Story originally printed in the Holmen Courier or online at www.holmencourier.com

Published - Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Obituaries for May 13, 2008

Coline L. Atchison | Ralph M. Proksch | Karen Y. Bradshaw | Geri E. Millis | Larry Alan Zirgibel

Coline L. Atchison

LA CROSSE -- Coline L. Atchison, 88 of La Crosse, died Saturday, May 10, 2008, at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse.

She was born in La Crosse on July 3, 1919, to Thomas and Blanche (Harris) Loughlin. She married Ralph Atchison in La Crosse on Feb. 6, 1941, and he preceded her in death on Jan. 26, 2005. Coline will be remembered for the generosity she showed many of the foster children in our area, taking them into her home and making them part of her family. She was a charter member of the Onalaska Church of Christ. She enjoyed doll collecting, sewing and was an avid reader. She was a loving and beloved woman, wife, mother and grandmother.

She is survived by her five daughters, Kathleen Crary of Farmington, Minn., Maureen Shauck of Clinton, Wash., Margaret (Randy) Merry of Spring Valley, Minn., Deborah Atchison of La Crosse, Penelope (Kevin) O’Reilly of Onalaska, Wis.; one son, Thomas (Vicki) Atchison of Neenah, Wis.; nine grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by one brother and one sister.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 15, at the Onalaska Church of Christ. Pastor Gordon Clary will officiate. Private family burial will take place in the Mormon Coulee Memorial Park Cemetery at a later date. Friends may call at the Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of Onalaska on Wednesday from 5 until 7 p.m. and again at the church on Thursday from 10 a.m. until the time of services. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

Ralph M. Proksch

STODDARD, Wis./YUMA, Ariz — Ralph M. Proksch was born in rural Stoddard to Leonard and Frieda (Baudler) Proksch on Feb. 25, 1933. He was received into our Savior’s kingdom through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism one month later. On Aug. 27, 1959, he was married to Judith A. Hundt at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Stoddard. His soul was called home by our gracious Savior on April 27, 2008.

A musician most of his life, Ralph formed his first band at the age of 15 and was a band leader with multiple bands for the next 40 years. His most notable band appearances included playing with the Whoopee John Polka Band, Al Soucheck and the Five Yanks, Uncle Ozzie’s Show Band, and the Richie Yurkovich Band.

Ralph and Judy farmed for many years in rural Stoddard and also ran a successful business with the Shaklee Corp. They later purchased and operated a mail transportation contracting business along with their son Robert until their retirement in 1991. They have made their home in Yuma since 1998, where they were members of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church since 1999. In marginal health during recent years, Ralph’s favorite pastimes included playing cards, fishing, and enjoying his backyard ponds.

Survivors include his wife, Judy, of Yuma; two sons, Robert of Stoddard and Thomas (Kyle) of Schoolcraft, Mich.; and one daughter, Lynne of Onalaska, Wis. Also surviving are three grandchildren, Collin, Caleb and Krista Proksch of Schoolcraft; two brothers, Donald (Jo) and Wilbert (Sandy) of Stoddard; one sister, Elaine (Bill) Zierke of Onalaska; an aunt, Elsie Baudler of Onalaska; and nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 16, at St Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Stoddard. A lunch will be served following the service at the Stoddard American Legion Hall with a musical tribute performed by the Richie Yurkovich Band.

Memorials may be directed to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Yuma; Life Care Center, Yuma, or St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Stoddard.

Karen Y. Bradshaw

LA CROSSE -- Karen Y. Bradshaw, 66, of La Crosse died Saturday, May 10, 2008, surrounded by her family in her home. She was born in New Lisbon, Wis., on Oct. 31, 1941, to Harold R. and Frances (Stratton) Davis. She married Thomas Bradshaw on Aug. 9, 1974, in La Crosse.

She is survived by her husband; Thomas of La Crosse; four daughters, Anne Marie Drager of Minneapolis, Donna Bradshaw of Olympia, Wash., Letitia (Dave) Devine of Onalaska, Wis., and Tia Friemel of La Crosse; one son, David (Christine) Bradshaw of Onalaska; five grandchildren, Matthew, Miranda, Jacob, Madeline and Sydney. She is further survived by one sister, Kay (Bernie) Alberts; four brothers, Harlan (Pat) Davis of Woodview, Wash., Marvin (Edna) Davis of La Crosse, Lowell (Linda) Davis of Dubuque, Iowa, and Wally Davis of Madison.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one grandson, Thomas Filipiak; and one brother, Raymond.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 14, in Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1333 S. 13th St. The Rev. Lawrence Berger will officiate, with burial to be held in Oak Grover Cemetery, La Crosse. Family and friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Home, 1501 West Ave. S., La Crosse, with a rosary to be held at 6:30 p.m. Family and friends may also call from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass at the church on Wednesday.

Geri E. Millis

BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. — Geri E. Millis of Black River Falls passed away Wednesday, March 12, 2008, at the Black River Memorial Hospital under the care of Black River Hospice.

Geri was born Nov. 9, 1917, to John and Zaida (Lynch) Fleming in Hinkley, Minn. She was raised in Hinkley. Her family settled in St. Paul, Minn., while she was attending high school. While growing up, Geri spent her summers in Shamrock, town of Manchester, Jackson County, Wis.

