Chippewa Falls Flower Shops

Chippewa Falls WI News

Jan 12, 2018

A local shop's flowers last forever

Luci, Liu and Landon help out at the studio. Once in a while, the whole Bakken clan, including extended families, venture to the Eau Claire-Chippewa Falls area to harvest wild flowers, including dock, tansy and golden knob. During these trips, they get a lot of the flowers they use to dry. They dedicate three to four days harvesting one flower at a time. As fun as it sounds, wild harvesting isn’t as easy as it looks.“There's a science to when you harvest,” Laura says. “Sometimes you have to harvest before flowers even open because as they are drying they continue to open. Sometimes you have to harvest when they're in their full bloom.”The drying technique has a science behind it, too. Flowers can be naturally air dried, pressured in glycerin or silica, or freeze dried. Just like harvesting, timing is essential when drying. “We have brides that contact us on a regular basis saying, ‘I have my wedding bouquet. Can you preserve it now?’” Laura says. “And every time, it breaks my heart to have to say no.” Flowers have to be at just the right condition upon drying. Take roses for example: if they’ve matured too much, Laura says, the petals will start falling off by the time they’re drying. With a freeze dryer, though, it’s likely that this won’t be an issue — she’ll be able to put together arrangements with flowers after weddings and funerals. Laura does not have a freeze dryer, but she’s currently working on convincing Lance to get one.“We’re getting there,” Laura says as she glances at Lance. “I think [I’ve convinced] him.”The Bakkens have created arrangements for more than 800 weddings and special events, and their flowers have traveled to all 50 states and overseas to Puerto Rico, Canada, Ireland, England, Norway and Fiji.For people who get flowers from Dried Flowers Forever, they can keep the Bakkens’ flowers and the memories associated with them, forever.Haidee Chu is an editorial intern at Madison Magazine. (Channel3000.com - WISC-TV3)

Feb 3, 2016

Mary E. (Pratt) Duval

NEW RICHMOND/CHIPPEWA FALLS — Mary E. (Pratt) Duval, 50, of New Richmond, formerly of Chippewa Falls passed away Monday, Feb. 1, 2016, surrounded by her loving family at Westfield Hospital in New Richmond, after a two year fight with cancer. She was born Feb. 26, 1965, in Eau Claire, to Cleo (Olson) and Thomas Pratt Sr. She grew up in Chippewa Falls, and graduated from Chi-Hi, class of 1984. On March 13, 1990, she married Robert “Bob” Duval. They resided in New Richmond, where Mary worked for many years as a pharmacy tech. Mary had a love for all animals, but her passion was her cats, or her “critters,” as she would say. Over the years, Mary rescued dozens of cats. She had two sheds that were converted into dwellings for her critters, fully equipped with all the comforts of home for them. Mary will always be remembered for her bright personality. She lit up any room she entered and was loved by all. At family gatherings, Mary could be found playing with the kids, whether it was board games or full-... (Chippewa Herald)

Feb 3, 2016

Norman R. Happel

La Crosse and their children, Mark (Kathleen) Happel of Verona, Wis., and their sons, Sean, Matthew, Michael and Justin; Susan (Jared) Johnson of Chippewa Falls, Wis., and their children, Allison, Bradyn, Madeline and Steven; son, Jim (Claudine) Happel of Appleton, Wis.; and daughter, Cathy Staege of Kapolei, Hawaii. He was preceded in death by his parents; and siblings, Clarence, Luella (Stoltz), Elmer and George Happel; and also son-in-law, Jim Staege. Funeral services will be 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, at Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah. Pastor Dawn Lindberg will officiate. Burial with full military honors by the Tomah VFW Post 1382 will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery, Tomah. Family and friends are invited for visitation from 10 a.m. until the time of service Thursday at Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Norm’s memory to Peace Lutheran Church, Touch of Home in Tomah, or to the charity of your choice. The family would like to thank all his friends in the greater Tomah community, especially Tim and Mary Larkin, Dianne and Ron Hedrick, Mary Rose, as well as the staff at Touch of Home. (La Crosse Tribune)