Wisconsin State Journal from Madison, Wisconsin • 4

STATE JOURNAL 4B LOCAL Wisconsin State Journal, Monday, July 20, 1998 OBITUARIES (608) Marci Obituary Rosen, 252-6320 Information: DEATH NOTICES Ersland, Helen Louise (Flagstad), 86............... Madison Haase, Robert 51 Mauston Kazynski, Edna 89.. Koenecke, Milton 80... Johnson, Lawrence 60...... O'Neil, Harvey Douglas, 90.

Paulson, Inga 79... Thompson, Warren 73..................... Van Fossen, Elizabeth 94 Witthuhn, Herbert, Zhe, Mary Frances, 75. (Flagstad) Ersland, of MadiMADISON Helen, Louise son, died Saturday, July 18, 1998 at her home. She was born May 24, 1912, the eldest child to Sigurd and Laura (Hoff) Flagstad.

Helen lived in Madison all her life, marrying Peter L. Ersland on May 30, 1938. They raised four children and together they spent the next 51 years. Helen was previously employed by the state of Wisconsin. She is survived by four children, Karen (Ralph) Gillespie of Colorado, Judith (Raymond) Minardi of Windsor, Rachel Ersland of Sandy, Oregon, and David (Deborah) of Cottage Grove; 12 grandchildren; 13 Kamrath grand Madison; and numerous a sister, Doris nieces and nephews.

Helen preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two brothers; and an infant sister. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 22, 1998 at BETHANY EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH, 301 Riverside Drive with Rev. David E. Carlson presiding.

Private burial will follow at Lakeview Lutheran Cemetery. call after 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 22, 1998 at Bethany Evangelical Free Church, and Tuesday, July 21, 1998 from 4:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at GUNDERSON FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive.

Memorials may be donated to the church. Ersland, Helen Louise (Flagstad) Haase, Robert J. MAUSTON Robert J. Haase, 51 of Madison, passed away on Saturday, July 18, 1998 at Hess Memorial Hospital. He was born on June 6, 1947 in Berlin, the son of Arnold and Elaine (Kantorowicz) Haase.

Robert was united in marriage to Marilyn Gilbert on June 18, 1984 in Mauston. He was a retired deputy sheriff for the Juneau County Sheriff's Department. Robert is survived by his wife, Marilyn; three children, Christopher Haase of Deborah Haase of Reedsburg, and Jennifer Haase of Reedsburg; three step-children, Heineman of Mauston, Wendy Heineman of Sheridan, Wyoming, Angela Heineman of Billings, Montana; three grandchildren, Dillon, Haley and Natasha; his parents, Arnold and Elaine Haase of Mauston; his mother-inlaw, Mildred of Mauston; a brother, Ken (Claudette) Haase of Hillsboro; two sisters, Mary (Duane) Bloor of Hillsboro, and Shirley (Michael) Yeager of Onalaska; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, 1998 at BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH, Mauston with Rev.

Glenn Borreson officiating. Burial will be at the Mauston Cemetery. Friends may call on Monday, July 20, 1998 from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., and again from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

at the CRANDALL FUNERAL HOME, Mauston. Kazynski, Edna K. MADISON Edna K. Kazynski, age 89, died on Friday, July 17, 1998 at Meriter Health Care Center. She was born in Madison on March 15, 1909, the daughter of William and Phoebe (Holmes) Kohlhepp.

For 45 years, she was employed by the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles, where she became Chief of the Drivers Records Section. She retired in 1974. Survivors include a sister, Dorothy Bergenske of Madison and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Joseph S. Kazynski and a sister, Marie (Raymond) Grosse.

Funeral services will be held, at ST. RAPHEL'S CATHEDRAL, 222 West Street at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 21, 1998. The Reverend David Flanagan will officiate. Family and friends may call from 9:00 a.m.

until time of services at the church. Entombment will be at Resurrection Mausoleum. JOYCE FUNERAL HOME Koenecke, Milton E. REEDSBURG Milton E. Koenecke, age 80, died on Saturday, July 18, 1998.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 23, 1998 at ST. JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH in Reedsburg. The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

on Wednesday, July 22, 1998 at the HOOF FUNERAL HOME, where a Masonic service will be held at 7:30 I p.m. Johnson, Lawrence D. MARSHALL Lawrence D. Johnson, age 60, passed away on Sunday, July 19, 1998 at St. Hospital.

He was born on Mary's, 28, 1938 in Stanley, the son of Ole and Hulda (Sass) Johnson. He served in the U. S. Navy from 1956 to 1960. On April 30.

