The La Crosse Tribune from La Crosse, Wisconsin • Page 7

La Crosse Tribune, Tuesday, May Felix Fischer Of La Crosse At 97, He Enjoyed Life And HisGarden Obituaries By LRKWARD C. LEE Tribune Staff Writer He loved to have the children and grandchildren come to see said Mrs Virgil (Alice) Sherry. R. 2, Onalaska, of Felix Fischer. 97.

417 Liberty who died Friday. May 10. in a local hospital. Mrs. Sherry is one of the several surviving nieces and nephews of Fischer.

He and his wife. Florence, who died in 1962, had no children of their own the children visited Mrs. Sherry said, always came home with a treat -flowers or candy or some little Flowers filled a large part of Fischer's life In a story about him in the Tribune in 1971. Fischer said there are two prerequisites for having a flower garden. he said, have to have a love for flowers; and secondly, you can be afraid to work and use a little elbow Right up to the last year of his life, he continued to grow flowers and vegetables.

Rev. Douglas Fraley, pastor of St Luke's United Methodist Church, of which Fischer was a member 22 years, said that only recently when he paid Fischer a visit at his home, Fischer said he had raised and canned vegetables until last year. The pastor said Fischer never missed Sunday services up until about three years ago, when he was unable to get to church. lie was a remarkable the Rev. Mr Fraley said.

had the brightest, most sparkling eyes I ever saw and you could tell just by looking at him and chatting with him that he enjoyed life The pastor said he understood ischer had led a hard-working life, but he said he never heard him complain. After Fischer was unable to attend services, the Rev. Mr. Fraley said he visited Fischer at his home quite often and always got a warm welcome. In more feminine fashion, Mrs.

Sherry described Fischer as a very lovable little She added that although he was Felix Fischer independent, he had many His independence was shown after he broke his hip last fall trying to get out of the bathtub. He lay all night on the floor before being found the next morning by a neighbor. After a two-week stay in the hospital, Fischer lived with the Sherrys for a few days, but not for long he wanted to return to his home and his garden. C. H.

Webb, 816 Island who lives just down the alley from home, also testified to independent spirit. Following the broken hip. Webb said. Fischer had to get around with the use of a walker. spite of Webb said.

I saw him shoveling snow from the porch to the sidewalk several He shared his flowers and vegetables with the Webbs, they said, and his favorites were dahlias first, roses second and begonias a close third. have asked for a better neighbor," Webb said. That was the sentiment expressed by Mrs. Anna Harris. 412 Liberty right across from Fischer's home.

never gave anybody any Mrs. Harris said, he sure was a good neighbor. He often helped me with my Born in Germany, Fischer came to the United States when Retired Sparta Librarians To Be Honored Library Observing Centennial By NORA MAGELEE Tribune Correspondent SPARTA, Wis. The Sparta Free Library is observing its 100th anniversary this week There will be open house with coffee from 2 to 4 p.m. daily when area residents may tour the library facilities.

The library has more than 25.000 books and carries periodicals, film strips, films, recordings and two talking book machines for the blind. The library also offers resource materials on all sources from the La Crosse Area Library services and other resource outlets Sparta High School Pep Band opened the observance last night with a concert. The Sparta Literary Club, Sparta's oldest cultural organization, which has been closely associated with the library throughout its existence, will present a program from 7 to 8 p.m. today. In charge will be Mrs.

Lambert Hansen and Mrs. Clair Van Antwerp. The official birthday cake will be cut in a special centennial program from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, with members of the library board, Mrs. Anne Wieczorek, Mrs.

Caroline Hulsether and Mrs. Avis Quackenbush in charge Mrs. Vera McFall, a retired librarian will be in charge of the open house when the birthday cake will be cut. Retired librarians to be honored include Mrs. McFall, Mrs.

Gladys Wood. Mrs. Lillian Parmenter. and Mrs. Loraine Boltik.

who resigned her position as of May 1. after serving as head librarian since the retirement of Mrs. Parmenter. Radio Station WCOW. the GREENHOUSE 7 milts south of La Crosse On Hwy 14 PH 788-2570 Monroe County Publishers.

Mrs. Nora Magelee, La Crosse Tribune correspondent and former Mayor M. La Verne Hulsether will be honored for their cooperation. Saturday will be children's day. Free movies will be shown from 10 a.m.

until noon, and from 1 to 5 p.m. Norman Fjelstad of La Crosse, an entertainer who specializes in ventriloquism and magician acts and sings ballads, will appear. Mrs. Luci Dengel, children's librarian, will be in charge of the program. Before the Sparta library was formally organized May 8.1874.

a group of Sparta citizens organized a library association. Its first officers, elected in the winter of 1861. were Romanzo Bunn, president; E. S. Whitaker, secretary; T.

