All Obituaries

          Janice M. Johnson, 87, of Sparta, passed away, Wednesday, January 23, 2020, at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse.       She was born September 21, 1932, in Red Mound, Vernon County, Wis., to Bernard and Ruby (Burkhardt) Raymond. On January 20, 1951, Janice married Duane Johnson at the Parsonage of the Sparta United Church of Christ. Together they farmed in rural Sparta for many years. She enjoyed flowers, gardening,...

    Thomas A. Keal, 86, of Sparta, died Saturday, January 11, 2020 at Morrow Memorial Home, Sparta. He was born on July 30, 1933 in Brooklyn, NY to Lee and Catherine (Langridge) Keal. He grew up in Brooklyn.      Thomas served in the US Army and was stationed at Camp McCoy where he met the love of his life, Dariel Richardson. They were married on November 24, 1956 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sparta. They lived in New York for a year and moved back...

         Iris D. Young, 98, of Melrose, passed away peacefully, Monday, January 6, 2020, at Pine View Care Center, Black River Falls.           She was born March 31, 1921, on the home farm in Melrose, to Otto and Barbara “Ella” (Shettler) Spors. Iris was a 1938 graduate of Melrose High School. On August 31, 1946, she married Leon P. Young at the Melrose United Methodist Church; they shared over...

     Larry Roger Hiles, 78, of Sparta, died Friday, January 10, 2020 at Gundersen Health System, La Crosse. He was born on October 22, 1941 in Woodstock, IL to Eugene and Edith (Peters) Hiles.      Larry lived his life in Angelo and Sparta. He loved both places. He worked at Decomet in Sparta. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. He loved working with wood in his shop making desks, tables, and clocks. He was very proud of them and gave them away to family...

         Kathryn I. “Boots” (Lounsbrough) Johnson, 79, of Sparta, passed away, Wednesday, January 1, 2020, at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse.      She was born August 16, 1940, in the Town of Burns.  On September 17, 1955, Kathryn married Lyle Johnson in Sparta and they shared over 64 years of marriage.      Survivors include her husband, Lyle Johnson; daughter, Pamela (Steve) Buckhannon; son, David...

Lynette L. Erdman, 75, of Viroqua, passed away Sunday, December 29, 2019, at Gundersen Health System, La Crosse. She was born on April 15, 1944 to Otto and Eunice Johnson in Hillsboro, WI. Lynette grew up in the Hillsboro area and graduated from Hillsboro High School with the class of 1962. Following high school she went to beauty school and then worked for Northern Engraving for many years until she was no longer able to work because of her health. Lynette enjoyed doing crosswords, word...

     It is with a heavy heart that we announce that Theron James Haas, 42, went home to his Heavenly Father on Monday December 30, 2019. Those who knew Theron, lost a shining light in their lives and will miss him dearly.      Theron is survived by his children, Allana, Dylan, Theron, Anthony, Riley, Masyn, Bradyn, Abigail; his parents, Mary DiMaggio of Tomah, Wis., and Tom Haas of Florida; a brother, Zachry (Corissa) Haas along with their children, Wyatt,...

     Carolyn Bradford Kenyon, 85, of Sparta, died Tuesday, December 31, 2019 at Gundersen Health System, La Crosse. She was born on November 10, 1934 in Sumter, SC to William and Carrie (Cain) Bradford. She grew up in Sumter and graduated from Sumter High School.      Carolyn married Keith Kenyon on August 29, 1952 in Sumter. After his time in the service was over, they moved back to Sparta. Carolyn was a stay at home mom. She volunteered at Morrow...

     Frederick J. Heitman, 74, of Sparta, died Monday, January 6, 2020 at Tomah Veteran’s Affairs Hospital.      A Celebration of Fred’s life will be held at a later time.      The Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.  

           Lorraine I. Miller, 93, of Sparta, formerly of Onalaska, passed away peacefully, Tuesday, December 31, 2019, at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse.      She was born February 22, 1926, in La Crosse, to William and Lillian Herber. Lorraine was a proud graduate of Onalaska High School. She married Chuck Miller and together they had six children; after 25 years of marriage, they divorced. Lorraine worked as a cook in the La Crosse...