Odell V Edmunds

Odell Verlen Edmunds, 85, of La Crescent, MN passed away peacefully at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center on Sunday, May 27, 2012 after a courageous battle with colon cancer. Odell was born June 18, 1926 to Sigurd C. & Josephine (Stalsberg) Edmunds in Avalanche, rural Vernon County, WI. He proudly served his country in WWII from 1944 through 1946 in the Asiatic Pacific Theater, as well as reenlisting during the Korean conflict from 1951 to 1953. On December 3, 1955 he married the love of his life, Blanche Nicholson at St. Peters in Hokah, MN. They were married for 44 years. Odell farmed for many years on the family farm on South Ridge in rural La Crescent, as well as working at ICI Fiber Rite in Winona, MN until his retirement in December of 1990.

Odell is survived by 10 children, Pamela (Fremont) Lee, of Rochester, MN, Josephine (Daniel) Olson of La Crescent, MN, Penny Proctor of Orlando, FL, Patricia Edmunds of La Crosse, WI,

Andrew (Julie) Edmunds of Winona, MN, Jane Diehl of La Crosse, WI, Edward (Debbie) Edmunds of Burnsville, MN, Jill Edmunds of Kissimmee, FL, Julia (Sam) Moore, of La Crescent, MN and Jessica Edmunds of Kissimmee, FL,, as well as 20 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Betty Lou Warn of Grand Meadow, MN and a sister-in-law, Sonia Lynch and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, and wife, Odell was proceeded in death by a grandson, Ryan Odell Dean Olson, 2 sons-in-law, Kevin Proctor and James Diehl, 2 sisters, Lorraine Krause and Elaine Daly and an infant brother.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, May 31, 2012 at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home, 111 South Oak St., La Crescent MN. Family and Friends may pay their last last respects to Odell on Wednesday, May 30 from 4-7 p.m. and Thursday May 31 from 10:00 AM until the time of service. He will be laid to rest beside his beloved wife at the Toledo Cemetery, La Crescent, MN

The family requests that memorials be made to the Gundersen Lutheran Hospice/Palliative Care Program or the American Cancer Society.

Odells family would like to thank the staff on the 3 West Surgical unit at Gundersen Lutheran, especially his nurse Amanda, who he stated was the best nurse he ever had, and the 4 Center Hospice/Palliative care team that provided gentle, dignified care for our Dad during his final days with us, as well as making sure our every need and wish for him was met.