1960, he married Theresa Seichter in Boyd, Wisconsin. Prior to his retirement, he had been employed as a sheet metal worker for Hooper Getting away from it all Custom Metals in Madison. He was member of St. Mary of the Nativity Catholic Church in Marshall. Larry was an avid hunter and fisherman and a race car enthusiast.

He was a loving husband, father and grandfather, and he enjoyed watching afternoon Packer games with his family. Survivors include is, wife, Theresa; his mother, Hulda of Stanley; three daughters, Sandra Braunschweig of Marshall, Jan (Todd) Johnson-Hayes of Marshall, and Judy (Bill) McCafferty of Sun Prairie; a son, Steve (Linda) Johnson of Marshall; eight grandchildren, Zackary and Austin Hayes, Christopher McCafferty, Zachary, Justin and Whitney Braunschweig and Tonya and Trevor Johnson; three sisters, Janice (Dick) Dobrzynski of Holcomb, Shirley (Doug) Erickson of Rockford, Illinois, and Nancy (Dennis) Janisewski (Jean) of Eau Johnson Claire; of a parother: Nevada; nieces; nephews; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his father. Funeral services will be on Wednesday, July 22, 1998 at ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH in Marshall with Monsignor Raymond Klaas officiating.

Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Family and friends may call on Tuesday, July 21, 1998 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at HART-VICK FUNERAL HOME in Marshall, and on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.

at the church. O' Neil, Harvey Douglas MADISON Harvey Douglas O' Neil, age 90, of Madison, previously residing at 501 Dean Avenue, died on Friday, July 17, 1998 at St. Health Care Center. He was borris on August 21, 1907 in Baudette, Minnesota, the son of Henry P. and Evelyn (Cottam) O' Neil.

Harvey married the former Edna A. Gibneski on February 14, 1937 in Iron River, Michigan. He was the founder and owner of Badger Popcorn and Concession Supply from 1953 until he sold and retired in 1979. Prior to that, he started the Lindsay Soft Water Company in Madison in 1948. Harvey also had been employed by E.

I. DuPont in Wilmington, Delaware, and General Motors in its locomotive division in LaGrange, Illinois. He spend six years in the Civilian Conservation Corps as an education officer in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan. Harvey graduated from Baudette High School in Minnesota, and then in 1934 from the Illinois Institute of Technology. He continued his graduate studies at Northwestern University and the University of Michigan.

Harvey was active in many organizations and clubs, the Lions Club, ESBMA, the Boy Scouts Troop No. 25, which he sponsored for 15 years, Madison Magic Club, Madison Clown Club, PTA, Masonic Lodge, and he had pilots license. He is survived by his daughter, Sandra J. McCann, Rockford, Illinois; his son, James P. O' Neil, Austin, Texas; two grandsons, Todd (Karen) McCann, Rockford, Illinois, and Erin (Jamie) O' Neil, Madison, Wisconsin; three great-grandchildren, Megan and Colin McCann, and Valorie O' Neil; a sister, Delia Moxness, Carpenteria, California; and a special friend and spiritual advisor, Keith Lawler, Madison, Wisconsin.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Edna in 1997; a granddaughter, Dawn Marie McCann in 1980; brothers Bill, John and Reggie; and a sister, Minnie. A memorial service will be held at the GUNDERSON FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22, 1998, with Father Delbert Klink from St. Williams Parish in Janesville and longtime spiritual friend officiating. Burial will be held at Roselawn Memorial Park.

Friends may call one hour prior to the service on Wednesday, July 22, 1998 at the funeral home. in lieu of flowers, memorials. may be made to St. Health Care Center, or to an organization of your choice. Paulson, Inga M.

STOUGHTON Inga M. Paulson, age 79, died on Friday, July 17, 1998 at the Stoughton Hospital following a brief illness. She was born on June 20, 1919 in the Town of Pleasant Springs, a daughter of the late Thore and Tomina (Jossang) Walheim. She married Paulson on June 19, 1949. He preceded her in death on September 14, 1982.

Inga was a life long member of West Koshkonong Lutheran Church, with W.E.L.C.A. and the West Koshkonong Quilters, Mary Circle and organized various missionary work which included Relief Foundation the Mississippi Mission Field. Inga is survived by her son, Virgil (Holly) Paulson of Deerfield: her daughter, Karen Paulson of Stoughton; two grandchildren, Lesley and Jamie Paulson; her aunt, Signe Jossang of Norway; further surviving nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 21, 1998 at 11:00 a.m. at WEST KOSHKONONG LUTHERAN CHURCH, 1911 Koshkonong Road.

Reverend Martha Nack will officiate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will greet friends at the funeral home from 1 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Monday, July 20, 1998.

