Susan Margaret (Mack) Vieth, 58, of Sparta died late afternoon on Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare, La Crosse, Wisconsin after receiving a diagnosis of terminal cancer a year and a half ago.

Susan was born the biological child of Elizabeth Valencia Fanello and Eldon Leslie Snyder on August 25, 1951 in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Susan was adopted by Albert Mathew and Ruth Ann (Swartzlow) Mack.

Susan was married to Kenneth J. Mayer in Sparta, Wisconsin on December 19, 1970. That marriage ended in divorce. She married Ronald A. Savall at Summit Ridge, Wisconsin on September 8, 1979 from which union were born three beloved children. That marriage ending in divorce. On September 17, 2006 Susan married Richard L. Vieth in Sparta, Wisconsin.

Susan worked at various places including Sargent & Lundy Engineers in Chicago; Diane’s Needlecraft in La Crosse, various schools and law offices in Sparta and La Crosse and most recently as the Business Manager for Brenengen Auto Group of West Salem and Sparta.

Susan was an active member of the Congregational United Church of Christ in Sparta. She credited her strong faith in keeping her strong throughout her battle with cancer.

She was preceded in death by a son, Michael Allen Savall; parents, Albert and Ruth Mack; biological parents, Elizabeth Fanello and E. L. Snyder; grandparents. Roy and Margaret (Nellie) Snyder; Uncle Edward Snyder, and a brother-in-law, James Muehlenkamp. She was also preceded in death by biological sisters, Ruth and Mary Christen.

She is survived by her husband, Richard Lyle Vieth of Sparta; a son, Matthew Ronald Savall of Sparta; two sisters, Virginia June (Myron) Schwarz and Ardell Muehlenkamp of Sparta. Additionally, Susan is survived by a daughter, Alicia Meredith Savall and son-in-law, Jonathan Paul Wedd of Menlo Park, California. She is further survived by biological siblings, William Hunter, Michael Snyder, Gina Snyder, and Steven Snyder and their spouses and an aunt, Elenor Snyder (J. Alston) Hix all of the West Coast. Also surviving her are step-children, Bradley (Michelle) Vieth, Kimberly (Todd Bowen) Vieth, Pamela Vieth, Amber (Dennis) Johnson all of Sparta. Futhermore, Susan is survived by eight wonderful step-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Congregational United Church of Christ, Sparta with Reverend Deris Rice officiating. Family burial will be at St. John  Catholic Cemetery, Summit Ridge, Wisconsin. Memorials may be given to the Sparta Area Cancer Support.

     The Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta is assisting the family with arrangements.

Nancy K. Clemmerson, 58, of Sparta died Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at the Morrow Memorial Home, Sparta. She was born on September 8, 1951 in Black River Falls, Wisconsin to Clarence and Irene (Schiefelbein) Clemmerson. She grew up in the Cataract area and attended the Cataract and Sparta Schools.

     She married Jeffery Stahl on October 28, 1978 in Sparta. They were later divorced. She worked at Fort Mc Coy, Northern Engraving and then at the Sparta Area School District. She belonged to the local Knitting Club and enjoyed crafts.

     She is survived by a son, Andrew Stahl of Sparta; four grandchildren, Joshua, Alexis, Kayla, and Kristina Stahl; a brother, Roger Clemmerson of Sparta; a half-sister, Marcella Clemmerson of Sparta, and her dog, Angel.

     She was preceded in death by her parents; and a half-sister, Velda May.

     Funeral services will be Friday at 10 a.m. at the Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta with Reverend Randy Williamson officiating. Burial will be in the Shamrock Union Church Cemetery, Shamrock, Wisconsin.

     Friends may call at the Lanham-Miller Funeral Home on Thursday from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. and at the funeral home on Friday from 9 a.m. until the time of services. 

     The Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.

     Robert “Bobby” J. Wellner, 58, of Sparta died Sunday, July 25, 2010 at Rolling Hills Rehabilitation Center, Sparta. He was born on May 29, 1952 in Chippewa Falls, WI to William H. and Donna J. (Wagner) Wellner.

