Madeline J. Anderson

Madeline J. Anderson, 71, of La Crosse passed away on Monday, April 24, 2017 at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse.

Madeline was born March 27, 1946 in La Crosse to Levi and Marian (Moen) Neprud. She was baptized at Westby Coon Prairie Church in Westby, WI by Rev. J. O. Holum. She was confirmed at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in La Crosse, WI by Rev. George Ulvilden. She was a proud graduate of Central High School, La Crosse, Class of 1964.

She married James E. Anderson in La Crosse on July 15, 1967.

She would further her education through University of Wisconsin, La Crosse and advanced studies. She was a lifelong learner with an insatiable appetite for learning and education. This appetite for reading and learning was nurtured early on by her mother, who read all sorts of stories to her at an early age.

Storytelling came naturally to her and she would often entertain visitors to her parents’ home with stories she made up, woven together with things that she had learned. She would continue with her interest in telling stories and writing them. She loved poetry although she often said that she could not write it because she was too wordy to tell a story in a single poem.

She was employed at La Crosse Public Library in many capacities for many years. She particularly enjoyed her work in reference, archives and collection development. She enjoyed the challenge of the hunt for answers to questions. She retired in 2006.

She devoted the rest of her life to researching her Norwegian roots, a love that was instilled in her by her mother. Her mother, instilled in her the importance of knowing where you came from and who your family was. Having grown up with her first generation Norwegian American grandmother, she learned to understand Norwegian and appreciate Norwegian culture. She became proficient in Norwegian genealogy and general genealogy research. She always loved the hunt and solving mysteries.

Particular interests included history, mysteries, genealogy, writing.

The most rewarding part of her life was her family.

She strove every day to learn something new and to fill the dash between her birth date and her death date with new and interesting things. She often said that the years making up the dash between beginning and end were going by much too fast.

She was a member of Westby Area Historical Society; County Coon Prairie Preservation Board; and served on the board for Leif Erikson Day in Westby.

She was a member of Sons of Norway, Wergeland Lodge 28 in La Crosse.

She loved to write and most recently contributed a number of Westby related historical articles for the Westby Area Historical Society that were published in the Westby Times. Her interest in Westby history was a result of the many years of hearing her parents and maternal grandmother tell stories of the area where they grew up. Coon Valley was also an area of interest because that is where her mother and grandmother were born.

She is survived by “her boys”, husband, James E. Anderson of La Crosse, her son, Erik L. Anderson of Onalaska, her grandson, Jase Anderson, of La Crosse and Karla Doolittle, Jase’s mother and Erik’s long time significant other of La Crosse.

She is further survived by the many cousins she found along the way through her genealogical research who have enriched her life in so many ways. She felt she was blessed with many dear friends, both old and new.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Levi and Marian (Moen) Neprud and her sister, Susan.

Memorial services will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, May 1, 2017 at the Schumacher – Kish Funeral & Cremation Services, 200 West Ave. S., La Crosse. Joanne Richmond will officiate. Burial will follow in the Mormon Coulee Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday from 5-7 PM and again on Monday from 12 Noon until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Country Coon Prairie Preservation Board S2706 Coon Prairie Rd. Westby, Wi 54667 or La Crosse Public Library Archives Department 800 Main St. La Crosse, Wi 54601 are requested.