"Mom was proud of her Norwegian Heritage. We love you Mom and we will always miss you!" Olson-Holzhuter-Cress 206 West Prospect Avenue Stoughton 873-9244 Associated Press Greg Werbowsky, right, Tyler Schield, center, and Laura Emenecker, all 10, climb the bars Friday at Weston Elementary School in Wausau. The youths were taking part in a summer camp. Thompson, Warren T. STOUGHTON Warren Thayne Thompson, age 73, passed away on Saturday, July 18, 1998 at Stoughton Hospital.

He was born on February 19, 1925 at Mercy, the Hospital late in Glenn Janesville, and Inga the (Bredesen)Thompson. Warren married Jean Skoien on July 31, 1954 at First Lutheran Church in Stoughton. He graduated from Lane Technical High School in Chicago, Illinois and was employed with Uniroyal, retiring after 40 years of service. Warren was in the U. S.

Army where he operated as member of Mine Platoon Anti Company and served under U. S. General Patton. He was a long time member of First Lutheran Church. Warren loved to be with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and also loved to putts around in his home and yard.

He is survived by his wife, Jean of Stoughton; his daughter, Barbara (Walter) Loether of Brooklyn; three granddaughters, Gwendolyn Tande, Kimberly Myhre, and Nicole Loether; two stepgrandchildren, Troy Loether Tammy Belefeuille; three greatgrandchildren, Kelsey, Brittney, and Kaylee Rose Tande; his brother, Merlin Thompson of Stoughton; and a special friend, Brooke Smithback. He is further survived by several cousins and friends. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 22, 1998 at 11:00 a.m. at FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH, 310 East Washington. Reverend James Schwarz will officiate.

Burial will follow at Eastside Cemetery with graveside rites by the Madison Area Veterans Council Firing Squad. The family will greet friends on Tuesday, July 21, 1998 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Olson-Holzhuter-Cress 206 W.

Prospect Avenue Stoughton 873-9244 Van Fossen, Elizabeth A. MADISON Elizabeth Van Fossen died on Sunday, July 19, 1998 at Meriter Health Care Center. She was born on April 9, 1904 in Dana, Iowa to John and Elizabeth Laver. She lived all of her life in central Iowa until 1983, when she moved to the Meriter Retirement Center. On April 11, 1923 she married Earl C.

Van Fossen; he preceded her in death in December of 1970. Elizabeth was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the Order of the Eastern Star, Perry Chapter 142, Perry, Iowa. She is survived by her daughter, Doris Price of Monona; a grandson, David B. (Lori) Price of Sun Prairie; a great-grandson, Matthew: a stepson, Edward (Mildred) Van Fossen; and step Edward, Donald and Linda. Funeral services will be held at the GUNDERSON FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive at 8:00 p.m.

on Tuesday, July 21, 1998. Chaplain Jeff Billerbeck will officiating. Friends may call from 6:00 p.m. until the time of service on Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be held at the Paton Township Cemetery in Paton, Iowa.

Witthuhn, Herbert COLUMBUS Herbert Witthuhn, age 80, of Columbus, died Sunday, July 19, 1998 at the Columbus Center. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 23, 1998 at 11:00 a.m. at the ZION EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, Columbus. Friends may call at the ZEIDLER FUNERAL HOME on Wednesday, July 22, 1998 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

and at the church on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Zeidler Funeral Home, Columbus 920-623-3150 Zhe, Mary Frances EVANSVILLE Mary Frances Zhe, age 75. of Evansville, died Friday, July 17, 1998 at Evansville Manor Nursing Home. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 21, 1998 at p.m.

at Ward Funeral Home, Evansville. Visitation will be on Tuesday, July 21, 1998 at the funeral home from 5:00 p.m. until the time of service. Money. Each day in the Wisconsin State Journal California dad still waiting for a reunion with his son Associated Press VENTURA, Calif.

For 17 years, Robert Decker wondered what his son looked like. What had become of the baby who was 9 months old the last time he saw him? Decker got some answers last week when the boy's mother, Linda Susan Decker of southeastern Wisconsin, was arrested for investigation of child abduction. But he's still waiting for a reunion with his son. The former Linda Decker, who changed her name to Michelle Jones, was released from Ventura County Jail on Saturday, hours after being extradited from Georgia after being arrested for investigation of child abduction. The arrest was prompted by an anonymous tip in Georgia where she was visiting relatives.

The 37-year-old Kenosha County woman posted $250,000 bail and is awaiting arraignment in California on July 31. Her attorney, Jay Johnson, has declined comment on the case. Decker first got to see an image of his son last week when the boy's photo, one taken from his high school yearbook, flashed on a television screen during a news story about the abduction. "Talk about a shock," said Decker, an Oxnard High School English teacher who lives in Camarillo. "There was my son's face and I had never seen it before.

