Wayne (Bones) Klawitter

Wayne Dee “Bones” Klawitter, 83, of La Crescent, died on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at the Bethany St. Joseph Care Center in La Crosse. He was born on July 27, 1934 in La Crosse to Herman and Irene (Schnick) Klawitter. Wayne grew up in Brownsville, MN and graduated from Caledonia High School in 1953. He helped his Dad run the Klawitter IGA store in Brownsville until enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1956. Wayne and his twin brother Duane grew up hunting and fishing on the Mississippi River, and once ice skated across from Brownsville to Stoddard. Wayne served in the U.S. Army 12th Engineer Battalion from 1956 to 1958, stationed at Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs, and then overseas in Furth, Germany. When he returned home to Minnesota, he married Marilyn Inglett on June 27, 1958. Wayne also served for several years with the Army Reserves and was a member of the La Crescent American Legion Post 595. He worked as a glazer at Esser’s Glass Co., The Glass Service Center, and then La Crosse Glass until his retirement in 1999. Wayne was also a very talented woodworker and handyman as well as an Original Member of the La Crosse and 3 River’s Model Railroad Club.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Marilyn, a son Neil (Courtney) Klawitter, a daughter Kay (Mark) Bell, six grandchildren, Nicholas Valentine, Micah Klawitter, and Nathan (Jess Marie), Jordan, Amanda, and Cassandra Bell, and seven great-grandchildren, Jazmin, Kobey, Natalie, Kylie, William, Ava and Lincoln. He was preceded in death by a son Bruce, a grandson Avery Valentine, his twin brother Duane and a sister Dona Klawitter.

A Celebration of Wayne’s Life for family and friends will be held on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 from 4:00 – 8:00 PM at the Schumacher-Kish Funeral & Cremation Services of La Crosse. Burial will take place at 11am on Thursday, April 12 in the Oak Grove Cemetery. Online guestbook is available at www.schumacher-kish.com.