All Obituaries

Janet Wegner of Sparta passed away January 25, 2021, at Rolling Hills Rehabilitation Center in Sparta, from complications associated with Alzheimer’s disease. She was born June 10, 1936, in Sparta to Elmer and Helen (Souchek) Meyer. Janet grew up in Bangor and graduated from Bangor High School in 1954. Janet married Lowell Wegner on June 30, 1956. They lived in the Melrose area raising their family and Janet worked first at the La Crosse Tribune and then the Bank of Melrose. Later...

Raymond Walter Bulthuis, 75, of Chicago, IL but formerly of Sparta, died Thursday, January 7, 2021 at home surrounded by his loving wife and family. He was born on Feb 1, 1945 to James and Florence (Davey) Bulthuis.      He grew up in Chicago IL. He attended grade school and vocational high school in Chicago. After high school Ray attended college in Denver where he majored in business. After graduation Ray joined the U.S. Navy from 1963 to 1967. While in the...

Jerry D. Hale, 77, of Sparta, died Wednesday, January 20, 2021, at his home. He was born February 6, 1943, to HH and Ruth (Barton) Hale, in Amarillo, TX. Jerry grew up in Texas and served in the US Army from May 19, 1960, until his honorable discharge on August 31, 1980. He farmed and was an over the road trucker. Jerry moved to Wisconsin in 1979 and was the Ammunition Supervisor at Ft. McCoy until his retirement. He liked golfing in his earlier years; in his later years, he enjoyed riding...

     Edward “Ned” Augustine Koonmen, Jr, 94, passed away on Monday, January 18, 2021.  He was born in Highland Park, MI on Dec. 22, 1926, oldest of the 5 children of Edward A. Koonmen, Sr and Ella Fagg Koonmen.      Ned grew up in Detroit and graduated from Denby High School at age 16. He completed his first year of Mechanical Engineering at Rose Polytechnic Institute in Terre Haute, IN when he was drafted into WWII at 18.  He was chosen by...

     Ernest “Ernie” C. Nicholas, 68, of Black River Falls and formerly of Sparta, died Wednesday, January 6, 2021. He was born November 3, 1952, to John and Dorothy (Franks) Nicholas in Sparta.      Ernie graduated from Sparta Senior High School in 1970. He worked at All American Lumber for 30 years.      Ernie married Barbara (Buswell) Nicholas in 1977 in Sparta. They moved to Black River Falls in 1990. He was a member of...

Marie Catherine (Schieffert) Wacker of Sparta, passed away on January 4, 2021 at the Morrow Home Nursing Home at the age of 96.  Marie was born on April 18, 1924 to Edward and Anna (Herr) Schieffert in Brown County, (Sleepy Eye) MN.  Marie grew up on a farm near Sleepy Eye, MN.  She married Louis H. Wacker on October 10, 1945 at St. Mary’s Church in Sleepy Eye.  After their marriage they farmed the Wacker family farm on St. Mary’s Ridge near Norwalk. ...

Paul G. “Smedley” Brandau, 65, of Sparta, passed away Saturday, January 2, 2021, at Gundersen Health System, La Crosee. Paul was born on June 6, 1955, to Harold “Dick” and Emogene (DeWitt) Brandau in Sparta, WI. Paul grew up in Wilton, WI and graduated from Royal High School in 1973. In 1974 Paul married the love of his life, Kristi Klein of Ontario, WI. In 1978, they moved to Sparta, where he was employed by Dutch Mill Farms. In 1983, Paul worked for Martin Trucking...

Martha "Marcy" LaBeause, 57, of Bangor, passed away peacefully Friday, Jan 1, 2021, at her home surrounded by family. She was born on September 7, 1963, in Waukegan, ILL. Marcy grew up in the Janesville, WI, area.  After graduation Marcy held many occupations like EMT, security guard and a jeweler with Sheppard Jewelers but the one she loved the most was being a mother. In 2006 she was diagnosed with stage 4 renal failure, which required dialysis.  During this time she...

Verdell H. Langrehr, 76, of Westfield and formerly of Sparta and Ohio, died December 26, 2020, at his home. He was born on November 27, 1944, in La Crosse, WI. Verdell grew up on the family farm in the Sparta area and moved to Onalaska at an early age. Verdell worked for several different farms throughout the years; he worked at McDonald’s in Sparta and worked maintenance for a hotel in Michigan. Verdell loved his meat and potatoes, his coffee, and his cat. Verdell is survived by his...

     Randy L. Verken, 71, of Sparta, died Friday evening December 25, 2020, at Rolling Hills Rehabilitation Center, Sparta. He was born on September 4, 1949 to Erwin and Nancy (Hendersin) Verken in Sparta.      Randy grew up in Sparta. He married Joan Zebell. They later divorced. He was a farmer, handyman, and also worked at Northern Engraving for many years. He served in the US Army. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, puzzles, and watching MASH and western...