Laurie Lee Gillespie, 62, of Holmen, passed away peacefully on March 21, 2026, after a courageous five-year battle with cancer, surrounded by the people who loved her most.

Laurie was born on February 18, 1964, in La Crosse, WI, to Gerold and Lila (Rose) Sutherland. She graduated from Holmen High School in 1982. After high school, she wanted nothing more than to start a family.

On June 18, 1983, she married Mike Tolvstad, and together they had two children, Matt and Lindsay. They later divorced. Later in life, she met the love of her life, Mike Gillespie, and they were married on June 24, 2005. Together, they created a blended family that included stepsons James and Eric and stepdaughter Stephanie, along with their spouses and children.

Laurie had a strong will, an outgoing personality, and a way of making sure there was never a dull moment. Her laugh could fill a room, and she had a gift for turning everyday moments into something memorable. She loved spending time with her family and friends—whether that meant trips to the casino for bingo, meeting friends for lunch and shopping, lounging with the grandkids at Paige’s pool, reading a good book, visiting James and Amy’s cabin, or sitting down for a competitive game of cards with her grandkids. She especially loved cheering them on in their many sports and activities.

She also enjoyed traveling with family and friends and taking trips to Milwaukee Brewers and Wisconsin Badger games, as well as to South Padre, Door County, Laughlin, Colorado, and many other adventures along the way. Laurie loved hosting gatherings—especially Christmas—and if you stopped by, you could expect good conversation, plenty of laughs, and one of her famous Bloody Mary’s. More than anything, she made people feel comfortable, welcome, and part of something.

Laurie worked at Dayton’s (now Macy’s) from 1988 to 2006, Kelly Services from 2006 to 2008, and began working at Gundersen in 2008 as a Patient Liaison, retiring in 2024. What she valued most in her work were the relationships she built. Many of those coworkers became lifelong friends, including a tradition she cherished of annual flower shopping trips with her Dayton’s group.

After her cancer diagnosis, Laurie continued to make the most of her time. She enjoyed trips to Florida, a Disney cruise, and Punta Cana—creating lasting memories with her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband, Mike Gillespie; her children, Lindsay (Randy) Tuquero and Matt (Cassie) Tolvstad; her mother, Lila (Rose) Sutherland; her stepchildren, James (Amy) Gillespie, Stephanie (Shannon) Austin, and Eric (Claire) Huybers; and her grandchildren, Rylend, Jayden, Evan, Rori, Ellie, Mazie, Brock, Brecken, and Aiden. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Gerold Rose; her brothers, Jeff and Jon Rose; and her stepfather, Rod Sutherland.

Laurie leaves behind a lifetime of memories shaped by laughter, loyalty, kindness, and her ability to bring people together. Whether at lunch, bingo, at a holiday gathering, cheering from the sidelines, or simply enjoying time with the people she loved, she made those moments feel fuller and more meaningful. She will be deeply missed, but the love she gave and the memories she created will carry on in all who knew her.

A celebration of life will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at The Gathering Place, 133 Mason St., Onalaska, WI 54650, with a service beginning at 11:30 a.m. Following the service, all are invited to continue celebrating Laurie’s life at Features in Holmen.

The family extends a heartfelt thank you to the Cancer Center and Transfusion Team at Gundersen Health System, as well as the hospice team who supported Laurie and her family in her final weeks. Your care and compassion are deeply appreciated.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Holmen Viking Wrestling Club in honor of Laurie and her love of supporting her grandchildren’s sports.

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