Larry "Ron" Harold Kurschner

Larry "Ron" Harold Kurschner, age 76 of Blanchardville died on Saturday, February 22, 2014 at his home. He was born on December 16, 1937 in Newton, New Jersey to Lester Lewis & Evelyn Lida (Williams) Kurschner. The family moved a couple times but mostly he grew up in Barron, Wisconsin where he graduated from Barron High School in 1956. He then attended the UW River Falls for Agriculture. He moved to Blanchardville in 1957 to work with his uncle in the Sawmill Cheese Factory where he eventually obtained his cheese makers license. He met his future wife Vicki Sharon Skaife in Blanchardville in December of 1957 and they were eventually married on February 1, 1959. He worked in the grocery store his wife's family owned, Skaife Brother's Market, until 1980 hauling cattle, slaughtering and cutting meat. In 1963 they bought 40 acres of land and started farming. In 1965 they bought the farm they still own. In 1969 they started dairy farming. He continued working on his farm until 2009, the farm his son Ryan is now operating. At that time Ron & Vicki moved to Blanchardville. Ron was a charter member of the Blanchardville Jaycees and received the first Outstanding Young Farmer Award in Blanchardville. He was a member of the Blanchardville Lutheran Church. He played for the Blanchardville Bullets home talent team. He was also an avid Packers and Badgers fan. In his retirement he loved coffee hour at Husie's in Blanchardville. Ron's hobby was the farm. He dearly loved his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ron is survived by his wife, Vicki Kurschner of Blanchardville; five children, Ron (Cherie) Kurschner of Blanchardville, Ranée Kurschner of Blanchardville, Rodney (Jayne) Kurschner of Darlington, Reginald Kurschner of Milwaukee, and Ryan (Jessica) Kurschner of Blanchardville; 12 grandchildren, Jeffrey (Melaney), Rachel (Adam) Hughes, Chelsea (Brad) Burkeland, Milton, Erin Krebs, Erik (Brittney) Krebs, Jordan Krebs, LeeAnn, Christina, Jenna, Kayden, and Riley; 7 great-grandchildren, Carson, Tatum, Levi, Charlie, Grayson, Korbyn, and Kamryn; one brother, David (Louise) Kurschner of Barron, WI; two sisters-in-law, Donna Kurschner of Watertown, WI and Michele (Roger) Kittleson of Mount Horeb; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his mother & father-in-law Milton & Wilma Skaife; three children, Roxanne, Rochelle and Roger; his grandson Joshua Krebs; two brothers, Robert and Fred (Delores); and his brother & sister-in-law, Walker and Shirley Skaife.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday evening, February 25, 2014 from 4:00 until 9:00 PM at the Blanchardville Lutheran Church in Blanchardville. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at the Blanchardville Lutheran Church. Rev. Mark Gruner of the Pecatonica Lutheran Parish will officiate. Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery in Blanchardville. The Saether Funeral Home in Blanchardville is assisting the family.