Virgil G. Wackershauser

 Virgil G. Wackershauser, age 84, of Prairie du Chien, formerly of Lancaster, passed away at Gunderson Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, on Thursday evening, January 22, 2009, after a very short battle with pneumonia and acute leukemia. Virgil was born September 12, 1924, to Henry & Lillian (Eggers) Wackershauser. Virgil grew up near Dickeyville (Big Patch/Georgetown area). He was the middle child and had one sister and 4 brothers. He was proud of the fact that he graduated from eight grades in six years, as he got to skip a couple grades in school. On Jan. 11, 1945, he was united in marriage with  Eunice Place in Platteville. She preceded him in death on February 19, 1997. Virgil & Eunice began their married life on a small farm near Dickeyville, but moved shortly thereafter to the current family farm near Lancaster/Stitzer area, where they raised a son and three daughters. In 1975, they retired from the farm and bought a home in Lancaster. In 2003, Virgil moved to Prairie du Chien. He married Violet Koecke on July 15, 2003, in Prairie du Chien. They currently reside there. During his farming days, Virgil managed to work at a variety of jobs off the farm as well. Over those many years, he hauled cattle and milk for his brother, hauled milk at the Livingston Creamery, worked at a feed mill in Belmont, fertilizer plant & Wasco in Stitzer, plowed snow & highway work for the Grant Co. Highway Dept., read meters for REA, delivered the Shopping News, was a carpenter, and was once the town chairman for Liberty Township and farming for many years. He enjoyed helping others with remodeling or building projects, doing yard work and gardening, or any other handyman jobs that came along. Virgil enjoyed square dancing, playing cards, bus trips to the casinos, watching basketball and baseball games, attending Amish sales, and fishing with his buddies. He enjoyed talking and cracking jokes to anyone he knew, even making his grandchildren giggle. With his busy travels in life, he always had plenty of time set aside for family and friends. He truly adored his children and grandchildren! He was a member of the  Bagley  Methodist  Church.

Virgil is survived by his wife of five years, Violet of Prairie du Chien, one son: Carson (Mary) of  Lancaster; three daughters: Patty (Larry) Reed, Platteville; Sandy (Rich) Soles, Mt. Hope; Lou Ann (Jim) Blackburn, Bagley. Also surviving are grandchildren: Brian (Kristi), Laura, and Jennifer Wackershauser; Chris (Brenda) Reed and Candace (Bill) Reid; Hillary (Marty Bement) Soles, Tanisha Soles, and Justin (Jessi) Soles; Travis (Anne)  Blackburn and Lacy (Jesse) Chapiewsky. Great Grandchildren surviving are John & Katie Wackershauser, Morgan & Taylor Reid, Hanna & Emma Reed, Carter & Addison Blackburn, and Cooper & Ty Chapiewsky. Virgil is survived by four brothers: Wilfred Bud, Embert, Henry Joe, and Louis and numerous nieces & nephews, brother- & sister-in-laws.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Eunice, his parents-Henry & Lillian, his sister, Hiltrude Crapp, and several in-laws.

Funeral services were held on  Monday, January 26, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at the Schwartz Funeral Home in Lancaster with Pastor Mary Ann Floerke officiating. Visitation was from  11:00 a.m. until the time of services on Monday. Cremation followed, with burial at the Hillside Cemetery at a later date.

Virgils family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to Gunderson Lutheran and Prairie du Chien medical staff for their special care.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials may be given in Virgils name to the Prairie du Chien  EMS.