Lucille J. Lonkoski

Lucille J. Lonkoski, 101, of Onalaska, passed away on Saturday, January 24, 2015, at the Onalaska Care Center.

Lucy was born April 5, 1913, in Hokah, Minn., the eleventh of twelve children born to Joseph and Clara (Tschumper) Schnedecker. She married Ray Lonkoski on September 15, 1936, at Holy Cross Church in La Crosse. They were married for 53 years until Ray’s death on December 14, 1989. Together, they ran Ray & Lucy’s Tavern on 11th and Adams Sts. in La Crosse for many years. Lucy then sold Permanent Stainless Steel Cookware and became a District Manager for the company.

As a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Onalaska, she was very active in the church circles and Church Women United. St. Francis Hospital and Onalaska Care Center were also fortunate to have Lucy as a volunteer for over 20 years.

Survivors include a son, James (Roxanne) of La Crosse; daughter-in-law, Judy (Joseph, deceased on November 5, 1993) of Onalaska; one granddaughter, Lori Lonkoski of Onalaska; three grandsons, Jeffrey (Helen) of Stoddard, Mark of Lannon, Wis., and Daniel of La Crosse; six great grandchildren, Jason (Megan) and Brandon Stratman, Greg and Becca Lonkoski, and Joseph and Jonah Lonkoski; one great, great granddaughter, Brynlee Stratman; and nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, Ray, and her son, Joe, Lucy was also preceded in death by her eight sisters, Sophia Wachter, Emma McCabe, Katherine Stark, Susan Scanlon, Marie Scanlon, Alma Mahalski, Helen Flannery and Sister Clare Marie Schnedecker; three brothers, William, Emil and Fred Schnedecker; and daughter-in-law, Rochelle (Balfany) Lonkoski.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 28th, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1031 Main St., Onalaska. Msgr. Steven Kachel will officiate. Entombment will take place in the St. Francis of Assisi Mausoleum in the Catholic Cemetery, La Crosse. Family and friends may call at the church on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services.