     Bobby lived in West Salem and Bangor before moving to Sparta when he was 15 with his family. He worked at the Water Street Feed Mill for several years. He worked at Owens Pool Hall and then the Wonder Bar.

     Bobby is survived by his sister, Ruth (Tony) Benzing of Sparta; a nephew, Brett Benzing of Sparta; aunts, uncles, cousins, and special friends the Hagen Family.

     He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant brother; and a brother, Michael.

     Funeral services will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, with Father Ed Shuttleworth officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Sparta.

     Family and friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Wednesday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. and on Thursday at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until time of services.      The Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.

     Donna R. Bowen, 68, of Sparta died Wednesday, July 21, 2010 in her home. She was born on January 28, 1942 in Sparta to Henry and Mildred (Dutcher) Hove. She grew up in the Sparta area.

     She married Ronald Bowen Sr. on July 29, 1961 at the Trinity Lutheran Church Parsonage in Sparta. They moved to Racine shortly after marriage. They resided there for over 30 years and then moved to the Town of Burns, La Crosse County, Wisconsin. Donna worked at the Sparta Brush Company until she retired in 1999.

     She enjoyed singing karaoke, fishing and gambling.

     She is survived by her children, Rhonda (Joe) Vargo of Burns, Lori Hart of Sparta; her grandchildren, Andrew Bowen of Sparta, Kristina Vargo of Burns, Joey Vargo of Burns, Brian Vargo of Burns, Kelly Hart of Rockland; a great grandchild, Aaliyah Bowen of Sparta; her brothers and sisters, Darlene Williams of Black River Falls, Sharon (Bill) Jotham of Cataract, Shirley (Keith) Windsor of Black River Falls, Roxie (Augie) Luther of Black River Falls, Skip (Brenda) Rumpe of West Bend, WI, Iva (Chuck) Fox of Sparta, Verna (Tim) Osmond of Wilton, Willard Kvistad of Tomah, and her best friend, Spanky her dog.

     She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Ronald Bowen Sr. who died in 1999; a son, Ronald Jr.; a brother, Terry Kvistad and a sister, Tammy Oldenburg.

     Memorial services will be Sunday at 11 a.m. at the Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta with Chaplain Sue Fletcher officiating. Burial will be in the Burns Cemetery, rural Bangor, WI.

     Friends may call at the Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta on Sunday from 9 a.m. until the time of services.

     The Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta is assisting the family with arrangements.

Beverly Belle Meissner, 88, of Sparta, died Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at Morrow Memorial Home, Sparta. She was born on April 25, 1922 to Eddie Weber and Beatrice (Hastings) Gorsline. When she was six months old, she was placed in the care of her grandparents, Edward and Sophia Gorsline. In 1925, they moved from Viroqua to a farm between Sparta and Angelo.

     Beverly graduated from Sparta High School in 1940. In 1944, she began working as a teletype and telegraph operator at Camp McCoy. In 1946, she transferred to the VA Hospital in Tomah.

     On September 14, 1949, she married George Meissner and in 1950, they moved to Tomah where they both worked. In March of 1955, they transferred to the VA Hospital in Sepulvede, CA. Following their retirement in 1969, they traveled with their motor home throughout the United States and Canada and enjoyed overseas trips for ten years. In 1987, they returned to Sparta.

     Among her hobbies were music, writing, needlework, and crafts.

     Blessed be her memory.

     Beverly is survived by nieces, nephews, and sisters-in-law, Luella Kerska of La Crosse and Ida Meissner of Sparta.

     Beverly was preceded in death by her husband, George and a daughter from a previous marriage.

     A Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday at 12 noon at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Sparta, with Father Ed Shuttleworth officiating. Burial will be in Viroqua Cemetery, Viroqua, WI.

     Family and friends are invited to call at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on Friday from 11 a.m. until time of services.

     The Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.