She was united in marriage to Richard “Bud” Millis, and they first resided in Shamrock before moving into Black River Falls. They were later divorced. In 1980, Geri moved to Venice, Fla., where she lived for 23 years before moving back to Black River Falls in 2003.

Geri was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. She was an avid golfer, bowler, and enjoyed playing cards, especially bridge. Most of all, she loved her family.

Survivors include her children, Richard “Bill” (Beverly) Millis of Black River Falls and Haines City, Fla., Betty (Dave Helminiak) Millis of Grantsburg, Wis., and Haines City, and Robert (Mary) Millis of Onalaska, Wis.; grandchildren, Michael (Tammy) Millis, Kathy (Jim) Powell, David (Dena) Millis, Kari (Todd) Pearson, Steve (Sue) Millis, Dan (Sheryl) Millis, Paul (Traci) Millis, Michael Gombold, Barbara Marchitti, Sandee (David) Hanna, Brad (Kim) Gombold, Mark (Gayle) Millis, Lisa (Erik) Olson; 40 great- grandchildren; and 12 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her former husband, Richard “Bud” Millis; a daughter, Barbara Jean Millis; and a grandson, Richard “Ricky” Millis.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 16, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Black River Falls. The Rev. Fr. Robert Streveler will officiate, and burial will be in St. Columbkille’s Cemetery, rural Black River Falls. Family and friends are invited for visitation from 10 to 11 a.m. on Friday, May 16, at the church.

The family prefers memorials be given to Black River Hospice or Jackson County Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers.

The Buswell Funeral Home (www.buswellfuneralhome.com) is assisting the family with arrangements.

Larry Alan Zirgibel

BOYCEVILLE, Wis. — Larry Alan Zirgibel, 60, of Boyce-ville died Friday, May 9, 2008, at Sacred Heart Hospital, Eau Claire, Wis.

He was born Feb. 21, 1948, in Milwaukee to Laurence and Dorothy (Schilz) Zirgibel. Larry was raised in Milwaukee, attended Twenty First Street Grade School and graduated from Boys Tech High School in 1966. He earned a B.A. degree in physical education from UW-La Crosse in 1971 and later a master’s degree in adaptive physical education in 1992.

On June 12, 1971, Larry married Donna Kendhammer at St. Thomas More in La Crosse. After their marriage, Larry taught at St. Thomas More for one year and coached at Aquinas High School while also working at the Family and Children’s Center in La Crosse. They moved to Independence, Wis., where Larry taught at St. Peter and Paul Elementary School and coached football for two years. He then taught at St. Gabriel’s Elementary School in Prairie du Chien, Wis., for one year. In 1975, their daughter Amanda was born. Larry taught and coached football and basketball for two years at Seneca High School, in Seneca, Wis., before moving to Boyceville in 1978. After moving to Boyceville, their son Chad was born in 1979. For 29 years, Larry taught at the Boyceville Elementary and High School and coached football and basketball.

Larry was a master official of the USA Track and Field for 25 years and traveled all over the U.S. to many national competitions in track and field. One of his favorites was the Junior/Senior National Outdoor Championship of Track and Field. He was also a high school volleyball, football, track, basketball and cross-country official.

Larry was a member of St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Boyceville. He was on the Boyceville Village Board and a newly elected member of the Boyceville School Board. He was also a marathon runner and trained horses. Larry was an avid sports enthusiast and a fan of the Green Bay Packers and the Milwaukee Braves. Most importantly, he was a devoted, loving, concerned and caring husband, father and grandfather and will be sadly missed by his family and all who knew him.

Larry is survived by his beloved wife, Donna Zirgibel of Boyceville; with whom he spent 37 years of wedded bliss. His son, Chad Zirgibel of La Crosse, will miss his mischievous sense of humor. His adoring daughter, Amanda Zirgibel (Brian) Kreibich of Holmen, Wis., and the grandsons he was so proud of, Braydon and Cole Kreibich, will sense a hole in their lives where he should be. He is also survived by his brother, Glen (Julie) Zirgibel of Marco Island, Fla., whom he could never wait to spend time with. Other survivors include, his nephews, Jeff (Beth) Zirgibel of Hartland, Wis., and Brian (Candice) Zirgibel of Tallahassee, Fla., and their children; and his great-nephews and great-niece, Jake, Zachary, Riley, Joshua, Nolan and Emma Zirgibel. On his wife’s side he is survived by a brother-in-law, Jerry (Val) Kendhammer and his nieces, Amy Kendhammer (Steve) Marsolek and children Makayla and Elyssa; Jamie Kendhammer (Jason) Schrader; Stacey Lukas (Jerry) Steele and son, Mason; and nephew, Matthew (Heather) Lukas all of La Crosse.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Laurence “Buck” and Dorothy Zirgibel; a niece, Angie Zirgibel; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Marvin and Arlene (Kish) Kendhammer; and sister-in-law, Jane Kendhammer (Dave) Lukas; whom were as close as real brothers and sisters to him.

Family and friends are welcome from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 12, 2008, at Olson Funeral Home in Menomonie, Wis. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 13, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Onalaska, Wis., with Deacon Frank officiating. There will be a visitation at the church from 11 a.m. until the time of the service at 1 pm. Burial will be in Mormon Coulee Memorial Park in the town of Shelby, La Crosse County, Wis.

To express condolences online, please visit obituaries at www.olsonfuneral.com.

All stories copyright 2006 Holmen Courier and other attributed sources.