Doris Mae Olive Johnson
LA CRESCENT, Minn. — Doris Mae Olive Johnson, 82, passed away Monday, May 11, 2009, at Claddagh House in La Crescent after a lengthy struggle with Alzheimer’s.
She was born March 21, 1927 in Caledonia, Minn., to Melville “Sam” and Lillie (Johnson) Roland. She married Norris Johnson on Aug. 26, 1946, in Houston, Minn. He preceded her in death in 2000.
Doris grew up in Sheldon, Minn., where her family had a general store. She always considered Sheldon her home. She was a good cook and was known for her baked treats, especially pies. She enjoyed gardening, sewing, and dancing with Norris. She worked at The Garment Factory, Jack Winters and The Company Store, where she made many friends. Doris was a charter member of Prince Of Peace Lutheran Church in La Crescent, where she was active in teaching Sunday School for many years.
Doris is survived by a son, Garry (Cathy) Johnson of La Crescent; two daughters, Kathy (Jim) Schmidt of La Crescent, and Vicky (Dale) Jerome of West Salem; six grandchildren, Chris Jerome, Jim Schleich, Jr., Shari (Kurt) Carlson, Stacy (Eric) Hart, Kelly Johnson, Sam (Joni) Johnson; seven great-grandchildren, Emmy and Max Carlson, Dylan, Brooklyn and Kasey Hart, and Cameron Sprotte and Lauren Johnson; one sister, Shirley Skadson of Spring Grove, Minn.; one brother, Melville “Westy” (Nora) Roland, of Roswell N.M., many nieces and nephews; and her extra granddaughter, Lissa. She is also survived by in-laws, Anna Johnson, Thomas (Evelyn) Johnson and Lois Johnson.
In addition to her husband, Norris, Doris was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Marcella Romie and Florence (Don) Morrison; five nephews; and several brothers and sisters-in-law.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, May 15, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 21 N. Hill St., La Crescent. Pastor Michael Woods will officiate. Burial will follow at Prince of Peace Cemetery in rural La Crescent. Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home, 412 S. Third St. La Crescent, and at the church Friday from 10 a.m. until time of services.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred and will be donated in Doris’ name.
The family would like to thank Carmel and the staff at Claddagh House for the care they gave to our mother and nana, Doris.
Edgar O. Schroeder
LA CROSSE -- Edgar O. Schroeder, 91, of La Crosse passed away Saturday, May 9, 2009, at Franciscan Skemp Medical Center in La Crosse.
He was born at home near Chaseburg on Oct. 28, 1917, to Herman and Minnie (Bray) Schroeder. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chaseburg. He attended school in Vernon County and played for the Pleasant Ridge baseball team. Edgar married Lucilla Stry in 1942, and they later divorced. On Nov. 18, 1967, he married Grace Whitehead Engle.
Edgar served as a supervisor for the town of Medary from 1953 until 1963. In 1958, he ran for the Wisconsin state Assembly. He was appointed, but declined due to commitments on the farm, to the Rivers and Harbors Commission in Washington, D.C. In 1959, he joined the Board of Directors of Electric Cleaner Company in Clintonville, Wis., which was later moved to Osseo, Wis. He eventually would retire as sales manager of Electric Cleaner of Osseo. In 1961 he bought 85 head of registered guernseys at Mark Woodhull Estates of Angola, Ind.; served as vice president of La Crosse Milk Producers, president of the La Crosse County Farm Bureau and named his farm “Nathan Hill Registered Guernsey Farm.” In 1964, he showed the grand champion cow at the Wisconsin State Fair, served on the Advisory Board of WWTC (formerly the Vocational School) and was a 4-H leader in La Crosse County. In 1978, Edgar sold the farm on Hwy. 16, and in 1979, he sold the cattle. He was currently a member of the La Crosse Businessmens Club and the La Crosse Plugs and was formerly a member of the Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce. He was a lifetime member of the Republican Party. He was a member of the finance committee and the choir at Faith Lutheran Church in La Crosse.
He is survived by his wife, Grace; two daughters, Renee Schroeder of West Salem and Vanessa Schroeder of Charlottesville, Va.; two stepsons, Richard (Sharon) Engle of Cleveland and Paul (special friend Shirley) Engle of Alexandria, Tenn.; five grandchildren, Lisa (Alex) Caxtillo, Michelle (Enrique) Dorado, Trisha Mathison, Amanda Balfany and Shawn Scherer; two stepgrandchildren, Carrie (Mike) Webster and U.S. Army PFC Christopher Engle; four great-grandchildren; two stepgreat-grandchildren; a sister, Mildred Leisso of Stoddard; two sisters-in-law, Lorraine Schroeder and Andrea Woods; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Harold and Arnold Schroeder; a sister, Frieda Bluske, mother-in-law, Florence Whitehead; father-in-law, Merlin Whitehead; a stepson, Brandon Engle; a grandson, baby Balfany; a son-in-law, Terry Balfany; a sister-in-law; and two brothers-in-law.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Faith Lutheran Church, 1407 Main St., La Crosse. The Rev. Paul Mundinger will officiate, and burial will be in Greenmound Cemetery, rural Holmen. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Dickinson Family Funeral Home, 515 McHugh Road, Holmen, and at the church on Thursday from 10 a.m. until the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Faith Lutheran Church or the charity of donor’s choice.
