Wauneta E. Dutton, age 75, passed away peacefully with her family at her side on Thursday, May 29th, 2025 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse.

Neta was born on December 21, 1949 to Leslie and Wauneta Snyder of La Crosse, WI. She was the youngest of seven children. Neta married her soulmate and lifelong companion, Edwin Dutton, on August 31st, 1968 in La Crosse. They were married for 56 years.

Neta was a passionate person. She was known to give her opinion, not in a critical way, but rather through sharing her passion for what she believed in. Her first and foremost passion was her husband, Ed. After being married for 56 years, it’s difficult to say the name Neta, or Ed, other than to say them together as “Ed & Neta”. Both supported each other in so many ways throughout their life together by making a home, raising their two children, taking vacations, spending time with family, creating and completing home projects, rearranging the furniture in the house, cleaning the house, rearranging the furniture in the house again, providing doggy daycare, and supporting fishing and hunting trips. They were inseparable and their love for one another was evident as the quick peck on the lips between the couple was a regular occurrence.

Neta’s other passion was her family. She was as devoted to her children, Tina and Chad, as she was to Ed. Even though Tina is older, Chad was always her “number one” child as she would hold up her middle finger and smile at him. Neta became an instant Mom to two young people as Dale Dahl and Tammy Hansen came to be Mr. and Mrs. Dale & Tina Dahl and Mr. and Mrs. Chad & Tammy Dutton. Her love as a parent spread even more as she became a loving grandparent and caregiver to her grandkids, Dalen, Devin, and many grandpets.

Neta was also a savvy person who had a passion for finding and getting the best deal possible when it came time to talk to the salesperson. She even named her dog “Tag”, because the price ‘tag’ was right. She was always convincing, and maybe even demanding in her methods, and was a hard person to say “no” to. Her house was always open to friends, neighbors, and family as they would be greeted with a hug. The kitchen counter served as the gathering point to sit and visit, laugh, tell stories, and eat her snacks and candy which were always in plain sight. You could never say goodbye without another hug and an “I Love You” before walking out the door. She prided herself by having an immaculately clean and organized house. Even her storage containers were stored in a storage container. There was always a neighborly competition to see who would have their holiday yard inflatables out first and who would have the most. Besides tending to her responsibilities at home, Neta was also a dedicated employee at Lake Center Industries/TRW in Winona, MN for more than 35 years.

We will all miss her love, companionship, hugs, laughter, directions, Christmas gifts and ornaments, venison and turkey jerky, chocolate chip cookies, conversations on the phone, and so much more. However, Neta was a strong Christian believer who had faith in knowing that someday she would walk with Jesus and would be reunited with her family and friends again on that glorious day as we sang at her side, “Go rest high on that mountain, Son your work on earth is done. Go to heaven a-shoutin’, Love for the Father and the Son.”

Neta is survived by her husband, Edwin of Trempealeau; daughter, Tina (Dale) Dahl of Wisconsin Rapids; son, Chad (Tammy) Dutton of Onalaska, and two grandchildren, Dalen Dahl of Stevens Point and Devin Dahl of Wisconsin Rapids; brother Arnie (Rose) Snyder of Kenosha; and sister-in- law, Carol Snyder of La Crosse.

In addition to her parents, Neta was preceded in death by her brother Richard Snyder, sister Shirley Arnold, sister Betty Bork, brother Leslie Snyder Jr., sister Pauline Johnson, brother-in-law Don Johnson, brother-in-law Earl Bork, and brother-in-law Elmer Arnold.

Visitation will be Friday, June 13th at 10:30 at The Gathering Place (133 Mason Street, Onalaska, WI). Pastor Clair Dutton will officiate the celebration of life starting at 11:30. Lunch will be provided immediately after the service. Burial will take place at Trempealeau Public Cemetery (W24976 Park Road, Trempealeau, WI) following the luncheon and fellowship.  Coulee Region Cremation Group is assisting the family.