I'll tell you, there's definitely a strong family resemblance." Because the boy, whose name is now Michael Jones, is nearly an adult, authorities are letting him decide whether he wants a reunion with his father. "I'm just thanking God every day that he's been found," Decker said. "My hope is to eventually get away with him for a couple of days so we can get to know one another and unravel this mystery together." During his long search for his son, Decker turned to investigators with the Ventura County district attorney's Parental Abduction Unit, contacted the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and hired a private investigator to follow leads in several states. Morgan George Decker was born in Camarillo in October 1980. He last saw his father shortly before his mother left in violation of a court order stipulating shared custody and visitation arrangements.

She remarried in 1983, changed her name, allegedly forged her son's birth certificate, had three more children, and moved to Twin Lakes in Wisconsin. And her firstborn, now an honors student and star track athlete, apparently grew up believing his stepfather was his biological father. William Jones, whose name appears as the father on the boy's forged birth certificate, worked for his wife's father, Douglas Corson, at his lucrative manufacturing company, AA Thread Seal Tape Inc. A resident in the Wisconsin town with a population of just over 4,000 called the Jones family a "Norman Rockwell" family and said Michelle Jones was a fundraiser for local youth groups. "They're such wonderful people," said JoAnn O'Reilley.

"This is just so hard to believe." Decker said he doesn't want to rush a reunion with his son, but is overjoyed he has been found. It was unclear where the teen-ager was Sunday. "He is very, very concerned about the effect of all this on Morgan," said Theresa McConnville, Decker's attorney. "We just want everybody to back off now and let this boy come to grips in quiet with what has happened. The first concern is for Morgan." Oneidas put their art on display Associated Press ONEIDA A high school student who entertained at the Oneida Museum Cultural Festival with a hoop dance and storytelling believes all young people should know their heritage.

"My culture is who I am," says Thirza Defoe of Milwaukee. She does not, see many young American Indians as active in their culture as she is. "I think a lot of young people are confused about who they are, which is why they end up using drugs and alcohol and get into gangs," she said. Defoe entertained some of the nearly 500 people who came to view craft demonstrations and performances and eat traditional foods Saturday. "It's an opportunity to interact and discuss the culture and see a facet of Oneida and Iroquois people besides gaming," said Karen Brockman, director of the museum.

Artists and craftsmen offered demonstrations of their arts. Baskets, beadwork, drums and moccasins were made. Others showed metal work, pottery and wampum belts. Kenneth Lahnetahawe Brickman, a sculptor, uses themes from Oneida culture in his woodcarvings. "This gives me an opportunity to show this part of there are not a lot of sculptors in Oneida," he said.

Brickman takes an average of two weeks to complete his sculptures. Many of the artists work on a part-time basis and have other occupations. Forrest Brooks, who teaches at Oneida Nation High School, makes wampum belts, horn rattles and water drums in his spare time. The water drum, which uses a wet deerskin to create a certain pitch, symbolizes different aspects of Oneida beliefs, Brooks said. The deerskin symbolizes animal life, the wood stands for plant life, and the water is a part of every thing living.

The circular shape of the drum is symbolic of the relationship among all three, the earth, and the cyclical nature of life. "When we sing with it we're putting ourselves within all those things," Brooks said. Old petroleum spill may have fouled wells Associated Press KRONENWETTER A petroleum spill believed to have occurred more than 20 years ago is suspected of contaminating some private water wells, forcing people to drink bottled water. Components of gasoline and diesel fuel have been found in water tests, Dave Carriveau, a drinking water specialist with the state Department of Natural Resources, said last week. "There are people that have a lot of questions and that makes them nervous," he said.

Tests determined that water from four wells contained up to 50 times the safe level of the chemical benzine, a component of gasoline, said Lisa Gutknecht, a hydrogeologist with the DNR. The problem was detected several weeks ago by a resident who smelled petroleum in his water well, said Bob Berens, a spokesman for Williams Pipe Line which is responsible for the cleanup. The petroleum spill is thought to have occurred when a truck overflowed while loading, Berens said. "At the time, we didn't have the technology to bring it up out of the ground and we thought we had cleaned it up," he said. The company has supplied two homes with filtration systems and two homes with bottled water, Berens said.

Officials have found where the petroleum is on the aquifer and steps are being taking to keep it from spreading, he said. About 100 residents of Kronenwetter, which is in Marathon County near Mosinee, attended a town meeting last week with questions and concerns about the spill, some expecting more wells would eventually test positive for the problem. Randy Schulz, whose family is already drinking bottled water, said he has thought about moving but doubts anyone would buy his home. "I like the area, but I don't like bringing my daughters up with contaminated water," he said. Berens said the cleanup of tainted soil, which will take two to three years, has started but more tests are needed before starting the groundwater cleanup.

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