Val V. Chilsen, 77, of Onalaska and formerly of Merrill, died on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2004, at the Franciscan Skemp Healthcare Center, La Crosse, after a brief illness.

He was born on Jan. 27, 1927, in Merrill, to W.B. and Margaret (Sullivan) Chilsen. Val attended the Crosier Brother Seminary in Onamia, Minn., before graduating from Merrill High School in 1945.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Germany with the Occupation Forces after World War II. He married Shirley Kislinger in Merrill in 1949 while a student at Marquette University, and he graduated in 1953 with a degree in journalism. He was the editor-in-chief of the Merrill Daily Herald until it was sold to the Wausau Daily Record-Herald in 1968. Val later worked for Menard Junior College in Merrill and for the Area Agency on Aging, also in Merrill. He moved to Onalaska in 1978 to work for Western Wisconsin Health Systems Agency until his retirement in 1984.

Val was active in numerous civic and governmental organizations in both Merrill and Onalaska. He was instrumental in the formation and growth of both the Onalaska Area Food Basket and the Hunger Task Force. He also was a proud member of the Silver M Club and Golden M Club in Merrill, and he was a lifelong Packers fan. In his last years, he was a guest columnist for the Onalaska Community Life and the "St. Patrick's Pipeline," sharing his perspective on life with others. His columns were an inspiration to many in the community.

Val is survived by one brother, state Sen. Walter John Chilsen of Wausau; two daughters, Janice of Ellsworth, Maine, and Deb (Jeff) Olson of Rothschild; two sons, Joe (Pat) of Onalaska and James (Claudia Grosz) of Evanston, Ill.; and seven grandchildren, Seth Chilsen, David, John and Mindy Olson of Rothschild, Abby and Sam Chilsen of Onalaska and Maxwell Grosz Chilsen of Evanston, Ill. He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Shirley Chilsen, in 1996, by two brothers, William and Patrick, and a sister, Elizabeth.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2004, at 11:30 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church, Onalaska. The Rev. William Matzek will officiate. Friends may call at the church on Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and again on Thursday from 10 a.m. until the time of services. A prayer service will be held on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. Private graveside services will be at a later time. A memorial service also will be held in Merrill at the Bell Tower Chapel on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 11 a.m.