Obituary for Tyrone "Tunie" Hoier

He was born April 5, 1945, in La Crosse, to Ewald and Alice (Eickoff) Hoier. Tunie was a 1963 graduate of West Salem High School where he was a talented athlete, excelling in baseball and basketball. He was very proud to be on the basketball team that won the regional championship his senior year. He continued his love of sports throughout his life, playing baseball on West Salem’s city team following high school before moving to fast pitch and slow pitch softball until he hung up his cleats at the age of 45.

Tunie’s working career included positions at Lakeview Foods and the Coca Cola Bottling Company in La Crosse, where he worked in delivery and sales for 45 years, retiring in 2010.

On July 10, 1965, he married Judith “Judy” Bonsall at Christ Ev. Lutheran Church in West Salem and they were blessed with two sons, Greg and Chad. Tunie and Judy shared nearly 45 years of marriage, before her passing in 2010. They were strong supporters of West Salem High School and UW-L athletics, both as parents and as fans. When their boys were young, they followed the sports they played; baseball, hockey, basketball and football building relationships with other families they met along the way. Later in life, after the boys were grown with families of their own, they took great joy following the sports activities and endeavors of their grandchildren.

Tunie was an active member of the West Salem Community, serving in the Lion’s Club and operating “Ty’s Snack Shack” concession stand in Village Park and being a volunteer and enthusiastic participant in many June Dairy Days. He was also an avid golfer and bowler with Team 842. Tunie was also known for his Tilson Street gatherings after Friday night football games.

Survivors include his two sons, Greg (Margaret) Hoier of Cottage Grove, Wis., and Chad (Dottie) Hoier of West Bend, Wis.; four grandchildren, Evan, Ty, Camden, and Lydia Hoier; brother, Henry (Donna) Hoier; brother-in-law, Tom (Sherry) Bonsall; and nieces, nephews, and friends.

In addition to his wife, Judy, he was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Eloda Hoier; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Arthur and Lois Bonsall.

A Christian Funeral Service will be held at 12 noon on Monday, December 29, 2025, at Christ Ev. Lutheran Church, 500 Park St., West Salem. Rev. Don Frelitz will officiate. Burial will follow in Neshonoc Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m., until the time of service, Dec. 29th, at the church.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family kindly requests memorial contributions to be made in Tunie’s honor. These donations will support organizations that were meaningful to him throughout his life.

The family would like to thank the doctors and staff at the Mayo Health System ICU Unit, the Dialysis Team at the Mayo Clinic in Onalaska and the Benedictine Living Community in La Crosse for the care and support they provided.

Online condolences may be shared with his family at this site.