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Story originally printed in the Winona Daily News or online at www.winonadailynews.com

Published - Sunday, March 30, 2008

Obituaries for Sunday, March 30, 2008

By Daily News staff

Lorraine Irene Johnson

Oct. 25, 1925 — March 26, 2008

Lorraine Irene Johnson, 82, died at the American Lutheran Home in Menomonie on March 26, 2008.

Lorraine was born Oct. 25, 1925, in Fountain City, Wis., (Buffalo County), to Walter J. and Emma (Adank) Senn. She spent her earliest years on a farm in Eagle Valley. She attended her first years of school at a small one-room school called “Fairview.”

In 1934, the family moved to Fountain City, where they lived until 1941. After a short residency in Piedmont, Mo., the family returned to Buffalo County, to Cochrane.

Lorraine graduated from Cochrane High School in 1943. For a time during World War II, she moved to Chicago in order to work as an IBM keypunch operator for the U.S. Treasury Department. After that, she worked as a bookkeeper at the Herald Lumber Co. in Cochrane, and then for several years as an IBM operator at the J.R. Watkins Co. in Winona, Minn.

On Dec. 26, 1949, Lorraine married Don L. Johnson of Madison, who later became a well-known outdoor writer for the Milwaukee Sentinel and other publications. They had two children, Douglas in 1951 and Lynn in 1952.

Lorraine and her family resided in a number of Wisconsin communities during the decades that followed — Madison, Neillsville, Eau Claire, Milwaukee, Dousman, and Menomonie.

Lorraine was a homemaker. She was also very interested in current events and in various government policy topics. She was a “kitchen-table activist” who wrote many letters to members of Congress and other policymakers. She was also a devoted writer of letters to family members and friends.

Lorraine was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Don L. Johnson (Jan. 20, 2006); by her sister, Betty; and by her brother, Marcel.

Lorraine is survived by her children, Douglas (Carolyn) Johnson of Maryland and Lynn (Curt) Carlson of Independence, Wis.; by her grandchildren, Clare, Paul, Miriam and Thomas Johnson; by her great-grandson, Mark Johnson; by her sister, LaVonne (Jerry) Hovind of Manitou Springs, Colo.; by several nieces, nephews and cousins; and by many friends.

In accord with Lorraine’s wishes, the family will schedule a simple memorial service at a later date at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Spooner, where her cremated remains will be interred with those of Don.

The family encourages donations to the Dunn County Humane Society, 302 Brickyard Road, Menomonie, WI, 54751. To express condolences online, please visit “obituaries” at www.olsonfuneral.com.

Patti J. Timm

July 8, 1941 — March 28, 2008

Patti J. Timm, 66, of Wabasha Minn., formerly of Glencoe, Minn., died Friday, March 28, 2008, at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Wabasha. She was born July 8, 1941, in Litchfield, Minn., the daughter of Ronald and Ruth (Dibb) Pettrich. She graduated from Glencoe High School and then attended business college for one year. She married Paul Timm Aug. 30, 1961, at the Church of Peace Parsonage in Glencoe. She was a homemaker after their marriage. Her husband died Nov. 23, 2002. Patti moved to Wabasha on Feb. 17, 2006, to be near her son and his family.

Patti was a former member of the Church of Peace in Glencoe. She enjoyed cooking, baking and gardening. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandsons.

Patti is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Terry and Laura Timm, Wabasha; grandsons, Trevor and Travis Timm, Wabasha; sister and brother-in-law, Karen and Gene Konerza, Glencoe; niece, Tanya (Michael) Ziemer, Hutchinson, Minn.; nephews, Greg (Kim) Konerza, and Kyle (Jennifer) Konerza, Becker, Minn.; and great-niece, Kiera Ziemer, Hutchinson, Minn.

Her husband, Paul; two in-fant twin siblings, Patricia and Richard Pettrich; and her parents preceded her in death.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Zion Lutheran Church, rural Plainview, Minn., with Pastor Paul Langmade of Anchor Point Church of Wabasha officiating. Interment will be in Zion Lutheran Cemetery. Honorary bearers will be David and Margaret Timm and their children, Debra Olsen, Steven Timm, Duane Timm, Gary Timm, Kathy Lehnertz, Gerald Timm, Nancy McNallan and Sue Johnson. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Abbott Funeral Home in Wabasha and one hour before the service Wednesday at the church. Memorials are preferred to Zion Lutheran Cemetery Association. Personal messages may be sent to the family at www.abbottfh.com.

Abbott Funeral Home of Wabasha is in charge of arrangements.

Robert E. Young

April 11, 1928 — March 28, 2008

Robert E. Young, 79, died Friday, March 28, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Wis. Robert was born April 11, 1928, in Winona to Edward and Edna (Ohm) Young. Robert served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He married Marjorie R. Fabian on May 17, 1950, in Winona. Robert was a mail carrier for 30 years in Winona. He also worked for Volkmann Appliance in his retirement. Robert was a member of St. Martin’s Lutheran Church.

Robert is survived by his wife, Marjorie; sons, Scott (Linda) Young of Menomonie, Wis., and James (Katrina) Young of Winona; daughters, Joan (Michael) Young-Asmus of Burelson, Texas, and Sandra (Lance) Young-Porter of Chaska, Minn.; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and sister, Elaine (Eugene) Searles of Rochester, Minn. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Jeryl.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Central Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Scott E. Olson officiating. Burial will be in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Wilson, Minn. Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Hoff Funeral and Cremation Service Hansen Goodview Chapel and also one hour prior to the service Tuesday at the church. Military honors will be conducted by the American Legion of Winona at the church Tuesday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.

