Molly Ebner

Bernetta Louise “Molly” Ebner, 95, of La Crosse, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 10, 2022, at Springbrook Assisted Living in Onalaska with family by her side.

She was born in Viroqua, Wis., on October 13, 1926, to Kenneth “Ted” and Bernice (Reed) Knutson.  As a young girl, her family moved to La Crosse, where she attended La Crosse Public Schools and later graduated from Logan High School in 1944 where she was a drum majorette in the band.

Molly married Kenneth F. Ebner at St. James the Less Catholic Church in La Crosse on August 10, 1946.  She worked at home raising her family for many years before she began working as the administrator and eventually President of the Burlington Credit Union in La Crosse for 13 years. Molly was a long-time, active member of St. James in La Crosse. She was proud to have lived on the North Side nearly all of her life, including 65 years in the house she and her husband Ken had built on Prospect Street in 1952.

Molly was one-of-a-kind. She had a kind and caring soul. She was smart, strong, independent, loyal, supportive, opinionated, and passionate about life. She was also a beautiful, refined lady who made an impression on everyone she met.

Molly had many hobbies. In her younger years, she loved to travel, first with her husband Ken, then with her close friends Jackie and Peggy, and later with her daughter Susie and daughter-in-law Carrie. She was always planning her next trip. She loved reading, crossword puzzles, card games with friends, playing Scrabble and Cribbage with grandchildren, telling stories, and dancing, especially the Jitterbug. She also loved theater and the fine arts, and she was a season ticketholder with the La Crosse Community Theater, the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, and the Viterbo Fine Arts Center for many years.

Molly was a passionate supporter of many causes and nonprofits, including St. James Church, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater La Crosse, the Red Cross, St. Joseph’s Indian School, Heifer International and The Salvation Army. She generously donated to these nonprofits for most of her adult life. “All of my life, I’ve wanted to be a helper,” was how she described herself as the end of her life neared.

More than anything, Molly deeply loved her family. The beloved matriarch, Molly cherished spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, especially during Thanksgiving and Christmas. She never missed a family function, or the chance to tell her family how proud she was of them and how grateful she was to have such a loving family. Molly was everyone’s favorite Grandma, even if you weren’t her grandchild. She was proud to have several grandchildren named after: Molly Erickson, Jessica Louise and Emma Louise. Molly always marveled at the family legacy she and Kenny had created – and wished he could have enjoyed it all with her much longer, especially the ball games she knew he would have loved.

Molly is survived by her children, Janet Jerue of La Crosse, Susan (Terry) Erickson of La Crosse, Kenneth J. (Carrie) Ebner of La Crosse, Thom (Ingrid) Ebner of Appleton, Wis., and Jamie (Lynn) Ebner of Sylva, N. Car.; 15 grandchildren, Josh (Rachael) Erickson of Sun Prairie, Jake (Jessie) Erickson, Jessica Erickson (Shawn) Bacon, Jenna (Andy) Fernholz, Jason Ebner, Jared Ebner, and Joseph Jerue, all of La Crosse, Jordana (Bobbie) Reinhart of Madison, Jacquelyn (John) Dever of Onalaska, Jeffrey (Kerry) Jerue of La Crescent, Minn., Adam Ebner of Appleton, Alexandra (John) Egan of Madison, Jennifer (Winston) Creech of Raleigh, N. Car., Lisa Jerue (Brian) Goihl of Lake City, Minn., and Brian (Sandy) Jerue of Holmen; and 29 great grandchildren, Julian and Molly Erickson, Sophie, Aubrey and Lane Erickson, Emma, Josie, Maggie and Jonah Bacon, Jackson Fenwick, Ava, Ari and Finley Fernholz, Zara Reinhart, Ashley and Calvin Dever, Peyton, Karson and Camron Jerue, London Ebner, Colson Egan, Forrest and Raleigh Creech, Jared, Quintin and Ephrem Jerue, and William, Mara and Garrett Goihl.

She is further survived by a brother, Kenneth (Jean) Knutson of La Crosse; a sister-in-law, Patti (Joe) Desch of Madison, Wis.; and several nieces and nephews.

Molly was preceded in death by her husband, Ken, on December 30, 1985; her parents; a sister, Bernadeen “Fuzzy” Roberts and her husband, Howard; in-laws Bill and Kay Ebner, Donald Ebner, Bob and Dorothy Ebner, and Clarence and Marian Papacek; a son-in-law, Harold Jerue; a niece, Allison Roberts; and her lifelong best friend Betty Warren.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 20 ^th , at 12:00 p.m., at Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services, 200 West Avenue South in La Crosse. Father Robert Letona will officiate. Entombment will follow in St. Francis of Assisi Mausoleum in the Catholic Cemetery alongside her beloved husband, Ken. There will be a visitation at the funeral home on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services, with a luncheon following at the Black River Beach Neighborhood Center, 1433 Rose Street, La Crosse.

Molly’s family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Mayo Hospice and to the caring staff at Springbrook Assisted Living who provided such loving care to Molly over the last five years.

Molly was very proud to be the longest living benefactor to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater La Crosse. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in her honor to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater La Crosse’s Education Fund.

“To have spent a lifetime with you is still not enough.” Family meant everything to Molly. She was loved greatly and will be deeply missed.