Lorraine E Curti

Since it was March, the weather was bad. The doctor from Chaseburg could only get part way with his car. He called my dad and my dad had to take horses and a sled to come and get him. Thankfully, my Grandma Krause was a midwife and she helped during the delivery.

Lorraine was the second of four siblings; her sister Dorothy was the eldest followed by her two brothers, John and Charles.

Lorraine attended 1thstth grade in Stoddard, Wis. and then moved to Viroqua where she attended Davis Grade School, graduating in 1937. She then obtained her teaching degree in 1939 from Normal School in Viroqua. After college, Lorraine taught two years at Valley View School, a rural school between Stoddard and Chaseburg, and then taught grades 1-3 at Genoa State Grade School for three years.

On September 16, 1944, Lorraine married Anthony John Curti at St. Charles Catholic Church in Genoa. She enjoyed talking of how they met, A priest invited a bunch of young people to his house to play cards. I saw him and thought he was very handsome, the best looking in the bunch.

During the following years, Lorraine traveled with Anthony while he was in the service. For a period, she traveled back to Wisconsin, where she substituted at Mound Ridge School, a rural school in Genoa. After Anthony left the service, the couple settled onto a Genoa dairy farm where they lived for over 36 years (1946-1983). In 1983 they moved into a quaint ranch style home in Genoa. Anthony passed on December 26th of 1985.

Lorraine had fourteen children. She is survived by twelve children: Linda (Tom) Phillips, Tom (Lois), Phil (Sue), Maribeth (Ray) Jacobs, Becky (Irvin) Campbell, Tony, Jean (Joe) Sierra, Janet, Carolyn (Steve Kohls), Jim (Mary), Daniel, and Julie (Mike) Tully. She has been blessed with twenty-six grandchildren, step-grandchildren and a growing number of great-grandchildren. Two of Lorraine's children passed in infancy, David and Allan. In addition to her husband and her two infant children, she was also preceded in death by her sister, Dorothy Krause; her two brothers, Charles and John; and a son-in-law, Steve Kohls.

She was an active member of St. Charles Catholic Parish, a member of the Parish Council of Catholic Women and served a term as president of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. Lorraine was a member of the Genoa Legion Auxiliary since 1955 and volunteered for First Call for Help for over ten years.

Lorraine enjoyed gardening, reading, baking, bird watching, and cooking. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren still enjoy her famous kuchen and risotto. She was a devoted and supportive wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who loved well and was much loved.

"Lorraine joined Anthony on December 7, 2012, at the Sterling House of La Crosse, surrounded by her family. She was 92 years old".

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Wednesday, December 12th, at 11:00 a.m., at St. Charles Catholic Church in Genoa. Rev. William A. Dhein will officiate. Burial will follow in St. Charles Cemetery. Those who wish may call at the Schumacher Kish Funeral Home, 200 West Ave. So., La Crosse, from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m., where a prayer service will be held at 7:00 p.m., and at the church on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the Mass.

Memorials may be given to St. Charles of Genoa and the St. Clare Health Mission.