Stephen W Balfany

Stephen W. Balfany, 65, of Holmen, WI died on Wednesday, August 8, 2012 at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center. He was born on February 27, 1947 in St. Paul, MN to Floyd and Hazel (McConell) Balfany. He graduated from Central High School in La Crosse in 1965. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1966 and served in Vietnam from 1967-1968, where he earned a Purple Heart and was Honorably Discharged. He returned home and graduated from WWTI with a degree in finance and photography. He then drove truck for Ideal Concrete in La Crosse. In 1976 he married the love of his life, Shirley Skrede. Through their life together they enjoyed many days at their summer home on the river in Brownsville, MN, where he mastered his famous grilled chicken. He later went to work driving truck for Gateway/Fleming Foods until they closed in 2003. He then worked for McHugh Excavating until retiring in 2009. In retirement he enjoyed deer hunting with special buddies and being the official watchdog for his many special friends at Heritage Village.

Surviving family include his wife, Shirley Balfany, Sons Michael (Kari) Hoeth of La Crosse and Timothy (Dana Labus) Hoeth of Stoddard; Grandchildren Briana (Greg) LeJeune, Brady Hoeth, Bailey Hoeth and Gavin Labus; Great Granndson Parker LeJeune. He is also survived by his brother Larry (Bev) Balfany, two brothers-in-law Dave Nekola and Jim Lonkoski and a sister-in-law Janet Balfany along with many loving nieces, nephews and close friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters Rochelle Lonkoski, Rita Nekola, brother Terry Balfany and father in law Albert Skrede.

Memorial services, with military honors, will be held at 12 PM on Saturday, August 18, 2012 at the Schumacher Kish Funeral Home, 200 West Ave. S., La Crosse. Pastor Peggy Thompson will officiate. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Saturday from 10 AM until the time of service.