George C O\'Kane

George C. Scotty OKane, 88 of La Crosse passed away Monday, December 24, 2012 at the Bethany-St. Joseph Care Center. He was born February 26, 1924 in Dumbarton, Scotland to Peter and Margaret OKane. On February 26, 1946 he married Margaret Mills in Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland and she preceded him in death on November 11, 2007. They had two children, Peter and Elizabeth.

Scotty was a veteran of WWII serving from 1941 until 1947 with a Scottish Regiment in the British Army. He could wear two silver bars on his uniform for wounds he received in Normandy and again at the Rhine Crossing. Scotty also earned five campaign medals for his war service.

Scotty along with his wife Margaret and his seven year old son, Peter emigrated to the United States in 1953. Their daughter Elizabeth was then born in La Crosse in August of 1954, and soon after in 1958 Scotty, Margaret and Peter all became United States citizens. Scotty had always been a very active and proud friend of the American Legion Post 52 of La Crosse. His main project was completing the renovation and continuous updating of the Memorial Boards. He always referred to the names on the boards as My Fallen Comrades. Scotty and his wife Margaret were for many years co-chairmen of the Flag Decorating Committee at the Oak Grove Cemetery. He retired in 1987 as a printer at the Trane Company, Plant One.

Scotty is survived by his son, Peter (Theresa) OKane of Waukesha, WI; his daughter, Elizabeth Fegan of Scotland; three grandchildren, Clare Fegan of Pepin, WI, Shannon OKane of Boulder, CO, and Megan Diderrich of Oconomowoc, WI; three great-granchildren, Allyssa Fegan, Callan Diderrich and Owen Diderrich,and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife, Margaret, he was preceded in death by his parents and brothers and sisters.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, December 28th at Holy Trinity Catholic Church with Rev. Rick Roberts officiating. A private family burial will be held at a later date in Oak Grove Cemetery. Friends and family may call at the church on Friday from 10:00 A.M. until the time of services.