Obituary for Edith Phetteplace

Edith was born to Richard and Amelia (Miller) Winkenwerder on December 11, 1934, growing up on a farm in rural Nebraska, the second youngest of 14 children. She met Gordon Phetteplace via a pen-pal club (the Internet dating app of its time). Edith joined the Navy at the age of 19, serving for two years during the tail end of the Korean war. Gordon was drafted into the Army during that same period, leading to a long distance romance with them stationed on opposite coasts.

Edith and Gordon were married on May 29, 1955, eventually moving to La Crosse, Wisconsin, after they were both honorably discharged from the military. They were founding members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Edith was a woman of deep faith and was very active in the church, including serving as president of the women’s organization. They were also involved in scouting and loved square dancing. Edith ran a small daycare out of her home, becoming a second mother to many of the neighborhood children. She would organize neighborhood Easter egg hunts and other community events.

Edith was a woman of many talents. She was an avid gardener, an amazing cook, and a skilled seamstress. She also preserved and canned food, made wine, and decorated cakes. She passed many of these skills on to her children, who miss her deeply.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Gordon, her daughter, Rose Marie Phetteplace, and her daughter-in-law, Linda Lou Rogers. She is survived by her children, Gordon Richard Phetteplace and his wife, Louise Phetteplace, Kim Terese Phetteplace, Thad DuWayne Phetteplace and his wife, Kirsten Carter, and Jeffrey Allen Faas; her grandchildren, Rosalyn Marie Phetteplace, Kallen Thad Faas, Theron Scott Phetteplace, Emilia Louise Phetteplace, Jordan Jeffrey Faas, and eight great grandchildren.

Suggested memorial gifts can be given to the Women of the ELCA (WELCA) of her home congregation in La Crosse, WI, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church; the Kane Street Community Garden, a project of the Hunger Task Force of La Crosse; or the Dementia Society of America.

A memorial service will be held, Saturday, October 25, 2025, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 4141 Mormon Coulee Road, La Crosse, WI 54601, at 11:00 am, with visitation beginning prior to the service at 9:30 a.m. Following the service, Military Honors will be rendered outside the church by the Roy L. Vingers American Legion Post 52 of La Crosse and the United States Navy Funeral Honor Guard. A fellowship gathering and meal will follow the service in the Mattes Center of the church, served by the Good Shepherd WELCA.

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