LaRayne I. Wittmershaus

LaRayne I. Wittmershaus, 92, of Sparta, died Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at Mulder Health Care in West Salem. She was born on May 18, 1931 to Helmer and Ruby Hagen.

LaRayne married August “Gus” Wittmershaus on May 2, 1952 in Bangor. They moved to Sparta in 1965. They owned and operated Gus & LaRayne’s Sportsman Bar until 1993. August passed away in January of 1991.

LaRayne enjoyed playing in the Grandma & Grandpa’s Pool League and playing darts. She also enjoyed cooking and baking. She always looked forward to doing her springtime flower bed, planting with her daughter Candy.

La Rayne is survived by her children, Candace O’Connell of Waukesha, Lon Wittmershaus of Sparta, Mike Wittmershaus of Sparta, Bruce (Janice) Wittmershaus of Menomonie, and Tina (Scott) Wright of Sparta; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, August (Gus) Wittmershaus; infant daughter, Vicki; 4 brothers; Joslyn, Clifford, Hilbert, and Archie; 3 sisters, Alverda, Hazel, and Inez; and son-in-law, Gene O’ Connell.

A Memorial Service and time for sharing will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 21, 2023 at Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home and Cremation, Sparta. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery, in Bangor at 3 p.m. Honorary pallbearers will be John Bell, John Schanhofer, Gary Stennett, and Tom Waters. A Celebration of Life will take place afterwards at the Wayside Tavern in Sparta.

Family and friends are invited to a visitation from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home. Online condolences may be offered at www.schanhoferfh.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to Sparta Area Cancer Support (SACS).

Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home and Cremation, Sparta, is assisting the family with arrangements.

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