Bernice Dorathea Valiquette

On Thursday, February 7, 2013, Bernice D. Valiquette passed away at the Hillview Health Care Center, surrounded by her loving family. Bernice was born on April 14, 1916, in Milladore, Wis., to Edward and Anna (Schram) Haumschild. As a child, she moved to La Crosse and graduated from Aquinas High School in 1934. On November 30, 1940, Bernice married James Valiquette. She was a city girl who later moved with her husband to the country where they raised nine children and enjoyed many years on the family farm in Smith Valley.

Mother was the heart of our home, always giving of herself to others. Friends and family were always welcome. She was a member of the Smith Valley Homemakers and taught classes in cooking, knitting and sewing to many Smith Valley 4-H Club members. Bernice also enjoyed swimming at the Valley View Racquet Club. After her children were raised, Bernice worked for several years at Degen Berglund Pharmacy on State Street.

Bernice is survived by her sister, Mary Louise Sciborski of Onalaska; her daughters, Bibionne (Fred) Puent and Christine (Pat) Remis, both of Holmen, Antoinette Gelbeck, Roberta Keener, Mary Brickl, and Judy deBack (Gary Ingvalson), all of Onalaska, and Colleen Haskins of Florence, Ore.; her sons, Michael Valiquette of Holmen, and Patrick Valiquette of La Crosse.

She is further survived by her grandchildren, Brian (Tracy) Puent, Julie (Gorden) Nelson, Alan (Marie) Puent, Eric (April) Puent, Brett(Barb Trussoni) Valiquette, Guy Valiquette, Dean Gelbeck, Cheryl (David) Oliver, Laura Keener, Christopher Haskins, Cory Kjos (Amanda Horton), Shane (Jin) deBack, Jessica (Bruce) Moser, Nicole (Derrick) Sailer, and Misty Rae Valentine; her great grandchildren, Karina, Anna, Nicholas, Amanda, Casey, Benjamin, and Max Puent, Courtney, Alexia, and Ethan Nelson, Trevor and James Valiquette, Aidyn Rose Kjos, Joshua (Megan) Oliver, Cameron, Ryan and Hannah Oliver, Marleigh and Madison Sailer, and Shelby Bernice and Wyatt Moser; and her great, great grandchildren, Stella Sue Valiquette and baby Oliver due in July. Bernice is further survived by a niece, Jackie Secrist, and many other nieces and nephews.

Bernice was preceded in death by her husband, James; sisters, Cathryn Turner, Adeline Larkin; brother, Eugene Haumschild; sons-in-law, Lee Keener and Karl Brickl; grandson, Timothy Gelbeck; great grandson, Zachary Puent; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Jack Larkin, Bud Sciborski, Robert and Helen Valiquette, and Dorothy Valiquette.

The family would like to give special thanks to the staff at Hillview Health Care Center for the exceptional tender-loving care they gave to our Mother.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, February 14th, at 10:00 a.m., at St. James the Less Catholic Church, 1032 Caledonia St., La Crosse. Rev. Robert Schaller will officiate. Burial will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Family and friends may call at Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services of La Crosse, 200 West Ave. So., on Wednesday, from 4:00 until 7:30 p.m., where a rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m., and at the church on Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. Following the services, Bernices life will be celebrated at a reception at the Onalaska American Legion, 731 Sand Lake Road in Onalaska.