Please share a memory of Robert with his family, sign the online guestbook or view his video tribute at www.hofffuneral.com.

Ella A. Guyon

May 26, 1918 — March 27, 2008

Ella A. Guyon, 89, of Winona, formerly of Chicago, died unexpectedly at her residence in Winona after a long and full life.

Ella, baptized as Helen Katherine, was born in Mansfield on May 26, 1918. She was the eighth of the Anesi children and last child to be born at the Saloon. With an astounding memory, she vividly recounts her childhood on the Farm and a closeness to her two younger sisters, Lodovine and Betty. She easily recalls images of Gramma standing at the old cook stove making rice soup and molasses bread and Grandpa sitting in his chair and listening to the news and the Lone Ranger on the battery radio. Other tangible memories include snow banks 5-feet tall, ordering from the Sears Roebuck catalog, 4-H activities, and taking the bus to Forest Park School in Crystal Falls, Mich., in seventh grade. Another warm recollection is of Gramma putting a blanket on her and Lodovine as they lay on the couch sucking nippled beer bottles filled with warm milk.

Ella left the farm after high school graduation, in 1935. Following her sister’s footsteps, she went to Chicago for work. For two years, she worked at odd jobs of cleaning and baby-sitting for $15 a week. This led to helping a family care for their children during a trip to the New York World Fair in 1939. She marveled at Niagara Falls. She even took a trip to Washington, D.C., on her own, already a sign of her bold independent spirit.

She returned to work in the Chicago area, which became her home for the next 50 years. On one visit back to Crystal Falls, she and some friends went to Joe Semke’s tavern near the golf course in the Western Location. Young suave George Guyon, a local boy also working in Chicago, was up playing golf and stopped at the tavern with his spiffy blue convertible. He may have remembered Ella from high school when she walked downtown during recess as “the boys” would sit on the Finns & Swedes stoop to watch the “girls go by.” Or, maybe he remembered her from the dances where she won trophies for being the “best dancer.” He asked if he could call on her in Chicago. The rest is history!

Ella and George were married, and their first and only child, Joan, created a bang on the July 4, 1942. The couple made their home in a Lake Park Avenue apartment near the commuter train tracks for the next 17 years. After two years in the infantry, including time in Italy, George returned to Chicago to continue work at Taylor Forge. He worked there until his sudden death in 1979.

Ella was employed the majority of her adult life in responsible positions as a government civil servant. She worked for three years with the Adjutant General, 5th Army Headquarters. When the family moved to La Grange Park, Ill., in 1955, she worked at the Hines Veterans Administration in personnel for the next 23 years and retired in 1981. Perpetually curious, she took self-improvement classes at DePaul University and Triton College. She read a lot, learned about fashion and furniture, visited the local Chicago museums and traveled. With relish, she related her experiences at the world fairs in New York and Toronto, in Hawaii with the Jeffreys, on a Caribbean cruise and two tours to Europe. As an excellent conversationalist, she could relate to anyone on any subject.

Generosity and helping others was a deep thread running through her life. She and George helped many nieces and nephews learn about the “Big City” and gain employment. All benefited from their hospitality and desire to assist the family.

“Self reliant” epitomizes Ella. After George died, she managed her home herself, and then moved to Rochester, Minn., in 1992. In 1995 she moved to Winona, helping at the Cathedral of Sacred Heart Church, sending “goody” boxes up North, and spending time with Joan and family.

Ella will be missed by her only daughter and son-in-law Joan and Joseph J. Greshik of Cochrane; five grandchildren, Elizabeth (Kevin) Smith of Lake Elmo, Minn., Jacqueline (William) Swan of Salt Lake City, Utah, Keith (Rita) Greshik of Fountain City, Katherine (Craig) Griffin of Park City, Utah, Jennifer Greshik of Salt Lake City; nine great-grandchildren, Tristan Smith, Sierra Swan, Jacob, Jessica, Joseph, Julia, James and Jaxon Greshik and Wes Griffin; one sister, Betty Dobrzenski of Crystal Falls; and many nieces, nephews and dear friends, especially those in Knopp Valley.

Besides her parents and husband George, two brothers, John and Frank Anesi; six sisters, Mary Sundquist, Kathryn Clement, Lodovine Jeffrey, Angeline Battye, Rose Zdravecky and Ann Robichaud preceded Ella in death.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Guardian Angels Catholic Church, Crystal Falls. Burial will follow at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery. Friends may call Tuesday one hour prior to the service at the church. Honored to serve the family. Talbot Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

She will always be affectionately remembered by her special grandchildren as “Nona,” Italian for grandma.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Ella’s name to the Winona Health Foundation would be appreciated.

Lorena M. Von Haden

BLAIR, Wis. — Lorena M. Von Haden, 95, died Friday, March 28, 2008, at Tri-County Memorial Hospital, Whitehall, Wis.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Blair Zion Lutheran Church. Burial will be in Zion Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Jack Funeral Home and at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the church.

Paul J. McKenna

MABEL, Minn. — Paul J. McKenna, 87, of Mabel died Friday, March 28, 2008 at Green Lea Manor Nursing Home in Mabel.

Funeral Mass will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in Bluffton, Iowa. Burial will be in the church cemetery in Burr Oak, Iowa.

Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church.

Mengis Funeral Home.

Mary Ellen Busse

Mary Ellen Busse, 75, of Winona died Saturday, March 29, 2008, at Lake Winona Manor.

Funeral arrangements are tentatively planned for April 10, 2008. A complete obituary will follow.

Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home.