Arla Jean Redman 86, passed away Sunday, March 20, 2022 at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse. Arla was born January 26, 1936 to Henry and Lela (Kupper) Stannard in Sparta, WI.  She spent the first years of her life in Sparta, graduating from Sparta High School in 1953.  She met Wayne Redman shortly after high school while working in Reedsburg, WI.

They were married August 20, 1955 in Sparta in her parents’ home.  Arla and Wayne had 3 children, Theresa, Linda, and Stephen. Arla worked over 30 years in the banking industry, employed at banks in Sparta, Frederic, and Siren WI.  She retired in 1998 when employed at the bank in Siren.  Following Wayne’s retirement, Arla and Wayne moved to Onalaska WI.  Arla quickly became involved volunteering once settled in Onalaska.  She became a volunteer at Gundersen Health System in 2004 and worked in the hospital’s gift shop until 2018. She was proud to have accumulated over 4000 hours of service during her time as a volunteer and so happy with the network of friends she met there.   Arla and Wayne also enjoyed traveling.  They took several Jay Buckley’s baseball tours around the country.  They were inaugural season ticket holders for the La Crosse Loggers and enjoyed several years of entertainment and good baseball at the field.   Arla loved baseball as much as Wayne and continued to watch and root for the Brewers after Wayne’s passing in 2013.  She also enjoyed watching the Packers and Badgers, making calls to family and friends during halftime to talk about the game.

But Arla’s first and true love was her family.  She loved seeing her children and their families: sharing holidays with them, taking in a play, watching their concerts or sporting events, black Friday shopping, talking on the phone with those who lived far away, the cards and pictures she received by mail—she loved her family and for her that was what it was all about.

Arla is survived by her two daughters, Theresa (Charles) Goodman and Linda (John) Sullivan, daughter in law Laura Redman,  12 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, sister Gayle Schermitzler, sister in law Carol Schultz, and several nieces and nephews who where a big part of her life and several special friends.   She was preceded in death by her spouse, Wayne,  her son Stephen, brothers Earl Stannard and Lewis Stannard, her parents and parent in laws.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, April 8, 2022 at The Gathering Place, 133 Mason St. Onalaska.  Pastor Becky Goche will officiate.  Visitations will be held from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm on Thursday, April 7 at The Gathering Place and from 10:00 am until the time of the service on Friday.

Arla will be buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Sparta at a later date.  Memorials could be made to Gundersen Heart Institute, Gundersen Partners, English Lutheran Church, or charity of your choice.

Our family would like to thank two special friends who have been there for mom the last several years, Marilyn and Kim, as well as Phil, the RN in critical care at Gundersen who made a very difficult day manageable, Dr. Ward Brown and Dr. Amy Strain for mom’s ongoing care over the years, nieces Sharon and Susan who were in constant contact with mom, and everyone who has reached out the last several weeks to share their thoughts about mom.

Click here to view the Memorial service