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William C. Ilstrup Obituary – 1/19/2011


William “Bill” C. Ilstrup, age 87, of Onalaska, WI, formerly of Dassel, died Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in LaCrosse, WI.

He was born April 5, 1923, in Duluth, to Samuel and Eva Ilstrup.

Bill spent his growing up years in Dassel, and graduated from Dassel High School in 1941.

He attended Concordia College for two years, and then enlisted in the US Navy, serving as a pilot flying PBY seaplanes.

After the war, Bill graduated from the University of Minnesota and joined his family in the banking business.

He married Carol Mae Boxrud in 1948, and this union endured for 62 years.

A banker, farmer, and pilot, Bill held the position of president of Firsnabanco, a Wisconsin bank holding company.

Bill loved to be on a farm, and to drive tractors – as long as they were green. He loved to walk and build fences, regardless of the weather.

He enjoyed taking long trips, and especially, loved time spent with his family.

Bill is survived by his wife, Carol; five children, Sandy (Diann), Rondi (Mark) Solverson, Jodi (Rich) Davig, Jeffrey, and Kristine (William) Ross, all of Wisconsin; nine grandchildren, Shane Ilstrup, Ingrid (Dan) Olson, all of La Crosse, WI, Stephanie (Andrew) Sirek of Rochester, Erik Solverson of Albuquerque, NM, and Jeffrey, Samuel, Matthew, Carolyn and Victor Ross, of La Crosse.

He was preceded in death by his younger brother, Samuel Orson; and sisters Sig Reiter and Bernice Heffron.

The funeral service took place Monday, Jan. 24 at 1:30 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Viroqua, WI, with the Revs. Kathy Ingbritsen and Steve Meyer officiating.

The Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home of Viroqua served the family. Online condolences may be offered at www.vossfh.com.

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