Laurie Hovell died December 27, 2022, surrounded by loving family members. Laurena Viola Bockenhauer came into the world on March 18, 1930, in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. Laurie lived for 74 years on the farm and in the home she made with her husband Robert Ray (Bob) Hovell, Sr. There they raised four children and welcomed six grandchildren into the world.

To say she loved the color red is to understate it: she adored red, especially a bright tomato red known as “Bockenhauer Red,” which together with black, formed the color of most of her wardrobe. She loved red so very much that she claimed not to be able to see the color blue.

Laurie loved to laugh. She had a distinctive laugh – half hoot, half scream – and would pound the table and holler during a joyful explosion. She took card playing seriously and was dedicated to euchre and canasta, and in her last years to King’s Corner. She loved birds, especially cardinals, which led to her CB nickname “Redbird”; at her house, cardinals adorned T-shirts, mugs, earrings, trinkets, and pillows. Outside her house, orioles and rose-breasted grossbeaks flocked to her kitchen window for the food she faithfully put out for them.

Laurie liked to read mysteries and grow vegetables and flowers. She was a big fan of Santa Claus — maybe it was red suit or the big laugh. One Christmas, her grandchildren counted at least 50 Santa figures decorating her house. A strong and feisty woman, she was known to challenge her grandsons to wrestling matches, even in her 70s.

A talented knitter, Laurie spun out intricate lace tablecloths, bedspreads, and doilies for which she was awarded first place and best in show multiple times at both the county and state levels; she knitted sweaters for her family, numerous baby sweaters and blankets, countless dishrags, and dozens of toy bears, which were donated for children seeking medical treatment in Latin America and southern Africa.

Laurie graduated from Galesville High School in 1948; she was proud to be the first in her family to complete high school. She was the eldest of eight children who were raised in German Coulee. While still in high school, Laurie met her future husband Bob roller-skating at the VFW in Trempealeau. They married in Arcadia, Wisconsin on June 26, 1948, then moved to the house on Caledonia Prairie where she would live for most of her life.

Laurie joined the Caledonia Homemakers in 1948 (now known as Home and Community Education) and was a member till the end; she entered her knitting into the Trempealeau County Fair for many years; 2022 was one of the few years she missed. She was a founding member of Trempealeau Archery Club and a darn good shot. She waitressed at the Boondocks in the 1960s before moving on to Drugan’s Supper Club, where she worked for over twenty years.

Laurie and Bob enjoyed traveling to Arizona and the Southwest, and she also went thrice to Germany, where she met relatives in Hohn. She also traveled to England, France, Scotland, Ireland, and went on several cruises. She enjoyed listening and dancing to live music, including that of her husband’s many bands, as well as the music of Jim Bee and Ed Sullivan.

She is survived by her four offspring: Robert Ray (Ellen) Hovell, Jr., Debra Jean (Larry) Sacia, Pamela Kay (Steve) Grover, and Laurie Lynn (T.S.) McMillin; three siblings: Sandy (Tony) Raymond, Bill (Judy) Bockenhauer, and Doug (Solveig) Bockenhauer; five grandchildren: Lynn Sacia, Amanda Hovell, Sarah (Justin) Sagler, Liam McMillin and Jack McMillin; three step-grandchildren: Samantha, Stephen, and Rob Grover; two step-great-grandchildren, Lilah and Stevie Grover, special friends and sisters-in-law Darlene (LaVerne) Dettinger and Fran (Ralph Perry) Bockenhauer; and a special brother-in-law Kent Drugan. She is survived also by numerous nieces and nephews, including her “double nieces” Tari Wood and Lu Ebersold and her “double nephew” Stan (Lori) Hovell. She was preceded in death by her parents Earl and Viola (nee Storm) Bockenhauer, her husband Robert Ray Hovell, her siblings Barb (Clyde) Hovell, Earl (Fran) Bockenhauer, Donna (Kent) Drugan, and Glen Bockenhauer, her brothers-in-law Clyde and Kenneth Hovell, Russell Gilbertson and LaVerne Dettinger, her sisters-in-law Judy Bockenhauer, Lorna Gilbertson and Pat (Donnie) Kamrowski, by several nieces and nephews including Clyde Jon Hovell and Tammi Drugan (Alan) Bratberg and by her beloved grandson Larry Robert Ray Sacia.

The family would especially like to thank the staff at Hearten House III in Holmen and the staff of Mayo Hospice, Jody and Lesa, for their care and affection for Laurie during her last months.

When asked what kind of memorial she’d like, Laurie was known to quip, “I don’t care. I’m not going to be there.” So we are holding a celebration of her life at Drugan’s on January 21, 2023, from 1 to 4, with a toast to her at 2 pm. Please wear red.

A celebration of life will be held from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm on Saturday, January 21, at Drugan’s Castle Mound, W7665 Sylvester Rd. Holmen, WI. 54636.