Morris "Morrie" Arthur Severson

Morris "Morrie" Arthur Severson, 90, died Monday, September 29, 2014, at the Hillview Health Care Center.

He was born on January 12, 1924 in Wyeville, Wisconsin to Paul Andrew and Maria (Olsen) Severson, who had emigrated to the U.S. from Norway. He spent his early years in Wisconsin, living in Adams, before settling in Tomah where he spent the Depression years. After graduation from high school, he traveled across the country to Portland, Oregon, where he worked with the war effort. He loved to talk of Portland. Specifically of the time he rode an Indian motorcycle down the coast to Los Angeles. He eventually joined the Merchant Marine in Portland which took him on journeys to Japan, the Panama Canal, and New York City. He returned to Wisconsin and met the love of his life, Roberta "Bobbie" Mosher. They married in January, 1949.

Morrie received undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Universities of Wisconsin-Platteville and Stout. He and Bobbie taught high school in Mazomanie and New Lisbon before moving to La Crosse where they lived the remainder of their lives. Morrie was an administrator at Western Wisconsin Technical Institute (now Western). He was active in the Shriners and spent many years as a clown with the Firehouse Jesters.

Morrie is survived by three daughters, LoriLee Severson Rebhan (John McDaniel), Patti Jo Severson (David Langer) and Marnie Jean Tronsor (Jeff Tronsor), and five grandchildren, Erin Marisa Rebhan (Leopoldo Soto Arriagada), Brandon Kenneth Rebhan, Alyssa Marie Ablan (Jon Theodore), John Michael Ablan, Antony Michael Ablan (Megan Schillinger) and Mason Severson Tronsor and three great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Bobbie, on March 29, 2004.

A memorial gathering for family and friends will be held from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., on Friday, October 3rd, at Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services of La Crosse located at 200 West Ave. So. Private burial will be take place in Mormon Coulee Memorial Park at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Morris A. and Roberta Ann Severson Fund at the La Crosse Community Foundation to support behavioral health needs in the community.