Mildred Kaiser

Millie was born January 24, 1923, on Grandad Bluff in La Crosse to Frank and Anna (Stroeh) Gerke. She married Arnold Butch Kaiser on February 14, 1953. Back in the 1940s and 50s, Millie worked at the original Coney Island on Fourth Street and in later years worked at the Village Grill and the Bluffview and Welch motels. Joining the honor that three of her sisters previously held, she was the Nokomis Grandmother of the Year in 1997. Millie was known for her wonderful cooking, her collection of salt/pepper shakers and her cardinal room, as well as for playing bingo, dice and a darn good card game of sheepshead. She was an avid fan of the Milwaukee Brewers and the Green Bay Packers, and recently started to enjoy watching car racing. Millie is survived by her children, Karen Kaiser of La Crosse, LaVern Kaiser of St. Josephs Ridge, Diane Gertz of Kenosha and Bruce (Jacqueline) Kaiser of Onalaska; grandchildren, Jerry Kaiser (fiance Tabitha, son Austin and Tabithas son Justin) of La Crosse, Jeffrey Kaiser (special friend Heidi) of Madison, Nicole Kaiser of West Salem, Jared and Bradley Gertz of Kenosha and grand-dog, Molly Mae of West Salem. She is further survived by her sister, Dolores Lolly Knobloch and by in-laws/spouses: Doris Gerke, Bonnie Schafer, Carol Kaiser, Elsie Kaiser, Dale Kaiser, George Olson, Lorraine (Paul) Wagner, Dolores Soller, Martha (Bob) Armstrong and Roger (Emmajean) Kaiser; previous in-laws, Norman Pickering, Thomas Gertz, Paul Roskres and Debra Trocinski, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and friends. In addition to her parents and husband Butch, Millie was preceded in death by an infant son Joseph, great-grandson Skylar, siblings and their spouses: Alvin (Elizabeth) Gerke, Josephine (William) (Kendhammer) Evenson, Mathilda (Frank) Beranek, Leo Gerke, Florence (Walter) Schams, Raymond (Veronica) Gerke, Edward (Betty) Gerke, Clarence (Marian) Gerke, Carl Gerke, Gilbert (Joyce) Gerke, as well as in-laws Charles Knobloch, Bernard Fritz Kaiser, Evelyn (Gordon) Olson, Lester Kaiser, Robert (Geraldine) Kaiser, Gladys (Ralph) Brown, Walter (Sergene) Kaiser, Lawrence Kaiser, James Soller, and Irene Olson, as well as nieces, nephews and many good friends. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 27 at Mary Mother of the Church Parish, 2006 Weston St., La Crosse. The Monsignor Robert Hundt will officiate and entombment will be at the Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home in La Crosse from 4:30 to 8 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m., as well as one hour prior to services on Friday at MMOC.

The family would like to acknowledge and thank Sr. Kathy, Sr. Shirley, Dr. Teske, Dr. Novotny and Dr. Rasool, as well as the nurses, aides and volunteers of Mayo Healthcare Hospice for the treatment and loving care they gave Millie. In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorials be given to the Mayo Healthcare Hospice.