Marie Frances Doherty

Marie Doherty, 98, of La Crosse, passed away on Tuesday, September 11, 2018, at the Gundersen Health System in La Crosse.

Marie was born on May 19, 1920, in La Crosse to John and Anna (Reinart) Hafner. She attended Holy Trinity Grade School and Aquinas High School, graduating in 1938. She was united in marriage to Kenneth J. Doherty on September 6, 1941 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. After 66 years of marriage, he preceded her in death in November of 2007.

Marie worked as a clerk at Montgomery Wards, Johnson’s Children Shop and The Cherry Tree for 29 years, retiring in 1988. She then worked for the County Nutrition Program as a substitute site manager for 13 years. She volunteered in the dining room both at the Southside Senior Citizen Center and Carroll Heights.

Marie was a member of St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral, the Ladies Society, American Legion Post 52 Auxiliary and the Southside Senior Citizen Center. Her greatest joys in life were her husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and great friends. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, bingo, and writing in her journal.

Marie is survived by her daughter, Patricia (David) Kerska; daughter-in-law, Doris (Tom) Doherty Gasper, (who was like a daughter to her); four grandchildren, Renee (Carl) Doherty Kabat, Michael (Rachel) Doherty, Angela (Michael) Kerska Harding, and Michelle (Matthew) Kerska Miller; seven great grandchildren, Brett and Bryan Kabat, Ethan Overgard, Nicklaus (Lauren), Elias and Liam Harding, Asher Miller, and Jared and Samantha Doherty; and great friends, Jan and Gary Olson, Jan and Dick Dahlke, and Sue Gilbert. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her son, James Doherty; her brother, Eugene Hafner; and sister, Euthalia Deters.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 15 ^th , in the Marian Chapel at the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman. Msgr. Charles Stoetzel will officiate. Burial will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until the time of Mass on Saturday at the church.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Bethany-Riverside for their wonderful care.