Karon Julia Haldeman, 73, of Wilton and Ontario passed away Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009, at Norseland Nursing Home, Westby, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She has now gone home to be with her Lord.
The oldest child of Harold and Stella (Everson) Larson, Karon was born in Viroqua on April 10, 1936. She was baptized into the Lutheran church in Viroqua and was confirmed at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Westby. She attended Westby area schools until moving to Wilton, where she graduated from Wilton High School in 1955. On Sept. 17, 1955, she married LaVern Haldeman in a ceremony at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Wilton, and together from that day on, they farmed the family farm between Ontario and Wilton.
Karon and LaVern had three children, Charles, Debora and Christine. She was a devoted farm wife and mother. She loved farming duties, big vegetable gardens and baking bread and other goodies. She loved to sew and will always be remembered for her quilts and the many stuffed bears that she made as gifts for kids. Over the years, she was involved as a leader in the 4-H program, the homemaker program and her church. She also enjoyed helping LaVern with his tax assessing work: together they traveled many country roads in the area, as they had several townships to do.
Karon is survived by her husband, LaVern; one son, Charles (Chris) Haldeman of La Crosse; two daughters, Debora (Jon) Haldeman-Turner of Chippewa Falls, Wis., and Christine Haldeman (significant other Dave Krueger) of Waukesha, Wis.; three grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; one step-great-grandchild; 10 brothers and sisters, Jim Larson of Tomah, Jerry (Yvonne) Larson of Tunnel City, Hazel Kelly of Montana, Sandy (Bill) Otto of La Crosse, Sharon (Ken) Oldenburg of Stoddard, Stephen (Bobbie) Larson of Tomah, Tom (Nancy) Larson of La Crosse, Ardeen (John) Farmer of Tomah, Frieda (William) Hutchins of New Lisbon and Dennis (Muriah) Larson of Oregon; two brothers-in-law, Richard (Eileen) Haldeman of Tomah and Gene Oelke of Tomah; two sisters-in-law, Carolyn Haldeman of West Salem, Wis., and Jean Haldeman of Kentucky; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her mother-in-law and father-in-law; one sister, Evelyn Oelke; one infant brother Joseph; one sister-in-law, Sharon Larson; two brothers-in-law, Everett and Lyle Haldeman; and a very dear niece, Tammy Farmer.
Karon was a woman of faith. Her strong faith carried her through all the joys and sadness that she faced in her life; she modeled her life after one of her favorite scriptures from Proverbs: “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path.” Her strength, courage and wisdom will be fondly remembered by many.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Wilton. Pastor Kathleen Wold will officiate. Burial will be in St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery, Wilton.
Relatives and friends are invited to call from 4–8 p.m. Monday at the Smith-Nelson Funeral Home, 702 Center St., Wilton, and one hour prior to services Tuesday at the church.
