Kevin P. Withey

Kevin Phil Withey, 58, of La Crosse died Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center/Gundersen Health System in La Crosse after a four month battle with cancer. He was born November 1, 1957 in Prairie du Chien, WI to Nancee Diane (Karnopp} and Delbert Phil Withey. He graduated from Prairie du Chien High School in 1975. He owned and operated the family business, Withey's Bar in Lynxville, WI from 1975 until1988. On November 7, 1987 he
was united in marriage to Marla Lea Hammond at Asbury United Methodist Church in La Crosse. In 1989 he began working at Jim Donskey Corporation-Northern Battery and worked there until the present. During his time at Northern Battery he had the opportunity to work in many aspects of the business and until the time of his death he continued to work in customer service/sales for the Uni-Select/Auto Plus division of the company. He loved his work, his co­ workers and all of his accounts that he dealt with in a seven state area. He always said that because he loved what he did he never had to work a day in his life. Because he was such a people-person, all of his accounts were also his friends. He was active with the Retreat United Methodist Church and his faith was very important to him. He loved nature and the outdoors and loved to fish for walleye on the Mississippi River, Menominee River, Peshtigo River and in Canada. Kevin was tagged by some as the Walleye Master. He so appreciated the times that he could get away on fishing trips with family and friends and cherished all those memories and laughs. Kevin looked forward to deer camp at the cabin every November and the time spent hunting,but even more so, just being able to spend time with family. He enjoyed all sports but
in particular baseball. It was fitting that he and Marla met at a ballpark in 1981. He thoroughly
enjoyed Jay Buckley Baseball Tours and he and Marla had taken a tour every year since 1993, visiting cities and major and minor-league ballparks from coast to coast. The Buckley Tours again gave him a great opportunity to meet and make new friends. He loved people and in general, always had the time to talk and converse.

He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Marla, mother-in-law Iva Lea Hammond ,brother-in-law Ronald L. (Sandra) Hammond, special sister-in-law Carol (Deldon) Hanson, aunt Joyce Tollefson, uncle Ken (Dianne) Withey, many cousins, nieces, nephews and many, many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, maternal grandparents Clarence ‘Bud’ and Bea Karnopp, paternal grandparents Clifford ‘Windy’ and Mayme Withey and many aunts,uncles and cousins.
Memorial services will be held at 1:30 PM on Sunday, March 6, 2016 at Retreat United Methodist Church, Retreat, Wisconsin. Pastor Judie Jacobson will officiate. Burial will be held at a later date in Walnut Mound Cemetry, rural De Soto, Wisconsin. Friends may call at the Schumacher – Kish Funeral & Cremation Services, 200 West Ave. S., La Crosse on Saturday from 2-4 PM and again at the church on Sunday from 12:30 PM until the time of service. In lieu of flowers memorial may be directed to Gundersen Medical Foundation for Cancer Research, Global Partners – Pine Ridge, New Hope – Retreat UMC Food Pantry or Organizaton of Donor’s Choice.

A special thank you to the staff at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center/Gundersen Health
System for all of the compassionate care. You are absolutely the best!