B. Tyler, treasurer; and M. A. Thayer, librarian. All were prominent in Sparta's early history.

The first association operated under the name of Young Men Library Association, was officially organized in accordance with a new state law in 1874. According to state records, Sparta had the first library in Wisconsin established under the general library law of 1872. Black River Falls had a minutes book dating back to 1873. but the organization was not listed in the records. Other libraries listed were Madison, 1875; Fond du Lac.

1877; Milwaukee, 1878; and La Crosse, Ashland and Superior in 1888. In the first Sparta Free Library operations, members subscribed for shares at $5 each and a small assortment of books was purchased. Donations from private libraries added to the circulation The State Library Commission was organized in 1895. During the Civil War, library membership dropped from 100 to 13. Dr.

R. S. Wells, a pioneer dentist. offered to house the books in his office and serve as librarian. After Dr.

Wells left Sparta, the books were moved to the second story of the mercantile building and to the Schram building on Water Street. Minnie Blakeslee was the first woman to be named librarian in Sparta in 1889. Other librarians through the years include E. E. Blyton, Kittie Hill, Jennie Scouten, Minnie Knutson.

Lillian Wilcox. Mildred (Sackett) McKenzie. Vera McFall, Gladys Wood. Lillian Parmenter, Ruth Hall, Mrs. Boltik and the present children's librarian.

Mrs. Dengel In March 1902 the City of ta accepted a $10,000 grant from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, and a library was built on land purchased from a Mr. Hatch for $3,300. The library is located at W. Main and S.

Court streets. Two new members have been named to the library board to replace Mrs. Quackenbush. who declined reappointment, and Alderman Marion Davis. Named to the positions by Mayor Thomas Gomez are Mrs.

William J. Gleiss and Alderman Ernest Reynolds. Other board members are Mrs. John Wieczorek, chairman; Mrs. K.

W. Mohr. Mrs. La Verne Hulsether, Mrs. C.

Hughes and Supt. of Schools Keith Martin. Sheriff To Redeputize City Private Investigator he was about five, and in the 1880s his family moved to La Crosse. Until he was 22, he helped on his farm in Sand Lake Coulee, and in 1903 he took the short course in agriculture at the University of Wiseonsin-Madison. He operated a farm near Brownsville, which he later sold and was lured west to work on a Montana ranch.

After returning to La Crosse he was a railroad worker and wound up his working life at the La Crosse Rubber Mills, remaining there for about 20 years until retiring at the age of 67. But he never stopped working, and he attributed his long life to hard work. Mrs. Sherry took care of Fischer the last month before he was taken to the hospital. she said, was cheerful and easy to care for.

and he said once, I'm ready to Services were held this morning in St. United Methodist Church, the Rev. Mr. Fraley officiating, and burial was in Oak Grove Cemetery. Records COUNTY COURT La Crosse Steven M.

LaValle, age not given. White Hall, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, issuing forged checks March 7 and 13 totaling $65 at Degen-Berglund Drug Store, sentence withheld, placed on probation for one year, with probation to end upon payment of restitution and reimbursement of the county for the fees of his court-appointed lawyer. Ivan Lenser, 24. of 1251 S. 22nd Drive, battery of an Arlan Roesler April 28 at 621 Jackson case continued to May 15.

LeMont B. Struxness, 20, of 422 E. Church Viroqua, marijuana possession, pleaded guilty, placed on probation for one year. Jason J. Lehrke, 18, of 432Vz Rose and James M.

Chambers. 19. R. 4, Sparta, La Crosse County Sheriff William Black said Monday he will redeputize a private investigator whose deputy credentials he withdrew last week. Black had acted last week to strip the investigator, Jerry Briggs, of his deputy powers at the recommendation of the County Board Law Enforcement Committee.

The committee had advised the action after receiving a complaint from Dist. Atty. Burleigh Randolph that Briggs' occupations as a process server for the sheriff department and as a private investigator involved a conflict of interest. Randolph said he had no reason to believe that Briggs had done anything wrong, but added that if at some future time Truck Retrieved From Swamp TOMAH, Wis. A tractor and semi-trailer loaded with 60.000 Man Pleads Guilty pounds of structural steel were yn Tkpff puarnp retrieved from a swamp Monday I licit UMdryc on Norway Ridge Road between Highway 173 and County Highway northeast of Tomah.

The unit, driven by Leland E. Merrill. 52, Wisconsin Dells, slid off the highway at 5:45 p.m. Sunday. A crane was dispatched to the scene and by using a sling the trailer was lifted onto the highway, where the steel was unloaded and transferred to another semi-trailer.