Melvin LeVerne “Vern” Hulsether, 82, of Sparta, died Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at the Morrow Memorial Home, Sparta. Vern was born on June 12, 1928 in Westby, WI to Melvin and Lillian (Vig) Hulsether. Vern graduated from Viroqua High School in 1946, and attended one year of college at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. In 1948, he graduated from the Coyne Electrical School in Chicago. In October of 1948, he began working at Northern States Power Company in Sparta. Vern joined the Air Force in September 8, 1950.  On December 20^th, 1952, Vern and Carolyn Weller were married in Richland Center, WI.  The couple moved to Austin, Texas, where Vern was stationed at San Marcos Air Force Base.  Upon his discharge in September of 1954, the couple returned to Sparta, and Vern resumed his career with Northern States Power.  Vern was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, where he acted as a steward.  In 1964, Vern received the Citizen of the Year Award from Northern States Power.  He worked for the company until a work related accident in August of 1980 that left Vern a bi-lateral arm amputee.

     Vern was baptized and confirmed within the Lutheran faith.  He was a long time member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sparta.  He served on the congregation’s board in various capacities.  In 1983, Vern received The Lamb Award, a national award by the Lutheran Council of the United States recognizing service to youth through community agencies.

     Vern received his Boy Scout Eagle Scout Award in 1943, and continued an active relationship with the Boy Scouts throughout his life.  He served as Scoutmaster for the local Boy Scouts Troop 67. In 1977, he received special recognition for his service with the Boy Scouts, when the Gateway Area Council presented him with the Silver Beaver Award for Scouting.  This is an award that only one in 10,000 scouts receives.

     Vern extended his servant leadership skills to the community on a political and civic front.  He served as a city alderman for Sparta, and two terms as the city’s Mayor.  He was elected to the Monroe County Board of Supervisors, serving on the board from 1991 through 1996.  He was a member of the Sparta City Planning Commission, and the Sparta Park Board.  He served as Chairman of the United Way.  He was a Past Master of the Masonic Valley Lodge No. 69, and a citizen representative on the boards of the Monroe County Unit of Aging, History Museum, and Riverfront.  He was a member of the Sparta Rotary Club, and the Jaycees.  In later years, Vern was an “ambassador” with the Sparta Chamber of Commerce.

     He is survived by his wife, Carolyn of Sparta; a daughter, Tonya (Steve) Kenyon of Sparta, and a grandson, Drew Kenyon of Madison;  a sister-in-law, Marilyn (John) Wedwick of Roscoe, IL;  nieces, Tammy Brown of Knoxville, TN, Julie Browne of Rockford, IL, Jill (Tim) Stein of Monroe Center, IL; a nephew, David Backer of Waterloo, IA; and a great nephew and niece, Jeremiah and Angel Brown.  Vern is also survived by the extended Simonson Family, his surrogate family.

     Vern was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Lillian Hulsether, his brother and sister-in-law, David and Myrna Hulsether, and his nephew, Mark Hulsether.

     Carolyn and Toni would like to acknowledge Vern’s long time partner at Northern States Power Company, the late Bill Robertson.  It was Bill’s intervention and life saving skills in August of 1980, that gave us the last thirty years with Vern.  Special appreciation is also extended to Pastor Luther and Jan Larson, who provided song and prayer for Vern’s last hours of life.

     Vern would want it to be said, “tusen takk” (thank you in Norwegian) to the staff at the Morrow Memorial Home who provided for his needs over the past three years, and with so much attentiveness during his last few days.

     In lieu of flowers Carolyn and Toni request that Memorials be directed to the Boy Scout Council, the Monroe County History Museum, or the Franciscan Skemp Healthcare Foundation of Sparta.

     Funeral services will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Sparta with Reverend Jeffrey Wm. Miller officiating. Burial will be in the Mt. Hope Cemetery, Sparta.

     Friends may call at the Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta on Thursday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. and on Friday at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of services.

     The Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.

Anna Eva Hoff, 87, of Sparta died Friday, July 16, 2010 at Rolling Hills Rehabilitation Center, Sparta where she had been a resident since December of 2009.

