Bernard "Bud" La Rose, 71, of Eau Claire, passed away on Saturday, December 22, 2012, after a long battle with cancer. Bud was born on October 22, 1941 in Chippewa Falls to Lester and Rachel (Link) La Rose. He graduated from Menomonie High School with the class of 1960 and joined the National Guard from 1958 to 1962. He spent 2 years at Eau Claire Vocational School in machine shop and worked for the Wacker Corporation in Hartford, WI as a machinist. In 1969, Bud left Wacker and co-owned the Elk Lake Tavern until 1979 when illness forced him to sell the bar. He also worked for the University of Eau Claire from 1981 until his retirement in 1991. Bud married Kathleen Stewart in 1964. They later divorced. In 1998, he met Sally Marcott-King. They married in 2004 and he inherited a ready-made family of a daughter and two grandchildren. With a love of adventure and his bucket list, Bud and Sally traveled to many places throughout the U.S., took several trips to Hawaii to visit their special Hawaiian family, four cruises to the Caribbean and spending many winters in St. Petersburg, Florida with Sally's brother, Mike. But, number one on his wish list was swimming in the Panama Canal, and that he did...in the ships's swimming pool while going through the locks! Bud was a member of St. Olaf's Catholic Church and a volunteer at several places throughout Eau Claire. As he got older, he said that he hung his hunting rifle back on the fireplace and took up knitting newborn baby hats for both local hospitals; he was very proud of that. He donated 500 + of those hats. Bud is survived by his wife, Sally; daughter, Lori Jepson of Chippewa Falls; brother William "Bill" (Cheryl) La Rose of Eau Claire; sister, Barbara (Chris) Hamm of Menomonie; two grandchildren, Kayla and Tyler Jepson; very special aunt, Mary Gleason of Bradenton, FL; his longtime fishing partner, Eric Erickson of Marshfield, along with Eric's wife Gloria Erickson, who was Bud's listening ear; and many nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Marion Martinez; and brother-in-law, Michael Marcott. Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 28, 2012, at St. Olaf Catholic Church, 3220 Monroe St. in Eau Claire, with Father Brian Konopa officiating. Interment will follow in Lakeview Cemetery, Eau Claire. Visitation will be one hour prior to the Mass on Friday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the L.E. Phillips Senior Center, 1616 Bellinger Street Eau Claire, WI 54703.

Service Information

Cemetery

Lakeview Cemetery 1500 Buffington Drive Eau Claire WI 54703

Visitation

Friday, December 28 2012 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

St. Olaf Catholic Church 3220 Monroe St. Eau Claire WI 54703

Mass of Christian Burial

Friday, December 28 2012 11:00 AM

St. Olaf Catholic Church 3220 Monroe St. Eau Claire WI 54703