The Monroe County Highway Department placed barricades at both ends of the rescue area and PASS THE JULY 13th WISCONSIN REAL ESTATE EXAM (broker's and salesman's) All you need is desire, dedication, and step- by-step results oriented program. UNIVERSITY PROVEN 8-WEEK COURSE Tuition and materials $90. WEDNESDAY NIGHTS, 7-10 P.M. May 22 July 10th LA CROSSE HOLIDAY INN A. J.

Claire, Instructor For information call or write The Eau Claire School of Real Estate (715-836-5509 or 832-0921) 509 Morningside Apt. Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701 MRS. MARTHA NELSON BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. Mrs. Martha E.

Nelson, 89, Black River Falls, died Sunday, May 12, at a nursing home in Black River Falls. Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Rev. Tom Heyd officiating, and burial will be in Riverside Cemetery. Friends were to call Tuesday afternoon and evening at the Torgerson Chapel and after noon Wednesday at the church.

She was born May 14, 1884, in Germany to Mr. and Mrs. Wilhelm Gutknecht and had lived in Black River Falls since her parents came here when she was a child. She married Albert C. Nelson in 1910.

He preceded her in death in 1941. Survivors include three sons, Richard of Arlington. Harold of Plymouth, N.C.. Donald of Canoga Park, two daughters. Mrs.

Otis Newton of Minneapolis and Mrs. Lyle Pledger of Marshall. one brother, Robert Gutknecht of Black River Falls; 14 grandchildren and 10 grandchildren. WILLIE HAEFER MONROE. Wis.

Willie Haefer. 56. of Monroe, formerly of Cashton. died Sunday evening. May 12, in his sleep of an apparent heart attack.

He had operated the Zephyr Service Station and Car Wash in Monroe. Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Newcomber Funeral Home at Monroe, with burial in the local cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 4 p.m. Tuesday.

He was born May 5. 1918 at Reedsburg to Mr. and Mrs. William Haefer and he married Betty Lou Hoff at Coon Valley Dec'8, 1951. He farmed in the Reedsburg area until 1938, then operated a service station in Reedsburg until 1960.

when he moved to Cashton and operated a tavern until 1968. He moved to Monroe in 1968. He is survived by his widow; five daughters. Mrs. Maynard (Sandra) Sidie of Broadhead, Mrs.

David (Elaine) Schutte and the Green Meadow Supper Club John Sagear attempted theft May 10 of $25 Mrs. Richard (Beverly) worth of scrap metal from Max's Golackson of Monroe, Joyce Auto Wrecking, pleaded inno- Haefer of Freeport, 111. and was a leakage of information out of the sheriff office, Briggs would be suspected, rightly or wrongly. Randolph said the conflict comes in the fact that as a private investigator Briggs works for various law firms, particularly lawyer Patrick Doyle, who frequently handles the defense in criminal cases. Black said he was authorizing deputy credentials because Briggs needs them in his occupation.

He said other persons similarly situated are deputized, including Johnson's Security Service employes and Wilbur Davies, who has a contract with the county to do lie detector tests and works for private law firms as well. While noting that Briggs had done outstanding for the sheriff department as a process server, Black said Briggs would not return to the department in that capacity BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. Jerry Hardwick, 22, Black River Falls, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor theft charge in Jackson County Court Monday following a plea bargain between the district attorney's office and the lawyer, Hugh Haight. Hardwick had been charged with breaking into the Northern Auto Supply Black River Falls, and taking some cash. He was sentenced to six months in jail and fined $200 on the reduced charge, but the cent, case to be set for trial.

FIRE DEPARTMENT City: May 12. 11:36 a.m., 1500 block of Prospect Street; grass fire. May 12, 6:02 p.m., fire in car owned by Larry Blum, 2205 George at North and George Streets. Man Sentenced To 4-Year Term For Burglary BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. Terry Trones, 23, Black River Falls, was sentenced Monday in Jackson County Court to four years in Green Bay Reformatory on a burglary charge.

He was charged with an April 1973 break-in at a cottage, in the Town of Manchester, owned by Harold Berkholtz, now of Albuquerque, N.M. lawyer, Hugh Haight, Neillsville, argued Trones had not been charged with serious offenses, that he had not shown premeditation and that Trones had a physical problem disease opposite leukemia as far as blood is Judge Schoengarth said that when Trones was arrested, he already was on probation for a burglary conviction in 1971 in Columbia County. He had been ordered then to pay $89 in lawyer fees and court costs, but had paid $19 so far. Carol at home; five brothers, Ernest of Baraboo, Art, Lester and Larry all of Reedsburg; and Allen of Milwaukee, six sisters. Eunice Haefer of Milwaukee; Mrs.

Ervin Koscinski of Brown Deer, Mrs. William Kopitzki of Wauwatosa. Mrs. Evelyn Jutz of Delavan; Mrs. John Birthrong and Mrs.

