Obituary for Phyllis Jean Von Ruden
Phyllis Jean (Pierce) Von Ruden age 87, of La Crosse, Wisconsin passed away, peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Monday, October 31, 2022 at Gundersen Medical Center. She was born on November 18, 1934 to Glen & Eva Pierce in Sparta, Wisconsin. She was a graduate of Sparta High School. On July 28, 1953 she married Richard (Dick) Von Ruden at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Sparta, and they were together for 69 years. After they were wed, they moved to La Crosse. In 1959 she helped her husband start an insurance agency & played an active role in its operation for several years.
She was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Parish of La Crosse. She was an avid Packer fan and enjoyed many years traveling in their Motor Home with her husband. Most of all she enjoyed visiting & having telephone calls with her Grandchildren. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She will be missed by her family.
Phyllis is survived by her loving husband, Richard; children, Barbara (Patrick) Zettel of Ft. Myers, Florida, David (Paula Galstad) Von Ruden and Jeffrey Von Ruden, both of La Crosse, Wisconsin, 5 grandchildren, Scott (Serina) Von Ruden of Federal Way, Washington, Mark Von Ruden of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Dan Von Ruden of La Crosse, and Brittany Zettel of St. Paul, Minnesota & Michelle Zettel Ft. Myers, Florida; 2 great grandchildren, Odesa & Leo Von Ruden, both of Federal Way, Washington; and her brother, Jerry Pierce of Sparta. She was preceded in death by 1 son, Steven; 1 sister, Beverly Maurer; 2 brothers, Clifford Pierce and James Pierce.
At her request, she will be cremated. A private burial will take place at a later date in the Angelo Oak Grove Cemetery in Rural Sparta. Memorials are preferred to the Salvation Army. Please visit www.affordablecremationlacrosse.com to share online condolences.
I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one. I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done. I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways, Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days. I’d like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun of happy memories that I leave when life is done. – Helen Lowrie Marshall