    Anna Eva Mohring was born on October 21, 1922 in Bush Prairie in Monroe County, Wisconsin to Henry and Alfreda (Van der Schaaf) Mohring. Anna graduated from country school in Lafayette Township and was the 1939 Monroe County 4 H club’s “Alice in Dairyland.” She was always our “Dairy Queen.” Anna was a 1940 Sparta High School Graduate.

     On April 12, 1943 Anna married her sweetheart, Robert LeRoy Hoff, also of Sparta, at Keesler Field near Biloxi, Mississippi while he was in service during WWII. Together they raised four children in Sparta.

     Anna worked at JC Penney in Sparta in the early 1940’s, and she then later joined the Agricultural and Soils Conservation Services (ASCS) office in Sparta from 1958 until 1974.

     Anna was an expert homemaker. Her special dishes and desserts are family favorites. She was a Girl Scout Leader for many years. She played guitar, loved to sing and sew, and dearly loved her family.

     She is survived by her children, Marie Grewal of Sparta and her children, Krista Finstad Hanson (Paul) of Minneapolis, Anje Finstad Schmitz (Kevin) of Sparta; Dianna Tamayo (Jose’) of Neillsville, and her children, Scott Hartung (Melanie) of Neillsville, LeAnna Hartung of La Grange Park, IL, Joshua Tamayo of Kenosha; Barbara Segina (John) of Naperville, IL, and daughter, Karen Breitenfield Wanek (Michael) of Aurora, IL; a son, Chuck Hoff (Jennifer) of Lonepine, MT and children, Heidi, Cody, Shane, Tanner, Sam, Haylee, and Morgan all of Lonepine, Montana; 12 great grandchildren; two sisters, Gertrude (Ed) Smith of Milford, IL, Marie Mohring of Sparta; a brother, Alfred (Jean) Mohring of Janesville, WI, and several nieces, and nephews.

     She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant daughter, Joann; her beloved husband, Robert Hoff. Anna and Robert had been married 64 years when he passed away on January 19, 2008; a grandson, Jason Finstad; a son-in-law, Singh Grewal, and a sister, Alice Weibel.

     Funeral services will be Monday at 1 p.m. at the Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta with Pastor James Monson officiating. Burial will be Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the Woodlawn Cemetery, Sparta.

     Friends may call at the Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta on Monday from 11:30 a.m. until the time of services.      The Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.

     God set Raymond Peters, 91, of Oconomowoc, free on Sunday, July 11, 2010 at Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. He was born July 17, 1918 at home near Cataract, Wisconsin to George and Elsie Peters. He married Marie A. Brueggeman on May 9, 1942. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the Army. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He loved fishing, hunting, helping with the farm, and being outdoors.

     He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Marie; his brothers, Lloyd, Burt, and Merlin; his sister, Elnor; his granddaughter, Trinette; and Harold, his cousin and fishing buddy.

     He is survived by sons, Raymond, James (Cathy), and Warren; by daughters, Ruth (Ronald) McKinnon, Phyllis (Leonard) Ballman, and Marjorie (David) Fischer; by grandchildren, Derik, Christopher (Sue), Preston (Michelle), Debra Ann, Julie, Leonard (Raquel), Janna, Matthew (Malia), Monica, Timothy (Amanda), and Jeffrey (Emily). He is further survived by his great-grandchildren, Adriana, Joseph, Alyssa, Haley, Jordan, Tyler, Emily, Madelyn, Jazlynn, Sergio, and Weston. He is also survived by brothers George (Gladys), Eugene (Nancy), Daniel (Beverly), and sisters Vivian (Charles) Fosrdre, and Edith (Gene) Hiles and many cousins, neices, and nephews. 

     Special thanks to Purity Dialysis Center in Oconomowoc and Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital.

     A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, with Father Ed Shuttleworth officiating. Burial with full military honors provided by VFW Post 2112 will be in St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery, Sparta.

     Family and friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Friday from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. with a 6 p.m. rosary and on Saturday at the funeral home from 9 a.m. until time of services. Online condolences may be offered at www.lanham-miller.com

     The Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements. 

     Grandpa will be dearly missed by family and the many friends he made over the years. He had a joyful, generous, and friendly spirit evident to all who met him.