Virgina Seckins of Milwaukee; and five grandchildren. WILLIAM KORTBEIN TOMAH, Wis. William Kortbein, 75, of Ridgeville died Monday, May 13, in a Tomah hospital. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in St.

Evangelical Lutheran Church at Ridgeville, Rev. Martin Lemke officiating, and burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery at Tomah. Friends may call at the Ninneman Funeral Home Tuesday afternoon and evening and Wednesday until 11 a.m., and at the church Wednesday after 1 p.m. He was born at Norwalk Jan. 22, 1899, and he married Elvira Ludeking May 16, 1923.

He farmed in the Ridgeville area. He is survived by his widow; two sons. Robert of Wilton and Donald of Tomah; four grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Cora Wetterlind of Seattle, and a foster-sister, Mrs. Emma Garske of Norwalk.

ARLAND HEGLAND ETTRICK, Wis. Arland George Hegland, 55. died of a heart attack Sunday, May 12, at at Blair. Service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Fossum Funeral Home in Ettrick and at 11 a.m.

in St. Catholic Church. Rev Francis McCaffrey officiating, burial will be in St. Cemetery, with military rites at the grave. Friends were to call at the Fossum Funeral Home Tuesday from 4 to 9 p.m., the Rosary to be at 8 p.m.

He was born at Houston, Oct. 16, 1918, to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hegland. He married Irene Morman and the couple lived at Beach north of Ettrick.

He was a livestock salesman for the and Corp He formerly owned and operated the Ettrick Stockyards. He was a charter member of the Knights of Columbus. Marynook Council 6487; member of the Ettrick American Legion Post and of the Past Legion Commanders Club of Wisconsin; and a member of the National Rural Letter Carriers Association. He was a substitute rural mail carrier at Ettrick. Survivors include his widow; a son, David of Whitehall; three daughters, Mrs.

James (Betty) Brandtner of Galesville. Mary Hegland of St. Paul and Helen, at home; his mother. Mrs. Cora Erickson, La Crosse; a brother, Harold of Onalaska; a sister.

Mrs. Arlyn Olson of Holmen; and a grandchild. JOSEPH HELGERSON SOLDIERS GROVE. Wis. Joseph I.

Helgerson, 42, of Soldiers Grove died Sunday, May 12 in a La Crosse hospital. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Mount Sterling Lutheran Church, Rev. O. Trygve Holter officiating, and burial will be in the church cemetery.

Friends were to call at the Martin Funeral Home in Gays Mills after 3 p.m. Tuesday. The American Legion will conduct military rites at the grave. He was born Feb. 8, 1892, in the Town of Utica, Crawford County, to Mr.

and Mrs. Albert Helgerson, and he married Alma Anderson June 17. 1920. He farmed all his active life in the Soldiers Grove area and was a veteran of World War I. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs.

Byron (Lucille) Turner, and a son, Arnold, both of Soldiers Grove; three sisters, Mrs. Eda Nutter of Porthageville. N.Y., Mrs. Clara Harding of Mount Sterling and Mrs. Robert Stevenson of Ferryville, four brothers.

Clarence and Oscar, both of Mount Sterling, Ted of Stoddard and Helge of Portland, and three grandchildren. MRS. EUNICE M. SIMENSON Mrs. Eunice M.

Simenson, 66, of 721 N. 24th St. died in a local hospital on Monday. May 13. She was born in La Crosse on Aug.

9, 1907, to Mr. and Mrs. Survivors i i daughter, Mrs. Hai Hemker of La Cross- children; three sist? (Irene) Wagener and (Norma) Stoeckly 1. Crosse, and Mrs.

1 Klaschus of Denaii. three brothers, Rav Sagear both of La Howard Sagear of Mich. She was preceded her husband Clare 30. 1973, a daughtci a sister, and a broth'; Funeral servic Thursday at 2 Lutheran Church Stefan Guttormsson Burial will be in Cemetery. Friends the Schumacher Fu on Wednesday from and at the church from 1 p.m.

until th vicej. MRS. CHRISTINE 1 VIROQUA. Christine Lee, 76, died Saturday, Mm Viroqua rest home. Services will be Wednesday in the Lutheran Chun Score officiating, aim be in the church Friends may call Funeral Home in Tuesday from 4 to 5 6:30 p.m., with device at 7:15 p.m..

church Wednesday a She was born Feb. Crawford County Mrs. Thomas H.u: married Joseph 1917. He preceded i 1962. She is survived daughter.

Mrs Bid Beloit; two sons, Westby and Sterling; two broth Hauge and Palmer Viroqua nine grand hi six great-grandchildfv MRS. ELMER JOB Mrs. Elmer (Alma) 72. of 2309 Main May 12. not Monday previously reported preceded in death hv daughter.

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