Vernon E. Svendsen

Vernon E. Svendsen, 89, was called to his Heavenly home on Friday, April 1, 2022, at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse, WI.  He passed away peacefully with his loving wife of 62 years by his side.

Vernon, the youngest of eight, was born in Superior, Nebraska, on November 12, 1932, to Marius and Marie (Gregersen) Svendsen.  He learned to work hard on the family farm and enjoyed the outdoors with a passion for golf, football, track, skiing, camping and was an avid lighthouse admirer and photographer.  He attended Dana College in Blair, Nebraska.

Vernon was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving from 1953 to 1955 during the Korean War as a Corporal Medical Technician.  One day prior to arriving in Korea, the peace treaty was signed.  He often attributed this to be a direct result of his arrival.  After his service, he joined his parents in Racine, WI, working for Svendsen Brothers.

On July 18, 1959, Vernon married the love of his life, Willine B. Jaragoski.  In their 62 years of marriage, they built a home in Racine, raised a family, enjoyed traveling, camping, attending his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events, gardening, woodworking and attending Packer games with family and friends.  Retiring in 1997 from Jacobsen Manufacturing, Vernon continued to value time with his family, eventually moving to Eagle Crest North in Onalaska, WI, to be closer to family.  There he enjoyed the beauty of wildlife right out his patio window, feeding squirrels and hummingbirds.  He also enjoyed trips with Willine to the golf course to watch fellow golfers play and parking at Eagle Watch to observe the collection of majestic bald eagles soaring over the Mississippi River.

Vernon is survived by his wife, Willine; daughter, Anne (Garry) Ammons; son, Jim (Lori) Svendsen; grandson, Ryan (Katlin) Svendsen; granddaughter, Erin Svendsen; sisters-in-law, Beverly (Jaragoski) Mutchler, Marion Svendsen and Florence Svendsen; and many loving nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Marius and Marie Svendsen; sisters, Anina Jacobsen and her husband, Lawrence, and Edith Juul and her husband, Harold; brothers, Alvin Svendsen and his wife, Janet, Einer Svendsen, Viggo Svendsen, Rueben Svendsen and his wife, Evelyn, and Raymond Svendsen and his wife, Margaret; brothers-in-law, Jerry Jaragoski and Richard Mutchler; and father and mother-in-law, Sylvester and Helen (Wilowich) Jaragoski.

A memorial service will be held at 12:00 pm, Saturday, April 23 ^rd , at Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services, 907 Sand Lake Rd., in Onalaska, with visitation beginning at 10:00 am.  Pastor Karyn Bodenschatz will officiate.  Military honors will follow the service outside the funeral home.  Burial will take place at a later date.  Memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, or AMVETS National Service Foundation.

We would like the thank staff and friends of Mayo Health Systems, Recover Health, Benedictine Manor and Eagle Crest North for their loving care and support.