     Shayna M. Sprague, 22, of Sparta, died Sunday, July 11, 2010 at her home after a lifelong battle with many illnesses. She was born on June 27, 1988 in Sparta to Mark and Shannon (Waller) Sprague. She grew up in Sparta and attended Sparta schools.

     Shayna enjoyed country music, water parks, and eating. She loved being a mom.

     She is survived by her son, Austin Ray Miller of Sparta; her fiance, Chad Miller of Sparta; her parents, Shannon (fiance, Jon Cave) Sprague of Fort Greely, AK and Mark (fiance, Janet Baker) Sprague of Sparta; her brothers and sisters, Dustin Sprague of Sparta, Michael Sprague of Sparta, Alexis Sprague of Fort Greely, and Kayla Milor of Sparta; maternal grandmother, Zada (Fiance, Stuart Virnig) Waller of Winona, MN; paternal grandparents, Donald and Mary Sprague of Mt. Sterling, WI; great grandmother, Rose Hoelker of Eastman, WI; her aunts and uncles, Shonda Waller of Sparta, Cassie Waller of Winona, Jennifer Sprague of Soldiers Grove, WI, and John P. (Lore) Sprague of Sparta; and her cousins, Derek Waller of Sparta, David Waller of Battle Ground, WA, Tessa-Ann Schaitel of Sparta, John J. Sprague of Sparta, Heather Sprague of Sparta, and Katie Sprague of Sparta.

     She was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Howard “Frank” Waller.

     Funeral services will be Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, with Pastor Clyde Ewers officiating. Burial will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. in Woodlawn Cemetery, Sparta.

     Family and friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Tuesday from 4 p.m. until time of services. 

     The Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.

     Doris J. Foth, 90, of Columbus, NE and formerly of Sparta, died Saturday, July 10, 2010 at Golden Living Center Nursing Home in Columbus. She was born on January 13, 1920 in the Township of Angelo, Monroe County, WI to D. Paul and Grace (Davis) Jones. She grew up with her two brothers and two sisters on the Jones Farm in that part of Coles Valley which the Welsh had designated as Blaendyffryn.   She completed the eight grades at Mound Prairie School and graduated from Sparta High School and Vernon County Normal School. Later, she earned Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

     On June 2, 1943, Doris married Philip A. Foth at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Sparta. After a few years spent farming in Coles Valley, the Foths moved to West Salem, then to Sparta.

     Doris was a teacher of the Coles Valley and Hill Grove Rural Schools and intermediate grades of Norwalk, Warrens, Angelo, Ward, and Lakeview Schools. She served as the Sparta District Reading Consultant and principal at Lakeview, Southside, and Angelo Elementary Schools. She was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Sparta.  She was a former member of the Board of Education, a member and past president of the Monroe County Retired Educators Association, and Delta Kappa Gama.

     Doris is survived by her daughters, Sharyn and her husband, Michael Beard of Columbus, NE and Sally and her husband, Robert McBride of Layton, UT; grandchildren, Timothy Beard of San Francisco, CA, Captain Steven Beard and his wife, Adrian of Lawrence, KS; Katelyn McBride of Layton, UT and a great grandchild, Eric Wayne Beard; sisters, Phyllis Christiano of Sparta, and Janet (Vernon) Butzler of Janesville and a brother, Wayne Jones, Sparta; sisters-in-law, Elinor Ziegler of Sparta, Fern Christianson of St. Francis, WI; Lorraine Foth, of Cottage Grove, WI and several nieces and nephews. 

     Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Philip on October 19, 2007; a daughter Susan; her parents, D. Paul Jones and Grace Jones and parents-in-law, Frank and Amelia (Mollie) Foth; and a brother, Verl Jones.

     Funeral services will be Friday at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church, Sparta, the Reverend Rey Diaz and Reverend James Monson officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Sparta.

     Family and friends are invited to call at Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, on Thursday from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. and at the church on Friday from 10 A.M. until time of services. Memorials may be designated for the Scholarship Fund of Sparta Public Schools or a charity of your choice.

      The Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.