John J Pfaff

John J. Pfaff, 88, of La Crosse, passed away on Sunday, February 23, 2014, at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center. He was born in Sparta, Wis., on December 16, 1925, to Nelson W. and Agnes M. (Stringer) Pfaff. He married Betty Mae Trehus on October 26, 1946, in Caledonia, Minn. She preceded him in death on July 19, 2007. John served in the South Pacific and China during World War II as a member of one of the first Sea Bee battalions with the U.S. Navy. He then served as an MP with the U.S. Army stationed at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., at the onset of the Korean Conflict. John worked as a welder with the Trane Company in La Crosse for 35 years and was a member of the Trane Company 25-Year Club. After retiring from Trane, he worked at Ace Hardware in La Crosse for 25 years. John was a past member of Eagles Aerie 1254. In his free time, John loved fishing, camping at Lake Neshonoc, and family gatherings on the weekends. He was also an avid bowler and enjoyed golfing, and was a devoted Packer and NASCAR fan. He is survived by a daughter, Mary Webb of La Crosse; a son, Randy (Gina) Pfaff of Canyon Country, Cal.; twelve grandchildren, Brent (Tammie) Bendel, Blake Bendel, Stacey Zobeck, Shelly (Jamie) Roe, Eric (Robin) Pierce, Shaun (Ali) Pierce, Derek (Tara) Pfaff, Angela Pfaff, Jeffrey Pfaff, Cassie Pfaff, Brittany (Chris) Ebert, and Jacqui (Trent) Olson; numerous great grandchildren, whom he loved dearly. He is further survived by sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Janet and Les Zibrowski of Holmen, brother-in-law, Rueben Hundt of West Salem; sister-in-law, Virginia Trehus of La Crescent; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Richard and Elsie Trehus of Racine, Wis.; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife, Betty, John was also preceded in death by a daughter, Carol Bendel; two sons, Larry and Mark Pfaff; sons-in-law, Larry Webb and Rick Bendel; a brother, Ray Pfaff; sisters, Beverly Lemke and Catherine Kay Spears; brothers-in-law, Louie Lemke, Ed Spears, Kenneth Trehus, and Glen Trehus; and sisters-in-law, Judy Hundt and Edna Pfaff. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 28th, at Mary, Mother of the Church Parish at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 2006 Weston St., in La Crosse. Rev. Douglas Robertson will officiate. Entombment, with military honors, will follow at the St. Francis of Assisi Mausoleum in the Catholic Cemetery. Friends may call at Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services of La Crosse, 200 West Ave. So., on Thursday from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m.