Margaret (Ruth) Buchner Kang

She was born in rural Onalaska, Wis., on June 26, 1933, to Frank and Theresa (Schrabeck) Bahr. She married William R. Bill Buchner on June 18, 1953, in Onalaska. He preceded her in death on January 15, 2001.

Ruth worked as a nurses aide at the Hillview Health Care Center for over 25 years before retiring in 2001. Upon retirement she became active in the Hillview Auxiliary and served as president of the organization. For many years she also assisted her husband, Bill, in the operation of Buchner Plumbing.

Ruth was a long-time active member of the Cathedral Parish in La Crosse. She was a member of the Cathedral Womens Organization, serving as its president at one time, and was well-known for the coffee cakes and kolachkis she would make for the Cathedral Bake Sale. In her free time, Ruth enjoyed her summers at the family cottage on Brice Prairie where she would often spend her time gardening with her close friend, Elaine Miller.

Following Bills death, Ruth married Dr. Soon H. Curtis Kang on June 2, 2003, in La Crosse. She and Curtis enjoyed several years together traveling across the United States and visiting places like the Grand Canyon and Alaska, and also wintering in West Palm Beach, Fla., until recently when Ruths health began to decline.

Ruth is survived by her husband, Curtis; her children, Ruthann (Vincent) Bahr of Onalaska, Carol (Greg) Guanella of La Crosse, William D. (Laurie) Buchner of Onalaska, and Jean (Dean) Piper of Rockland, Wis.; and her seven grandchildren and great granddaughter, Daniel Bahr of Madison, Wis., Matthew (Brooke) Bahr and their daughter, Olivia, of River Falls, Wis., Alan Guanella of Rome, Italy, David and Sara Buchner of Onalaska, and Lynsey and Robert Piper of Rockland. She is also survived by three sisters, Helen Bahr of Onalaska, Marie Kvistad of Janesville, Wis., and Florence (Cles) Bice of La Crosse; several nieces and nephews; and special friends, Duane and Beth Johnson of La Crosse, and Elaine Miller of Onalaska. In addition to her first husband, Bill, she was preceded in death by one brother, Frank Bahr.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, March 15th, at 10:00 a.m., at the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman. Rev. Charles Stoetzel will officiate. Entombment will follow in the St. Francis of Assisi Mausoleum in the Catholic Cemetery. Friends may call at the Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse on Wednesday from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m., where a rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m., and at the church on Thursday from 9:30 a.m. until time of service.

Ruths family would like to extend their appreciation for the care provided by Drs. Mary Bassing and David Momont, and the staff at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center.