Richard L. Elsen

Dick was born to Richard J. and Hermina (Mayer) Elsen on June 4, 1927. He died on Friday, December 1, 2017 at the age of 90. He attended Logan High School in La Crosse. He left Wisconsin in his senior year to enlist in the U. S. Marine Corps for four years during WWII. He met his future wife Ruby Holleman while stationed in North Carolina. This union lasted over 20 years. It was blessed with three daughters, Bonnie, Sandy and Karen. After the service he worked for Pennington Aviation in Wilmington, N.C. He moved back to La Crosse after the death of his mother to assist in the care of his father.

Dick and Joyce (Jacobus) Riordan were married on October 14, 1989. They both retired in 1990 and took on “Snowbird” status – six months of summer spent on Lake Neshonoc and six winter months at Buttonwood Resort in Sebring, FL. Dick and Joyce made yearly trips to Wilmington, N.C. to enjoy family time. They enjoyed many cruises taken with friends from Wisconsin and Florida. After 16 years of fun and travel they returned to Onalaska, WI.

Dick was a thirty-three member of the French Island American Post 417. He enjoyed his trip to Washington, D.C. on the Freedom Honor Flight. Dick and Joyce are members of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Onalaska.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Tom, an infant brother Harry, and a stepson Kevin Riordan. He is survived by his wife Joyce and daughters Bonnie (Mark) Jones, Sandy (Larry) Ward and Karen (Dan) Hagain, five grandchildren, eight great -grandchildren, one great great grand-daughter and a sister-in-law Allamae Elsen of Janesville, WI. He is also survived by stepchildren Mike (Sue) Riordan, Kathy (John) Subjek, Bill (Laurie)Riordan, Dan Riordan, Patrick (Deb) Riordan, ten step grandchildren and sixteen step great – grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1031 Main St., Onalaska. Msgr. Steven Kachel will officiate. Burial will follow in the Onalaska City Cemetery. Friends may call at the Church on Tuesday from 9:30 AM until the time of service. In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to the Father Rossiter Fund at St. Patrick’s Church, Freedom Honor Flight or your favorite charity.