Obituary for Loris Ann Griffin

Loris Ann Griffin, 91, of West Salem, passed away, surrounded by her family, Saturday, November 14, 2020, at her home. She was born November 23, 1928, to Henry and Elsie (Sandman) Waldenberger, at home in Holmen, Wis. Loris was baptized on August 28, 1955, at The Little Brown Church in Iowa and became a member of the Presbyterian Church of West Salem in 1960. She was a 1946 graduate of West Salem High School. Loris attended State Teachers College and obtained a two year degree in 1948 and attended UW-La Crosse and obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1972. She taught in one-room schools at Brookside and Barre Mills. On July 29, 1950, Loris married Harold Eugene Griffin in West Salem. After having a family, she taught at West Salem Elementary for 21 years. Loris loved her family and enjoyed all of the times they spent together. She also enjoyed traveling and camping with Harold, where they saw much of the United States and took numerous vacations to Florida to visit family, going to lunch with her "cousins," her church and her church family, crocheting, and reading. Loris was a loyal ticket holder and contributor of the Marie W. Heider Center for the Arts and belonged to many local clubs including: Red Hats, 500 Card Club, West Salem Homemakers, and the La Crosse Area Retired Teachers Association. Survivors include three sons, Randall (Carol) of West Salem, Scott (Mary) of South Dakota, and David (Janet) of West Salem; seven grandchildren, Matt (Catherine) Griffin, Eric (Jessica) Griffin, Adam Griffin, Nicole Griffin, (friend, Elliot Immerfall), Justine Griffin, Grace Griffin (Jordan Birrd), and Will Griffin; seven great-grandchildren, Jordan Francis, Cassandra Francis, Nick Griffin, Ben Griffin, Lilly Ciganek, Dayne Griffin, and Jaxon Birrd; one sister, Wilma Kastenschmidt of Onalaska; brothers, Dean (Wanda) Waldenberger of Arizona, Lynn (Lynnette) Waldenberger of Arizona, and Henry Waldenberger of St. Paul, Minn,; brother-in-law, Willard Kelsey of North Carolina; and her adopted cat, Missy. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Harold; daughter, Laurie Griffin; brother-in-law, Arlen Kastenschmidt. Funeral services will be Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020at Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Home, Jostad Chapel, 121 N. Youlon St. West Salem. Pastor Scott Skogen will officiate. Burial will be in the Neshonoc Cemetery, West Salem. Visitation will be 9:00 am-11:00 am, Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020 at the funeral home. Masks and other physical distancing measures will be required. The family would like to thank the Mayo Clinic Health System and the Hospice Program, Clayton who mowed her lawn, Jackie who helped with the household; and to neighbors who were always there for her. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred and will be directed to fund a scholarship from the West Salem High School to a deserving individual seeking a teaching career.