Of West Salem- Bruce Donald Mahoney 76, passed away at Gundersen-Lutheran Medical Center from complications of pneumonia and COPD.

He was born August 29, 1934 to Donald and Margaret (Hilke) Mahoney. He graduated from Aquinas High School in 1952. While in high school, in participated in football and also was involved in the Golden Gloves boxing program. On December 14, 1968, He married Janeane
(Sutherland) Hill at the St Lukes United Church in La Crosse, Wisconsin and from this union, he also acquired a daughter (Jeanne) whom he raised and became a loving father to.

He had worked at Norplex in La Crosse from many years. During a union/labor dispute, he went to work for Bernie Buchner Plumbing as a laborer. He then went to school at WWTC and learned a trade as a welder. He then was employed as a Boilermaker and worked at many power plants throughout the Midwest. They had at this time been living in the Viola area. Later, he and Jean decided to move back to the La Crosse area where they purchased and operated Rusty’s Bar on French Island. Upon retirement, he moved back to the old homestead in Viola. In 2005, as his wife’s health deteriorated, they decided to move back to the La Crosse area to be closer to their daughter and grandsons. He remained in this West Salem home until near the end of his life. His health had steadily gone done after the passing of his beloved wife on December 9, 2010. He was also a member of the Masonic Temple as a Grand Mason in Lodge 25. Something he was extremely proud of and spoke highly of even up to the day he passed on.

He survived by his only daughter, Jeanne (Neil) Bornitz, his two grandsons, Steve Bornitz and his friend, Holly Weber and Mark & Lindsey (Krajewski) Bornitz, his half-sister, Theresa Brokow, cousins, Mary (John) McKinney, Sheila (Bill) Oldenburg, Chris Hilke, & Jane Martell. He is also survived by his sisters-in laws & brothers-in laws: Marlene (Ken) Jasperson, Robert (Marie) Sutherland, Norma (Arden) Mills, Eston (Janice) Sutherland, Mary Alderman and Linda (Keith) Chamberlain. He was a loving uncle to many nieces and nephews also and his devoted dog – Charlie.

He was preceded in death by his parents, uncle’s – Del (a twin brother to his mother), Carl, and Bud Hilke, a brother-in-law, Ardith and his wife, Carolyn (Perry) Sutherland, sister-in-law, Donna Lawyer of Menasha, three nieces and a nephew-in-law and his beloved two golden retrievers – Rusty (whom the bar had been named for) and Casey.

He had played softball for the 16″ softball league, both for Norplex and in the Tavern league for whom he played ball for both Latch’s Bar and the Midway Bar, where he was the catcher. In fact, this is where he met the love of his life, Jean.  There were many of championship games between them and the OK Bar. He also competed in the Old Timer’s games for Midway.  He was an avid hunter and fisherman during his life. He had many of tales to tell of his deer hunting and was quite famous for getting “one horn” bucks – either naturally or accidentally shooting them off. He enjoyed fishing, even up to the end
but had to give this up when his wife became quite ill and he took care of her. In his earlier life, he also enjoyed duck hunting with his Golden Retrievers. He had numerous trophies from shooting competitions and got his grandson, Steve involved in that. He was extremely proud of his daughter and did a lot with his grandchildren as they grew up. He was very happy when Mark married Lindsey and extremely proud of Mark & Steve’s racing championships at La Crosse Speedway.
 
He is to be cremated at this time with burial at a later date at Halfway Creek Cemetery in Holmen. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Masonic Temple, 118 8th St. South in La Crosse, Saturday, April 2, 2011 from 1 PM to 4:00 PM with a memorial service by Rev. Dan Imhoff at 1:30. In lieu of flowers, family is requesting memorials.

The family wish to thank all those that were a comfort in his last moments of life – Dr Danyon Wagner, who compassion was always showing, The staff of 6 West from Gundersen Lutheran, and Palliative Care for making the end of his life comfortable: Cindy Koeller and Nike Sires from Western Wisconsin
Cares, and a special thanks to Joe Schams from the Coulee Region Cremation Group for taking care of him at the conclusion of his life. Also special thanks to the neighbors, Lynette and Mike Dewalt for being there to help him after the death of his beloved wife Peace be with you dad- I know you are with mom in heaven and will both be watching us from above.