Dorothy L Nygaard

Dorothy L. Nygaard, 88 of La Crosse died Monday, March 12 at Gundersen Lutheran hospital in La Crosse. She was born March 9, 1924 in Chaseburg to George and Ella (Kopplen) Manske. She married Harvey Nygaard on December 2, 1944 in Chaseburg. He died in 2002.

Dorothy lived a very interesting life. During WWII, she worked at Trane Co. in the factory like many women did during that time. After marrying her husband, she moved to Louisiana and then to New Mexico, where she worked at a TB hospital for soldiers. She related to us that working with the TB soldiers was the most satisfying job she ever had. She worked as a housekeeper for Barge Clinic and then for many years at Gundersen Lutheran, also in the housekeeping department.

She loved playing Yahtzee with her daughters & through the mail with her niece Delores. She also enjoyed quilting, making school bags for needy children, and making scrapbooks. She liked to share stories of her past with everyone and wrote a narrative about her life that she loved giving to everyone she loved. She rarely missed listening to the Brewers on the radio. She was a devout member of St. Pauls Lutheran Church for over 50 years and cherished her many friends there, including the ladies who belonged to her Lydia Circle.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 2002 and three brothers, two sisters, and an infant daughter Eloda.

Dorothy is survived by daughters Judi (Keith) Powell of La Crosse and Sandy (Tom) Olsen of Onalaskaand son George Nygaard (Cathy Van Maren) of Chaseburg; six grandchildren, Krista (Paul) Ungerleider, of Franklin, WI, Shawn Powell and Andrea Powell of La Crosse, Melissa Olsen of De Pere, WI, Scott Olsen of Oakland, CA, and Avery Van Gaard of Eau Claire, WI. Also surviving are two great-grandchildren, Alyssa and Ryan Ungerleider of Franklin, WI, along with many nieces and nephews. She also leaves very special neighborhood friends Marie & Vince who were so supportive of her & Harvey throughout the years. We will all miss this great lady!!

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 17th, 2012 at 11:00 AM at St. Pauls Lutheran Church, La Crosse. Pastor Tom Meyer will officiate. Burial will be in the Woodlawn Cemetery. Friends may call at the Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse on Friday from 5:00 7:00 PM and at the church on Saturday from 10:00 AM until the time of services. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to all of her excellent caregivers at Gundersen Lutheran, especially Dr. Kauphusman