Robert J. Atteln, 82, of Wilton passed away Monday, July 4, 2016, at the Gundersen Health System in La Crosse.
He was born Jan. 15, 1934, to Leonard and Gertrude (Steinhoff) Atteln in Sparta. Bob was raised on the family farm on Summit Ridge and attended Goetz School on Summit Ridge. He was a 1952 graduate of Tomah High School.
Bob served in the United States Army from 1954–1956 in Panama and continued with the Army Reserves until Oct. 31, 1962. He was united in marriage to Lorraine Donskey on Sept. 20, 1958, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on Summit Ridge.
Bob worked in Madison for a short time before moving back. He operated the Von Haden Farm on Summit Ridge until purchasing a farm near Wilton in 1966. Bob and Lorraine were proud to make the farm their home, where he still loved driving tractors. He was an avid sports fan of his children and grandchildren, the Packers, Brewers and Badgers. Bob loved to travel and spend time with his family.
He is survived by his wife, Lorraine; his children and grandchildren, Sandra (Matthew) Ritchie of La Crosse and their children, Caitlin (Tim) Ritchie and Courtney (Todd) Ritchie, Scott (Brenda) Atteln of Wilton and their children, Trever, Garett, Ashley, Samantha and Kristen Atteln, David (Diane) Atteln of Sparta and their children, Sam and Ben (Becca) Atteln, Jeffrey (Hope) Atteln of Tomah and their children, Devin Atteln and Gina Baldwin; his great-grandchildren, Alice, Zakary and Thaine; his brothers, Jim (Vera) Atteln and Joe (Lois) Atteln; his sisters, Marilyn (Gerald) Zunker, Kathleen (Don) Walker and Janice (Dick) Dahlke; his brothers-in-law, Jerome (Pam) Leis and John (Marilyn) Donskey; his sisters-in-law, Alice Atteln and Kay Atteln; along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Claire Atteln; and a sister, LaVonne Leis.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Friday, July 8, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Wilton. Father John Peter and Father Eugene Trainer will concelebrate. Burial will follow in St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery in Wilton. Family and friends are invited for visitation Thursday, July 7, from 5–8 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Wilton and again on Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of service. The Torkelson Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are available at http://www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com/.
