William C. "Bill" Proksch

William C. “Bill” Proksch, 80 of Brownsville, MN passed away peacefully on Monday, June 17, 2019 at the Gundersen Health System in La Crosse. He was born August 16, 1938 in La Crosse to William H. and Emma (Groth) Proksch. He was baptized and confirmed into the Christian faith at St. Matthew’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Stoddard, WI. On May 13, 1961 he married Ruth A. Ideker at the Zion Ev. Lutheran Church in Brownsville, MN.

Following High School, Bill served in the United States Air Force for four years in the communications division. He was stationed in Germany for two of those years. After his honorable discharge, he worked for NCR in Rochester for 16 years. He then was self-employed in plumbing and heating in La Crescent followed by working for Schneider Heating and Air Conditioning.

Bill was very talented and enjoyed working with wood. He made many oak craft and home decorations as well as furniture for Messiah Lutheran Church. Bill and Ruth were involved with the La Crescent Apple Fest, La Crescent Eagles and their local camper club. He was a charter member at Messiah Lutheran Church in La Crescent.

In addition to his wife Ruth, Bill is further survived by a daughter, Sheri (Blaine) Nichols of Grundy Center, IA; a son, Kurt Proksch of La Crosse; grandsons, Julian (Christina) Smith and Seth (Meghan) Smith; step-grandchildren, Dalton (Jackie) Nichols and Alison (Derek) Nichols; great-granddaughter, Adley Paige Smith and future great-grandson to be here soon. Also surviving are brother-in-law, Lawrence Oldenburg; brothers and sisters-in-law, Arnold (Letha) Ideker, Phyllis Buchner, Jean Ideker, Delmer (Dorothy) Ideker, Arliss (David) Seymour, Kathy (David) Fitzpatrick; numerous nieces, nephews and friends along with his faithful dog, Lady. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; brother and sister-in-law, Alvin (Joyce) Proksch; sister, Doris Oldenburg; father and mother-in-law, William and Pearl Ideker, Sr. and brother-in-law, William Ideker, Jr.

A Christian funeral will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, June 28 ^th at Messiah Lutheran Church, 825 Jonathan Lane, la Crescent with Pastor Bruce Stam officiating. Private family burial will take place in Toledo Cemetery, rural La Crescent. Visitation will be held at the church on Thursday from 5-7 P.M. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Neighbors in Action, 333 Main Street, La Crescent, MN 55947.

The Proksch family would like to extend their grateful appreciation to all the staff at Neighbors in Action and Gundersen Health System for their attentiveness and loving care.

“I’m not a stranger here; heaven is my home…”