Mary Kane

KANE, Mary Alice

Mary Alice (Luster) Kane, 84, of La Crosse passed away on June 5, 2012 peacefully at her home.

Mary was born on February 3, 1928 in Harpers Ferry, Iowa to John and Loella (Schellsmidt) Luster.  She was the second oldest of 11 children and grew up in Harpers Ferry.  She graduated from Harpers Ferry High School, where she was a proud member of the girls’ basketball team.

She married Neil J. Kane in 1947 and settled in Seneca, WI before moving to La Crosse in 1952 where she was a homemaker and raised two children with Neil.  Mary enjoyed working in her yard and spending time with family and friends. She was a 60 year member of St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral and strongly supported Catholic education.  Prior to 2011, Mary and Neil enjoyed their winters for 20 years in Mesa, Arizona.  Mary was a volunteer for 44 years at the Tomah VA Medical Center through American Legion Post 417.

Mary is survived by her husband Neil and children Michael of Monona, WI and Mary Catherine (Mark) Hartman of Mendota Heights, MN; sisters Madonna (Jim) Rouiller, Helen (Dick) Hanesworth and Charlotte (Glenn) Monroe; brothers Ernest (Alice) Luster, Clarence (Kay) Luster, John (Joyce) Luster and Charles Luster; sisters-in-law Connie Luster, Virginia Luster, Jeanne Stuckey, Rita (Dick) Dieter, Betty Ann (John) O’Donnell and Mary Ellyn (Brian) Oetzel; along with many nieces, nephews, 7 godchildren and friends.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; father and mother- in-law Neil and Pearl Kane; sister Myrtle Spinner; brothers Harland Luster and James Luster; sister-in-law Rita (McFarland) Luster; brothers-in-law Don Rissman, Don Spinner and Al Stuckey; niece Karen Luster; and nephews Tom Luster and Chris Luster.

The family would like to express their gratitude to Margaret and Bob Suhr, the staff at Gunderson Lutheran Hospice, and all who helped the family during Mary’s illness.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, June 9, 2012, in St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral, 530 Main St., La Crosse, Wis. Rev. Charles Stoetzel will officiate with entombment to be in St Joseph Mausoleum in the Catholic Cemetery. Family and friends may call on Friday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Home, 1501 West Avenue South, La Crosse, Wis. with a Rosary to be held at 5:00 PM. Family and friends may also call from 9:00 AM until the time of Mass in the Cathedral on Saturday.  

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral, Viterbo University, Aquinas High School or Gunderson Lutheran Hospice.

Online condolences may be made at www.blaschkeschneider.com.