All Obituaries

Raymond M. Jerome, 92, of Sparta, died on Saturday, December 4, 2021 at the Morrow Home in Sparta, WI. He was born June 2, 1929 in the township of Burns to Maynard and Dorothy (Baker) Jerome. Raymond grew up in the Burns area and served in the United States Army from 1952 to 1954. He would be stationed in Korea during the war. Raymond married Eleanor Pfaff on May 12, 1954 in the Presbyterian Church in Bangor, WI. They were married for 67 years. Raymond enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping...

Norman Eugene Warthan of Sparta, WI died Tuesday November 30, 2021 at his home with many family members at his bedside. He was born January 24, 1935 to Enoch (Tim) and Isabelle Warthan. He was the eldest of seven children.   Norman started his working career at the Sparta Co-Op in high school. Soon after high school he met his dear wife Fran Boardman of La Crosse. They married on September 11, 1954 and had four children: Robert, Gloria, Danny and Steven.   Norman joined the...

Kenneth B. Axelsen, 70, of Onalaska and formerly of Sparta, died Wednesday, November 24, 2021 at Mayo Clinic Hospital, St. Mary’s Campus, Rochester, MN. He was born on March 2, 1951 in Sparta to Walter and Alma (Pulham) Axelsen. Ken married Mary Rochester (Rhoades) on August 12, 1986. Ken worked for Indus International and NCR as a mechanical engineer. He enjoyed taking rides, fishing, gardening, and playing cards. Ken is survived by his wife, Mary of Onalaska; two daughters,...

Randy J. Steinhoff, 57, of Cashton, died Saturday, November 27, 2021 at his home. He was born on August 7, 1964 in La Crosse to Richard and Lorraine (Cavadini) Steinhoff. Randy is survived by his daughter, Kayla (Shawn) Vian; grandchildren, Adalynn, Avayah, Axten, and Braelyn; parents, Richard and Lorraine; sister, Wendy; brothers, Rick (Deb) and Tim; nieces, Allison, Tiffany (Steve), Felicia (Micah) and her children, Shelby and Remy; nephew, Skylar; many aunts, uncles, and cousins; his...

Dwain “Spike” Jones was born on August 3, 1928, the only child of Earl and Polly (Syverson) Jones. Spike grew up in Welch Valley on the family farm. Weather permitting, he rode his pony to the Welch Valley School. Spike also used his pony to pull a berry cart to Sparta. The berries were hand picked by Spike and his first cousin, Smith. Shortly after graduating from Sparta High School, he married the love of his life, Betty Mossholder. They celebrated their 72nd wedding...

Patricia (Pat) Baker was born to Howard E. and Elsie (Sturdevant) Cole on September 25, 1941 in Tipton County, Indiana, the oldest of nine children. At age of 19, Pat moved to Racine, WI where she met and married La Verne Baker. She worked at various jobs in Racine including Young Radiator, Jacobsen Mfg., and Lincoln Lutheran of Racine/Becker Shoop Center where she was Administrative Secretary. She and her husband moved to Monroe County back to the farm where La Verne was raised when he...

David C. Schauf, 62, of West Salem, died Sunday, November 28, 2021 at his home. He was born on November 7, 1959 in Sparta to Charles and Lois (Christopherson) Schauf. He grew up in Sparta and graduated from Sparta High School in 1978. David married Marie Olsen on February 4, 1978 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sparta. They lived in Sparta until 1988 and moved to Onalaska. They moved to West Salem in 2000. David worked in flooring his entire life. He owned and operated Art’s Floor...

Winston Levis Zeman, 89, of Melrose, passed away on November 21, 2021, at his home, after a brief battle with leukemia and aortic stenosis. He was born on September 23, 1932, in La Crosse, Wisconsin to Stephen P. and Vergie H. (Sander) Zeman.  He was raised on the family farm in Irving Township, rural Melrose, and attended Cuffy Knob and Highland Grade Schools.  He was a 1950 graduate of Melrose High School. Winston served in the United States Navy from October 1951 to October...

Leona Elizabeth Leis, 96, of Sparta, died Monday, November 22, 2021 at Bridge Path Assisted Living, Sparta. She was born on February 08, 1925 in Cashton, WI to Jacob and Anna (Suhr) Steidl.   Leona went to school through 8th grade and then went out to work, helping with chores and house cleaning for other families. Leona would later work with a couple of girls that she roomed with, stripping tobacco.   Leona would marry Ernest B. Leis on April 25, 1944 and farmed while also...

Hilda M. Skilbred, 87, of Sparta, died on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at Morrow Memorial Home in Sparta. She was born on July 7, 1934 in Dorchester, WI to Lars and Edith (Stockwell) Skilbred. Hilda grew up in Dorchester, WI. Her family moved to Camp Douglas, WI when she was a teenager. When Hilda left home she moved to Evanston, IL where she and her sisters ran a boarding house. In 1974 Hilda and her two sisters Grace and Eleanor moved to Sparta, WI. Where she enjoyed farming and working at...