Obituary for Francis "Frex" Furlano

He was born on a farm in Genoa on August 13, 1932, to Frank and Rose (Martino) Furlano.

Frex graduated from St. Charles Grade School in 1946 and from Aquinas High School in 1950. He took over and ran the family farm from 1953 until 1965. Frex then purchased the IGA Store in Stoddard which he operated from 1965 until 1978. He also worked as a rural mail carrier until his retirement in 1995 and operated Super Suds Laundry for 10 years.

On April 28, 1954, Frex married Arlene Helgeson and they were blessed with four children, Frank, Jeanne, Jerry, and Janice.

In 1988, he was commissioned Leader of Prayer and helped the Pastor as a Lay Minister until 2018. “Helping St. Charles Parish and School, Frex said, was the greatest privilege anyone could have.”

Survivors include his loving wife of 68 years, Arlene; three children, Jeanne (Steve) Mueller, Jerry (Toni) Furlano, and Janice (John) Topp; daughter-in-law, Lori Furlano; grandchildren, Sarah (Dan) Fulop-Furlano, Rebecca Furlano, Ryan (Nicki) Mueller, Linzi (Mike) Washtock, Nick Furlano, Gina (Jacob Podkaminer) Furlano, and Maria, Jackson, and Maddi Topp; great-grandchildren, Marek, Mila, Nika, Hudson, Harvey, Ava, Miles, Leon, and Luke; three siblings, Greg (Evie) Furlano, Marie Deja, and Joe (Avis) Furlano; sister-in-law, Anna Pedretti; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Frex was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Frank; siblings, Rose Kimball, Cel Falada, Nuncie Furlano, Paul Furlano, Kate Sallander, and Jennie Brendel.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 12:30pm, Friday, December 16, 2022, at St. Charles Catholic Church in Genoa. Burial will follow in the Stoddard Village Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 10:30am until the time of Mass, Friday, at the church.

Frex did not want flowers at his funeral; in accordance with this directive, memorials may be given to St. Charles Catholic Church in Genoa or Catholic Charities of La Crosse.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff at Creamery Creek Assisted Living and Gundersen Hospice for the compassionate and loving care given to our beloved Frex.

Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, Woodruff Chapel, La Crosse, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at www.FredricksonFuneralHomes.com