, Helen Ranum of Illinois; other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Ella; and her husband, Howard in 2002.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 3, at 1 p.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Tomah. Pastor William Rice will officiate. Burial will follow in the Woodlawn Cemetery, Sparta. Family and friends are invited for visitation on Saturday from 11 a.m. until the time of service at the church.

The Torkelson Funeral Home of Tomah is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are available at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.

Shirley A. Downs

VERONA - Shirley A. Downs, age 80, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 27, 2008, at Meriter Hospital surrounded by her loving family. She was born on Nov. 6, 1927, at home in Tomah, WI, to Myron and Marie (Schmeider) Shie. Shirley graduated from Kendall High School in 1944 and went to work at Camp McCoy.

On Aug. 20, 1947, at Indian Creek Church in Oakdale, Shirley married her high school sweetheart, Joseph Downs of Tomah. In 1950 Joe graduated from WSU-Stout and was called back to active duty with the U.S. Navy. While Joe was serving one year in Japan, Shirley and new daughter JoAnn moved in with Shirley’s parents in Tomah. In 1951 Shirley and Joe moved their family of four to Mauston, where they resided for five years. In 1956 the Downs family of seven moved to Madison where Joe accepted a teaching position at Cherokee Junior High. Shirley worked for Cherokee School as a cook, Ben Franklin variety store, the State of Wisconsin, and over 22 years as secretary for Cherokee School before she and Joe retired in 1991. For 35 years, Joe and Shirley were mentors to all students and staff at Cherokee. They opened their hearts and home to numerous students at risk, instilling their educational and family values to everyone they worked with. Shirley and Joe were devoted parents, neighbors, friends, and parishioners. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Shirley is survived by her loving family: two daughters, JoAnn (Art) Sosa of Waukesha, Kathy (Rich) Henderson of Verona; two sons, Gregory (Margaret) of Shorewood and Mark (Nancy) of Belleville; nine grandchildren, AJ and Nicholas (fiancé Jessica) Sosa of Sun Prairie, Ian and Sara Henderson of Verona, Jennifer and Gregory Jr. of Shorewood, and Branden, Courtney, Melissa Downs of Belleville; and numerous nieces, nephews, and godchildren. Shirley is further survived by siblings Jean (David) Breitzman of Tomah; John (Barbara) Shie of Holiday Island, AR; sister-in-laws, Betty (Jim-deceased) Downs of Marinette and Pat (Tom-deceased) Shanley of Boynton Beach, FL, and John Downs of Chicago, IL. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, an infant sister Joann, her husband Joseph, and a son Jeffrey Downs.

Visitation was Wednesday, April 30, from 4 until the 7:30 p.m. rosary service at Joyce-Ryan Funeral Home, 118 N. Franklin St. in Verona. A Mass of Christian Burial was conducted at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 1, at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 301 N. Main St., Verona, with Father Dave Timmerman officiating. Burial was in Verona followed by a luncheon at the parish center.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in Shirley’s name to HospiceCare Inc., 5395 E. Cheryl Pkwy., Madison, WI 53711, American Lung Association, 13100 W. Lisbon Road, Suite 700, Brookfield, WI 53005 or St. Andrew Church in Verona.

The family wishes to extend a very heartfelt thank you to Dr. Beth O’Brien, the nurses and staff who so lovingly cared for our mother and family during these weeks at Meriter Hospital.

Donald Dean Gerke

Donald Dean Gerke, 42, of La Crosse, died on Monday, April 28, 2008. He was born and baptized on June 1, 1965, in Merrill, WI. Don graduated from Onalaska Luther High School in 1983 and attended UW-La Crosse. He had worked at Gateway Foods for many years in the printing department and was currently employed at ORC Industries. Don was an avid reader and enjoyed playing video games.

He is survived by a sister, Nancy (Philip) Roraff, Jr.; four nieces and nephews, Ben, Erica, Cory a nd T’Kayla Roraff; his aunts and uncles, Donald (Barb) Christensen, Alice Hovey, Ann (Dallas) Heinz, Agnes Christensen, Doris Jarasinski and Edward Gerke, and several step-brothers, step-sisters and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Eugene and Clarice (Christensen) Gerke; his grandparents, Clarence and Edna Christensen and Julius and Elsa Gerke, and several aunts and uncles.

Memorial services were held today (Thursday), May 1, at 3 p.m. at the Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse. Friends called at the funeral home today from 2 p.m. until time of the services.

Bernice May (Erdman) Johnson

Bernice May (Erdman) Johnson, age 84, of Canoga Park, CA, and formerly of Tomah, WI, passed from this life to her new life in Heaven, on Feb. 4, 2008, in Canoga Park, CA.

