Roland "Cactus" Kuester

Roland "Cactus" Kuester, 84, of Chaseburg died Monday February 28, 2011 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse. He was born September 27, 1926 in Milwaukee. Cactus served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1947 in the Pacific Theatre as a radioman on the USS Genesee. He married Betty Ann Galstad on October 11, 1947 at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Betty died April 11, 1997. He drove truck for Chaseburg Co-op Creamery, Chaseburg Farmers Union and then Cenex before retiring in 1991. Cactus felt privileged to serve the Village of Chaseburg for many years. He was the village Constable from 1957 to 2007. Cactus also enjoyed being a Vernon County Sheriff's Deputy transporting prisoners.

Throughout the years he enjoyed many activities including baseball, softball, pumpkin ball, bowling, fishing, golfing, hunting, working as umpire at many ball games and teaching hunting and fishing safety courses.

Cactus was a member of the Chaseburg American Legion Post #202 where he served in many offices including post commander and county commander, Coon Creek VFW Post 10532, Chaseburg Lions, Friends of Chaseburg, 40/8, and a long time member of St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Survivors include two daughters Susan (Glen) Larson of La Crosse and Carol (David) Nestingen of White Fish Bay; 4 grandchildren Christopher (Kathy) Larson of Plymouth, Minnesota, Michael (Jamie) Larson of Onalaska, Sarah Ann (Michael) Sifuentes of Milwaukee and Peter Nestingen of White Fish Bay; 4 great grandchildren Kaitlin and Matthew Larson and Kyle and Ethan Sifuentes; a brother-in-law Neil (Diane) Martine of Chaseburg; a sister-in-law Marge Galstad of La Crosse and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and wife.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday March 5, 2011 at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chaseburg. Rev. Steven Oldre will officiate. Burial with military honors will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Seland Funeral Home in Coon Valley and at the church on Saturday from 10 a.m. until service time. Memorials may be given to St. Peter's Church or the charity of choice.