obituaries

LeRoy James Nickel, 83, of Ellsworth, died Wednesday, Feb. 25, surrounded by his family at United Hospital, St. Paul, Minn. LeRoy was born on Sept. 7, 1931, in the town of El Paso, Pierce County, the son of Frank A. and Lena (Guepfer) Nickel. He was a 1949 graduate of Ellsworth High...

On Feb. 22, a cold and sunny afternoon, Sonja Johnson passed away peacefully after a long illness. Sonja Clare Herried was born on Dec. 28, 1936, in Viroqua, Wis. Her family moved to LaCrosse where Sonnie attended school and graduated from Logan High School in 1955. She met David...

Dylan J. Denk, age 22, of Greenwood, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 22, from injuries sustained in a snowmobile accident. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 27, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, in Greenwood, with Rev. Steve Brice officiating. Burial will follow...

Annette Blanchette, 77, formerly of Oshkosh, passed away unexpectedly Thursday evening, Feb. 12, at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minn. She was born at Mercy Hospital in Oshkosh to Norman and Irene (Luebke) Blanchette on Sept. 1, 1937. After graduating from Oshkosh High School...

Jane Huelskamp Alfonse, 104, De Pere, passed away Saturday, Feb. 21. She was born Dec. 8, 1910, in St. Paul, Minn., daughter to the late Henry and Clara (Peterson) Simonson. In 1933, Jane graduated from UW-River Falls with a Teaching Degree, and later received a Degree in Education...

Elizabeth Ann "Betty" Gavin-Schneider, age 58, of Spring Valley, Wis., passed away Thursday, Feb. 19, at United Hospital in St. Paul, Minn. She was born May 18, 1956, in River Falls, Wis., to Arthur and Arnine (Wirth) Gavin. She was preceded in death by her father, Arthur Gavin;...

Lyle Marvin Zastrow, age 88, of River Falls, Wis., passed away Feb. 16, at Kinnic Health & Rehab in River Falls. He was born July 4, 1926, to Albert and Ella (Pfaff) Zastrow in Hannibal, Wis. Lyle served in the U.S. Army from 1944-1946 earning two Bronze Stars. On June 15, 1949,...

Patricia Ann (McMahon) Stapleton, age 92, died peacefully on Feb. 14, at the Lutheran Home in River Falls, Wis. Pat was born in St. Paul, Minn., on June 9, 1922, to John and Theresa (Haley) McMahon. She had one younger sister, Mary. On Oct. 5, 1944, she was united in marriage to...

Kris Lynn Abrahamson was born on Oct. 24, 1964, the daughter of Bernie Abrahamson and the late, Peg Abrahamson. After a courageous battle with her medical conditions, Kris passed away on Feb. 13. Kris was best described as a personable, high achiever who was extremely successful...

Ruth Plumley, age 104, of River Falls, died on Friday, Feb. 13, at her home. She was born the daughter of Otto and Borghild (Pedersen) Larson on Nov. 5, 1910, in Beldenville, Wis. She attended the Morton Corner School. Ruth's mother died when she was 12 years old and after 8th...