Surnames: Bucheger, VonDrasek, Vochaska, Fritz, White

----Source: Loyal TRG 07 May 2008

Bucheger, Louise K. #3 (13 NOV 1913 - 17 APR 2008)

Louise K. Bucheger, 94, Neillsville, took an angel’s hand and enjoyed yet another journey, this one to her beloved "Ed" for eternity. She passed away on Thursday, April 17, 2008, at Memorial Medical Health and Rehabilitation Center, Neillsville. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11 a.m., on April; 24, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Greenwood. The Rev. Joseph Follmar officiated. Private burial will take place at a later date in Butternut next to her loving husband, Ed.

Louise K. VonDrasek, the youngest of nine children, was born to John and Anne (nee Vochaska) VonDrasek, on Nov. 13, 1913, in Butternut. She was the only surviving at the time of her death. She spent her childhood living in Butternut. As a youngest child of such a large family, she enjoyed an idyllic childhood being catered to by the older family members. It did not, however spoil her. She met her beloved "Ed" when she was just 13 and, we like to say, he waited for her to grow up. They married in 1935. They moved to a farm in Greenwood in 1950, and it was in that area that she spent the rest of her life. They were very active members of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. As a caring wife, she assisted her husband for many years during his struggle with Parkinson’s until his death in 1997.

A "bump in the road" for her came when she contracted tuberculosis. Her youngest child was a first-grader at the time and she had to live in Stevens Point for six months of recovery. She preserved and formed a special bond with a nun named Sister Luke, R.N., who encouraged her special talent of writing poetry. She spent many hours contemplating and writing. It seemed she wrote a poem for every friend, child, grandchild and occasion. Her poem about Greenwood was chosen to be included in Greenwood’s Centennial Book in 1991.

They reared seven children, all very devoted to their mom while she endured the loss of eyesight, hearing, touch and smell, but never her patience, which endeared her to her family and to the many special staff members at Memorial Medical Center, Neillsville, where she was forced to spend her last years because of medical necessities of her diabetes. Thankfully, she never lost her sense of humor, either, and enjoyed a good joke whenever she could share one with someone.

One of her loves was traveling. She and Ed started traveling the U.S. when some of their children began living in other states. They traveled to see them, help them, and traveled with them. They also went to a favorite of hers—Lake Louise in Canada—and even to Europe and the Alps, fulfilling a childhood dream of hers when she got to spend two weeks there in 1998. She was always interested in current events and was up-to-date even though she had to give up reading and TV when her eyesight failed. She always delighted in the activities of her grandchildren, and kept pace with the world by telephone.

Survivors include her seven children, David (Carol) Bucheger, Rothchild, Dennis (Darlene) Bucheger, Greenwood, Jacquelyn (Ross) Fritz, North Powder, Ore., Joseph (Candice) Bucheger, Onalaska, Judi (Noel) White, Kennewick, Wash., Jerome (Judy) Bucheger, Crystal Lake, Ill., and Jeffrey (Rose) Bucheger, Farmington, Minn.; 18 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

As was evident in many of her poemsshe would wish you all "the best of God’s great world. Enjoy it and keep smiling."

A memorial in her name may be given to Memorial Medical Center, Neillsville, or to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Greenwood, or to a charity of choice.

Her family wishes to thank the wonderful staff of the Rehabilitation Center of MMC for four years of excellent care.

Maurina-Shilling Funeral Home, Abbotsford, assisted the family with arrangements.