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Phyllis Eleanor Hansen, Larry Mittelstaedt, Vern G. Woodard

Phyllis Eleanor Hansen

Phyllis E. Hansen, 83, of Cashton, WI, passed away, Wednesday, July 8, 2009, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse.

Phyllis was born in La Crosse, April 6, 1926, to William and Regina (Schroeder) Schmitz. Phyllis was united in Holy Matrimony to William Hansen at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, May 28, 1946. They farmed together in Pine Hollow for most of their lives.

Phyllis was very active in the church and community. She was a past president of the Cashton American Legion Auxiliary, a member of the VFW Auxiliary and involved in the Sacred Heart PCCW. She really knew how to strike up some fun at the bowling alley in Cashton. In her spare time Phyllis loved to bowl, play cards, or watch baseball. Phyllis was voted Queen during Cashton’s Centennial Celebration. She loved life and cherished time spent with her husband and family.

Phyllis is survived by her husband of 63 years, William Sr. of Cashton; sons Philip Hansen of Madison and William Jr. (Lori) Hansen of Cashton; daughters Patricia Hansen of La Crosse and Dorothy Hansen of Tomah; a sister, Mary Ann (Jim) Rademacher of Edgerton; three grandchildren, Ashley, Caitlin and Paul Hansen, along with many other relatives and friends.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Gerald Hansen; brothers Jerome, Phillip, Robert and Donald Schmitz; and a niece, Genieve.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, July 11, at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Cashton. Monsignor Robert Hundt will officiate. Burial will be in the Pine Hollow Cemetery, rural Cashton. Family and friends are invited for visitation Friday, July 10, 2-4 p.m. and again from 6 p.m. until the rosary at 8 p.m. at the Torkelson Funeral Home in Cashton. Visitation will also be held Saturday 10 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Sacred Heart School, or Sacred Heart Handicap Fund, both of Cashton; or to the Philip Hansen Scholarship Fund at Edgewood College, Madison, WI. The Torkelson Funeral Home in Cashton is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are available at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.

Larry Mittelstaedt

Larry Mittelstaedt, age 62, of Tomah, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, July 7, 2009. He was born on April 21, 1947, to Ervin and LaVon (McNutt) Mittelstaedt in Sparta, WI. He was a 1965 graduate of Tomah High School.

Following high school, he attended WWTC where he received a degree in drafting. He went to work for Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as a draftsman. Larry then served in the United States Army in Vietnam. After moving back to Tomah, he went to work for USEMCO in 1970 where he started as a draftsman and later moved up to sales where he was currently working.

He was united in marriage to Cheryl Taylor in October of 1991. He was later united in marriage to Sharlee Vocelka Schaafs on Sept. 28, 2007.

Larry was a member of the Tomah American Legion Post #201 and the Tomah/Warrens Sportsman’s Alliance. He loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, trapping, camping and skeet shooting. Larry was active in youth archery and Arrows/Braves baseball where he coached Steve in his younger years. He will be sadly missed by his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Sharlee; his son, Steve Mittelstaedt (special friend, Erin Sorenson) of Menomonie; stepdaughters Jodi (Steve) Heim and their child Laura and Rachel (Mark) Noltner and their child Siena; his brother Gary (Lou Ann) Mittelstaedt of Warrens; nephews Neil Mittelstaedt of Eau Claire and Bret Mittelstaedt of Warrens; other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ervin “Gabby” and LaVon Mittelstaedt.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 10, at 2 p.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 310 W. Elizabeth St, Tomah. Pastor William Rice will officiate. Family and friends are invited for visitation on Friday from 12 p.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.

Vern G. Woodard

In the early morning hours of June 28, 2009, we lost our beloved husband, father, grandpa and papa, Vern G. Woodard, after a courageous battle with emphysema.

Vern was born in Tomah to Arthur and Marguirette Woodard on Dec. 25, 1940. He graduated from Tomah High School in 1959. He married his high school sweetheart, Brenda Harp; to that union came two daughters, Debbie and Lisa.

Vern married the love of his life, Jeanne Pierce, on July 29, 1969. Into that union came five daughters: Laurie, Vickie, Theresa, Tina and Sheila.

Vern led a very adventurous life, but his true passion was to restore old cars. Vern was self-employed and owned Vern’s Custom Body and Paint for many years and, after he retired, he continued to pursue his passion restoring cars. His hobbies were fishing, hunting and the Green Bay Packers.

He was preceded in death by his father, Arthur; mother, Marguirette; baby daughter, Tina; three brothers-in-law, Vern Fisher, Vern Parce and Ozzie Pierce; two sisters-in-law, Jan Woodard and Marilyn Swartz; and two great-nephews, Andy and Kevin. He is survived by the love of his life, Jeanne; daughters Debbie (Mike Bauer), Lisa (Ron Scheitler) of Wisconsin, Laurie (Brice Brogan), Vickie (Jerry Valentine), Theresa Putman (Tom Michael), Shiela (Stewart Penn), all of Billings; sisters Irene (Vern Fisher), Marion (Earl Parce); and brother Arthur of Wisconsin; his nine grandchildren, Jennifer, Jessica, Dylan, Jerry Jr. (Randi), Cassie (Cody), Sean, Shaylin, Kylan and Shelbi, as well as five great-grandchildren.

Daddy, we love and miss you with all of our hearts. “EZ Now.”

There was visitation and a video tribute to Vern from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, and a funeral service at 11 a.m. Thursday morning, July 2, at Trinity Lutheran.

“Save me a smooch, Pooch.”