She will be lovingly remembered by her daughters, Sharie Marie Jonsin, Ava Day, Diane (Jim) Walters, and granddaughter, Megan; her sister, Louella Griffith; nieces, Marrianne (Edward) Naber and Jeanine Tesch, and a nephew, Gary (Marilyn) Peterson; and her extended family members. She also leaves her longtime love, John Bibbey.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Avold and Marie; her sister, Avis Stubley, and her brothers, Arthur and Laverne.

The world was a better place with her in it. She will be greatly missed, but her spirit will live on in those who loved her.

A graveside memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 3, at 2 p.m. at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Tomah. Pastor Mark Benning will officiate.

The Torkelson Funeral Home of Tomah is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are available at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com

Elaine Kane

Elaine Kane, of Tomah, WI, passed away on Sunday, April 27, 2008, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN. She was born to Joseph and Mabel (Strong) Hein in Davenport, IA.

She was united in marriage to Donald Joseph Kane; he preceded her in death on May 22, 1975. Elaine was employed as a Registered Nurse and worked at the Tomah VA Medical Center for many years.

She is survived by seven children, Ann (Roger) Davis of Versailles, KY, Robert (Gloria) Kane of Tomah, Mary (Larry) Eagleson of Warrens, William (Carie) Kane of Mt. Juliet, TN, Thomas (Lori) Kane of Neenah, Don Kane Jr. of Tomah, and Timothy (Evelyn) Kane of Tomah; 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; her brothers, William Hein and Paul Hein, both of Davenport, IA; a special cousin, Sister Annamarie Kane; and a nephew, Michael (Pat) Hein of Wisconsin Rapids; and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Mabel; her husband, Donald Kane Sr; a brother, John Hein; and a sister, Vivian Holts.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, April 30, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Tomah. The Very Rev. Steven J. Kachel will officiate. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Tomah. Family and friends are invited for visitation on Tuesday, April 29, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah. Family and friends are also invited for visitation on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church.

The Torkelson Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are available at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.

Elaine asked us to express on her behalf her deep appreciation to Dr. Cavaness, who provided innovative and consistent care, helped her to make grueling decisions and was ever available to Elaine for many years. Her gratitude extends also to his assistant, Krista, and the entire Franciscan Skemp Healthcare-Lake Tomah Clinic staff, to the entire Tomah Memorial Hospital staff, the entire Tomah Hospice Touch staff and palliative care. Also, Monroe County Nursing Services, especially Marcia. Elaine especially wanted us to express her deep appreciation and gratefulness to her precious friends. Your visits, companionship, kindness and compassion n these were a continual gift. She was so very thankful for your friendship and for the time you worried about her and laughed with her. You gave her the courage to face the day with an attitude for gratitude.

Leon Eugene “Gene” Prescott

Leon Eugene “Gene” Prescott, age 75, of Tomah, WI, passed away on Friday, April 25, 2008, at the VA Hospital in Tomah. He was born on April 29, 1932, to Earl Robert and Dorothy Odetta (Wilhelmsen) Prescott. Gene graduated from Tomah High School in May of 1950 and subsequently pursued a successful career in the U.S. Air Force. While serving his country, he rose from the entry-level rank of private to the rank of major. Major Prescott’s illustrious military career and his effective involvement in the security of the United States was recognized and rewarded with numerous medals, citations, awards and honors. He was most proud of receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross while serving in the Vietnam War. He retired from the U.S. Air Force on March 31, 1970, and moved back to his hometown of Tomah. With the help of his devoted wife, Jan, he worked to establish a small business called Easy Mail Tray. Together, Gene and Jan developed, manufactured and sold mail equipment to postal carriers nationwide. While operating this business he also worked as a rural post carrier. After 20 years with the United States Post Office, he retired from his second career on Oct. 28, 1994. He then sold his small business and enjoyed life with his beloved wife, Jan, until her death on Dec. 17, 2002.

Gene will be remembered, by those who loved him, as an honest, hardworking, and smart businessman. He was an inventor and problem solver, continually thinking of ways to improve situations or to develop equipment that would simplify and better organize the work of the rural postal carrier. He had a clever sense of humor and enjoyed hearing and telling jokes. He enjoyed his family and especially loved to see his grandchildren as they grew into adulthood. They were a constant source of pride for him. His ability to persevere and his diligent effort to achieve will always be admired, respected and honored by his family. We, his loved ones, will remember him as one who provided well, loved much, enjoyed life and appreciated even the smallest of kindnesses shown to him.

He is survived by his two step-daughters, Lana (Bill) Boehme of Tomah, WI, and Nancy (Jim) Lyde of Austin, TX; six grandchildren, nine great-granchildren; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

See Obituaries, page 8A

All stories copyright 2006 Tomah Journal and other attributed sources.