Henry J. Fauske

Henry J. Fauske, 98, of rural Genoa, died Wednesday January 18, 2012 at Vernon Memorial Hospital in Viroqua. He was born December 24, 1913 to Peter Olaus Lars Fauske and Annamarie Olesdatter Ringdahl (who also used the name Mary Vold when she came to the U.S.) on the Fauske farm homesteaded in 1875 by his grandparents Lars Larson Fauske and Ann Pederson Fauske. He was currently living on the same farm.

Henry married Bertha Sovde the daughter of Ingebrigt and Ida (Simonson) Sovde on September 20, 1940 at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa. Henry and his brother Oscar farmed the Fauske homestead and adjoining land. He was an early environmentalist and was one of the first in the area to use environmental farming practices. He also volunteered his farm as a second year site for the Wisconsin/Missouri turkey hatching exchange program. Henry joined the Army Air Force as a civilian employee from 1941 to 1944. He was an airplane mechanic working at Truax Field in Madison and Wright Patterson Field in Xenia, Ohio. Henry worked for the U.S. Statistical Reporting Service as a Field Enumerator, for ASC as a crop measurer and for 13 years was the Postmaster in Genoa before retiring in 1979. He was a supporter of cooperatives and served a term as director of the Vernon Electric Cooperative. Henry was also an active member of the Bad Axe Lutheran Church where he served many years as recording secretary, trustee and a member of the cemetery board.

Henry was a proud Democrat since he said President Roosevelt saved the farms and Democrats spoke up for the poor people. He was a political activist and among other things he petitioned the Vernon County Board in 1977on the right to use electric motors on boats on county lakes. The proposal won unanimous approval.

Henry liked to "feel the power" of a good handshake, drink coffee twice a day - all forenoon and all afternoon, grow tomatoes for the elderly and feed the birds.

Survivors include his daughter Idelle Fauske of rural Genoa; sisters-in-law Suzette Sovde Jackson, Gladys Hanson Fauske; nieces Karen Fauske Kvool, Mary Fauske Winter, Marilyn Wedwick Hickok, Sandra Jackson Ermis and Debra Sovde Kathan; nephews Charles and Richard Lind, Donald and Peter Fauske, Myron Jackson and Mark Sovde; other relatives and a host of friends and acquaintances.

He was preceded in death by his wife Bertha in 2004, three sisters Alice Lind, Olive Fauske and Lena Wedwick; four brothers Leo, Harold, Palmer and Oscar; a niece Lola Fauske Thompson, a nephew John Lind; three brothers-in-law Luther, Bennorris and Merland Sovde and a special cousin Linder Fauske.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday January 21, 2012 at Bad Axe Lutheran Church in Purdy, rural Viroqua. Rev. Don Greven will officiate with burial in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the church on Saturday from 10 a.m. until service time. Memorials may be given to the Bad Axe Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund or Building Fund. The Seland Funeral Home in Coon Valley is assisting the family.