Obituary for Myra Klos

Myra L. Klos, was 88 years old when she died on Saturday, May 25, 2024 at Eagle Crest South in La Crosse.  She was born September 3, 1935 in La Crosse to Henry and Gertrude (Michels) Becker.  Myra married Ronald “Butch” Klos on February 8, 1956 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Joseph Ridge.  They had been married for 57 years when Butch passed away in 2013.  During their 50-plus years of marriage, Myra and Butch lived in St. Joseph Ridge, Newburg Corners, Bangor, and then in La Crosse.

Myra’s childhood years were spent on the family farm on Highway 33 between La Crosse and St. Joseph Ridge.  She graduated 8th grade from St. Joseph Parish School and then went on to graduate from Aquinas High School, Class of 1953.  While attending Aquinas High School Myra provided live-in help for Dr. and Mrs. Archibald Skemp.  After high school, Myra worked at La Crosse Rubber Mills until her marriage.  While raising seven children, Myra was an accomplished cook, baker, laundress, seamstress, mender, and canner.  Late summer and fall were spent canning just about everything that could be preserved:  jams, peaches, pears, apple sauce, green beans, pickled wax beans, sour dill pickles, tomatoes, and grape juice.  There were always sweets around the house, because as far as Butch was concerned, supper was not complete without dessert.  After the youngest child started school, Myra resumed work outside the home.  Over the years she worked in the cafeteria at Western Wisconsin Technical Institute, McDonald’s, and then Kmart in the home goods department.  Myra loved being a grandmother making each grandchild a special blanket and playing countless board games and card games—particularly Uno and Kings in the Corners.

Myra is survived by seven children, Barbara Klos, Shelley (Gary) Vegel, and Joseph Klos of La Crosse, Connie (David) Turbiville of Wales, Charles (Peggy) Klos of Menomonie, Henry (Kathy) Klos of Stoddard, and Sandy (Tom) Poellinger of Coon Valley.  She is also survived by 15 grandchildren: Jestin Turbiville and Karissa (Adam) Wisniewski; Cory Vegel and Andrew (Nicki) Vegel; Chelsea (Aaron) Eernisse, Ciara (Andy) Miller, and Chantel (Jack) Geiser; Alex Klos, Aron Klos, and Abbi (Dillon) Radunz; Nicholas Poellinger, Christopher (Fallon) Poellinger, and Emily Poellinger; Lilly Klos and Peyton Klos.  She is further survived by 12 great-grandchildren: Athea Turbiville; Memphis and Phoenix Wisniewski; Josephine and Elizabeth Vegel; Paige, Davis, Marcus, and Tess Eernisse; Vaeda and Walden Miller; and George Geiser.  Myra is also survived by two sisters, Charlotte (Jim) Burt and Monica (Chuck) Bentzen, two sisters-in-law Elaine Becker and Kathy Becker, and by three brothers, Eugene, Tom (Sandy), and Monti (Cheryl).  She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her brothers Henry, Daniel, and Marvin, and sister-in-law Frances Becker.  

A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. with visitation from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the Mass at Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, 2006 Weston St, La Crosse, WI 54601. Father Brian D. Konopa will officiate.  In lieu of flowers or plants, donations to Dementia Care & Support, Aging & Disability Resource Center of La Crosse County are preferred.  Donations (tax deductible) may be made payable to ADRC of La Crosse County and mailed to: ADRC of La Crosse County, 300 4th St N, La Crosse, WI 54601.

We extend our thanks and deepest gratitude to the staff of Eagle Crest South, Memory Care Units 1 and 2 for the wonderful care they provided our mother. Myra was a loving wife, a wonderful mother, the best of grandmothers, and a dear friend.  She was a kind and thoughtful woman who lived her final years on this earth with grace.  She will be missed dearly.

Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, La Crosse, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be offered on this website.