Edna M. Poling

Edna M. Poling, 96, went home to be with her Heavenly Father early Friday morning, April 17, 2015. Edna had been a resident of Bethany-Riverside Nursing Facility since May of 2013.

Edna was born in Westgate, Iowa, on August 16, 1918, the eldest daughter of Bernard and Martha (Potratz) Flanscha. She married John Craig Poling on April 18, 1940, in West Union, Iowa. They were marred 65 years until Craig’s death on July 17, 2005.

Edna and Craig became Wisconsin residents in 1949, residing in Menomonie for one year before moving to Eau Claire in 1950. They lived in Eau Claire until 1967, when they relocated to La Crosse. In 1989, they moved to La Crescent, Minn. Edna remained in La Crescent after Craig’s death, and then became a resident of OnaMain Senior Apts. and Laurel Manor Assisted Living, both in Onalaska.

Edna was employed as a sales associate at Samuelson’s in Eau Claire and also at Doerflinger’s in La Crosse. While living in Sumner, Iowa, she was the organist for a number of years at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Edna’s first and foremost calling, however, was her role as wife, mother and grandmother. Family meant the world to her.

Edna is survived by six of her seven children and twelve grandchildren: Janet (Elton) Bergeson of Chetek, Wis., and their children, Nicolas (Barbara) and Stephanie (Thomas) Herzog; granddaughter, Angela Owen (Mark), daughter of son, Melvin, who is deceased; Gayle (Robert) Welsh of Mequon, Wis., and their daughter, Stephanie (Michael) Reich; Brenda (Stuart) Hemstock of Onalaska, and their daughters, Kristin (Matthew) Parent and Kelli Hemstock; Kathleen (Robert) Lamb of La Crosse, and their sons, Jonathan (Sara) and Evan; John B. (Arlene) Poling of Eden Prairie, Minn., and their daughters, Jena and Kristi; and Jerome (Lynn) Poling of Eau Claire, and their sons, Jerad (Aubrey) and Matthew. Edna will also be remembered by her thirteen great-grandchildren: Charles Bergeson; Joseph Steindl and Samuel Owen; Tiffany and Jordan Herzog; twins, Tanner and Blake and their sister, Madison Parent; Jackson and Bryson Lamb; and Bennett, Corbin and Garrett Reich. In addition, she leaves behind four great-great grandchildren, Nicolas Bergeson, Peyton and Ryder Steindl, and great-great grandson Poling, due in June.

Edna is further survived by her brother, the Rev. Marvin (Joyce) Flanscha of Berthoud, Colo.; sister, Margaret Flanscha of McGregor, Iowa; sister-in-law, Lucille Poling of Kirkwood, Ill.; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Craig; son, Melvin, in 2013; her parents; four brothers, Paul, Roy, Alvin and Marcus Flanscha; sister, Olga Marie Holt; four brothers-in-law, Dean Holt, Kenneth and Harold Poling, and Clarence Kohlmeyer; and five sisters-in-law, Donna and Juanita Flanscha, Ilene Kohlmeyer, and Doris and Nina Poling.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m., Friday, April 24 ^th , at First Ev. Lutheran Church, 414 Main St., in La Crescent. Pastor David Leistekow of Immanuel Lutheran Church, La Crosse, where Edna was a member, will officiate. Burial will follow in Crucifixion Cemetery, La Crescent. Family and friends may call from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services on Friday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Immanuel Lutheran Church, La Crosse, or Bethany-Riverside Nursing Facility.

Edna’s family extends their heartfelt thanks to Bethany-Riverside, especially the dedicated and compassionate staff of the 600 Hall and The Lighthouse. Your loving care and support given to Mom and our family will always be remembered.

Mom was the heartbeat of our family. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great grandmother. Her greatest hope was that one day we will all join her, Dad and brother, Mel, in eternity, so once again the circle will be unbroken. We will treasure our memories of Mom and keep them forever close to our hearts.

“We will miss you, our dearest Mother, Grandmother, Great and Great-Great Grandmother. Sleep in heavenly peace.”

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6