Roger George Averbeck

Roger George Averbeck, 92, of La Crosse died Thursday, September 17th, 2015 at Hillview Health Care Center in La Crosse. He was born March 12, 1923 in Alma, Wisconsin to George Christian Averbeck and Caroline “Carrie” B. Noll. Roger attended school in Alma, and college in Minneapolis. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Military Intelligence Division in North Africa and Italy between 1943 and 1945. After the war, Roger returned to La Crosse and began a long career with Gateway Transportation Co.
During a visit home to Alma, Roger began a courtship with Florence Madora Sine, whom he remembered as the “most beautiful girl in town” as he was growing up. Roger and Florence were married on May 9, 1953 in Chicago, Illinois. They returned to La Crosse to make their home, raise a family and enjoy 62 years of marriage.
Roger was known by all as smart and strong, a wise accountant and an accomplished athlete who ran many 5 and 10 kilometer races, often placing in the top of his age division. He was a loving husband and father, working full time while raising two sons in the tumultuous 60’s and 70’s and caretaking Florence’s mother.
Roger was preceded in death by his sisters, Virginia T. Johnson of Richmond, Illinois in 1987 and Delores C. Hitt in Winona, Minnesota in 2013.
He is survived by his wife, Florence and children: George G. Averbeck and wife Holly Gramm of Flagstaff Arizona; Roger C. Averbeck and wife Lynn Demuth Averbeck of Portland, Oregon; and grandchildren: Sara M. Averbeck of Portland, Oregon and Rose E. Averbeck of Ashland, Oregon.
A visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, with a prayer service at 6:30 pm, on Wednesday September 23rd at Schumacher – Kish Funeral Home, 200 West Ave. S., La Crosse. Another visitation will be held from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm Thursday September 24th at Talbot Family Funeral Home, 340 Hwy 35, in Alma, Wisconsin. Private interment with military honors will follow at the Alma Cemetery.