Congratulations to Ed Biddick and his wife Jean, our 2012 Maple Leaf Parade Marshals!
Ed Biddick was born in southwest WI, the youngest of five children. Biddick attended Mining School, later named the University of Wisconsin, Platteville, where he received a degree in Civil Engineering in 1958. Ed is a proud husband to Jean and father of Robert, Lynn and Debra. Six grandchildren and two great grandchildren complete a very full and happy family!
After Biddick retired from his 38-year career with the DOT in La Crosse, he volunteered at a local hospital for seven years. He and his wife continue to volunteer at the American Red Cross Blood Drives, as well as their Church. The family spends any free time on the river boating, camping, beaching, and houseboating. Their grandchildren continue with the tradition they have started.
Oktoberfest has always been a big part of Ed and Jean’s lives as they were Grenadiers in 1990 and served with the Corps for six years. They were named Oktoberfest “Volunteers of the Year” in 2001 and continued to drive the Oktoberfest float in many parades.
Congratulations to Jane Molstad and her husband Jim, our 2012 Torchlight Parade Marshals!
Jane Molstad spent her childhood in North Prairie, WI, and graduated High School from Mekwonago Union in 1965, then from UW-La Crosse in 1969. Jane taught two years at Wayland Academy, coached track and field, field hockey, volleyball, and basketball. She was also the coach-supervisor at the 1st ever Milwaukee Bucks girls camp!
Molstad taught Physical Education for 31 years in the Logan School District from 1971-2002 and was the original coach for the first girls teams in gymnastics and track and field! Jane has been heavily involved in Logan’s school district as a chairperson of the curriculum committee, lifetime sports, founding advisors of Ranger Renaissance, was a member of the Wall of Fame committee, and headed the Sunshine Fund.
After retirement in 2012, Jane made the Wall of Fame in 2055, become a member of the Logan Alumni Association Board of Directors and was president of that Board for the past years. Jane is also a member of the French Island Beautification committee, a volunteer at the Heart Association, and for nine years has been a “Host Mom” for the La Crosse Loggers baseball team!
Jane’s hobbies include traveling to visit her sons Eric, Jon, & Jay and grandchildren Michael, and Max, as well as working with ceramics, crocheting, and going to Logger games.
Do you know someone that would be a good Parade Marshal?
Someone that is dedicated to the Coulee Region, who is an active member in our community, and who will promote Oktoberfest and La Crosse in a respectable fashion is the best fit! Visit our Nominate a Parade Marshal page (click downloadable PDF when available) and print off a nomination form to submit today!
| Year |
Maple Leaf Parade Marshal |
Year |
Torchlight Parade Marshal |
| 1961 |
Esther Domke* |
1971 |
Vern Bloss* |
| 1962 |
Joan Engh |
1972 |
Margaret Niles* |
| 1963 |
Jack Martin* |
1973 |
Ray Nibbe* |
| 1964 |
Frank Italiano* |
1974 |
Burton Smith* |
| 1965 |
Marge Lienlokken* |
1975 |
Roscoe Short |
| 1966 |
Jim Conway |
1976 |
Deak Swanson |
| 1967 |
Babe Weigent* |
1977 |
Bob Allen* |
| 1968 |
Paul Kreutz* |
1978 |
Wes Denny |
| 1969 |
Kootch Carroll* |
1979 |
Lynden Gjerde* |
| 1970 |
Palmer Hanson* |
1980 |
Bob McCann* |
| 1971 |
Ed Quillin* |
1981 |
Dave Skogen |
| 1972 |
Fred Abraham* |
1982 |
Howie Birnbaum* |
| 1973 |
Alma Burns Zahn* |
1983 |
Frank Butkovich* |
| 1974 |
Charlie Kearns* |
1984 |
Terry Erickson |
| 1975 |
Fred Kramer* |
1985 |
V.A. Krajewski* |
| 1976 |
Jean Gitz Bassett |
1986 |
Robert Gavin* |
| 1977 |
Paul "Pip" Wuest* |
1987 |
Gerald Besel |
| 1978 |
Dale Rudy |
1988 |
Jack Kraft* |
| 1979 |
Gordon Feinberg* |
1989 |
Mark Doolittle |
| 1980 |
L. Peter Groves |
1990 |
Dick Morkwed* |
| 1981 |
John Alexander* |
1991 |
Elwood Harebo |
| 1982 |
David Nudd* |
1992 |
Joe Addis* |
| 1983 |
Phil Quillin |
1993 |
Mary Patros* |
| 1984 |
Russ Cleary* |
1994 |
Ken Graves |
| 1985 |
Raymond Bice* |
1995 |
Randy Eddy, Sr. |
| 1986 |
Jim Jacobson* |
1996 |
Donna Berry |
| 1987 |
Bob Soules* |
1997 |
Dave Berger |
| 1988 |
Noel Richards |
1998 |
Dick Merfeld |
| 1989 |
John Flanagan* |
1999 |
Mike Abraham |
| 1990 |
Lyle Anderson* |
2000 |
Bud Loomis & Dave Loomis |
| 1991 |
Bob Wilhelm |
2001 |
Ken Wing |
| 1992 |
Edgar Kroner |
2002 |
Terry LaFleur |
| 1993 |
Dick Hackett |
2003 |
Merl Strong |
| 1994 |
Bob Marck* |
2004 |
Joe Maier |
| 1995 |
Bill Hoel |
2005 |
Arland Peterson |
| 1996 |
Terry Peterslie |
2006 |
Scott Erickson |
| 1997 |
Pat Moore |
2007 |
Steven Hole |
| 1998 |
Al Townsend |
2008 |
Paul Stuhr |
| 1999 |
Dolly Ozburn |
2009 |
Jerry Thompson |
| 2000 |
Elmer Grassman |
2010 |
Bill Bush |
| 2001 |
Roger Harring |
2011 |
Paul Borsheim |
| 2002 |
Mike Kearns |
2012 |
Jane Molstad |
| 2003 |
Marty Severson |
|
|
| 2004 |
Max Kottmer* |
|
|
| 2005 |
Tom Pahs |
|
|
| 2006 |
John Stokes |
|
|
| 2007 |
Dave Clements |
|
|
| 2008 |
George Smith |
|
|
| 2009 |
Tom Thibodeau |
|
|
| 2010 |
Ardie Schock |
|
|
| 2011 |
Jim McGettigan |
|
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| 2012 |
Ed Biddick |
|
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* Fondly remembered.