Tomah Journal - Obituaries

June A. Knuteson, Clair 'Pete' Ostrem

LODI/ONALASKA - June A. Knuteson, age 89, of Onalaska and formerly of Lodi, died peacefully on Thursday, June 5, 2008, at Sterling House Onalaska, where she had been a resident for the past 18 months. She was the first child of Anna and Ernest Senz, born June 10, 1918, in Clifton, WI. She married Kernie Knuteson on June 23, 1941, at St. Michael’s Church, Indian Creek, and together they lived in Lodi for more than 50 years. June was a longtime member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Lodi, where she was active in the Altar Sodality and Religious Education in her younger years. June relocated to Tomah and then to Onalaska for the past five years.

She is survived by her daughter, Patricia McCormick and her husband Patrick of Onalaska; four grandchildren, Joe, Curt, Melisa and Philip McCormick; two great-grandchildren, Madeline and Eloise McCormick; her sister, Marian, and sister-in-law, Charlotte Senz of Tomah; as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kernie; her parents; three brothers, Robert, Gerald and Leon; and a sister, Dorothy.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 9, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Lodi, with Monsignor Daniel T. Ganshert officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until the Mass at the church. June will be buried at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery next to her husband Kernie. The family would like to thank the staff at Sterling House in Onalaska for the dedicated and special care they provided June in her last week. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church or to the charity of the donor’s choice.

The HAMRE FUNERAL HOME, Lodi, (608) 592-3201, assisted the family with arrangements.

Clair 'Pete' Ostrem

Clair “Pete” Ostrem, 70, of Tomah, WI, passed away at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse. He was born July 4, 1937, to Chris and Lucille (Gorman) Ostrem in Viroqua. He was united in marriage to Shirley Hoiland on April 2, 1960; they later divorced.

He is survived by his special friend, Carol Vig; children Dawn Mauer of Sparta, Dennis Ostrem of Sparta and Denise (David) Cahalan of Stoddard; sisters Harriet and Mary Snider, both of Tomah; grandchildren Dustin Boardman, Nicole Maurer, Elizabeth Ostrem, Shawna Grassman and Nicholas Cahalan; great-grandchildren Sierra Boardman, Nathan Boardman and Kaleak Ostrem; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Chris and Lucille.

A Celebration of Clair’s Life will be held June 25, 2008, at 2 p.m. at Einstein’s Bar in Oakdale. The Torkelson Funeral Home of Tomah is assisting the family with arrangements.

Online condolences are available at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.