"As a young?un he was a bit of a wild child. As Patty would say, ?he?s lucky he?s cute?. That wild child grew up to be a love-able and loving adult. I wish I could give him a big hug ... maybe later. Uncle Tim"
In loving memory of
Jason D. Poser
December 11, 1972 - January 26, 2021
Jason Duvall Poser, age 48, passed away peacefully January 26, 2021 at home surrounded by his family following a recent diagnosis of a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
Jason said he had a good life, and those who knew Jason say he lived a good life. Both are true. Born December 11, 1972, he was raised by loving parents, Al and Patricia Poser, in Onalaska, Wisconsin. He was inquisitive and adventurous from the start. Growing up he was known to disassemble household items to see how they worked, build various contraptions, and spend time outdoors - often with his lifelong friend Andrew Sobota. He was also known for his artistic talent and warmhearted humor.
Jason did not wait to enjoy life. He cycled the bluffs and ice fished on the Mississippi backwaters, kayaked in Door County, surfed and scuba dived in Hawaii, and spent several years in Montana telemark skiing, snowboarding, fly fishing, and exploring the backroads with his on-off road motorcycle - while also earning his B.S. in Marketing and Business Administration in 2003 from the University of Montana Missoula and working in Whitefish.
In 2007, he returned to the Midwest to earn his Master of Science degree in Geographic Information Science (GIS) from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. There he met his classmate and future wife, Greta (Bernatz) Poser. They went on to have 13 wonderful years together, spending time in Stoddard, Wisconsin and living in Winona since their marriage in 2014. It didn't matter the activity, they never ceased to enjoy each other's company - whether it was a weekend road trip, solving a GIS problem together, or their Valentine's Day dates at a hardware store. He was a loving and thoughtful husband and consistent source of encouragement and fun.
Always young at heart, he maintained an enthusiasm for rockets, remote controls, bonfires, parades, and photography. He built drones and studied geospatial imagery as part of his graduate research, demonstrating his inventiveness, ambition, and ability to problem solve.
Following graduation from Saint Mary's, he became the Land Information Coordinator for Buffalo County. The work became a passion, as he advocated for land records modernization and applied his innovative spirit and technical expertise to build a strong land records program. This led to his involvement in the Wisconsin Land Information Association, with colleagues he had great respect for and counted as friends. He served on multiple committees and the Board of Directors. He was happy to help where needed, such as mentoring a high school science fair student or lending his photography skills to community projects.
Jason is survived by his wife, Greta; parents, Al Poser of Stoddard, WI, and Patricia (Larry Hanson) Poser of Ferryville, WI; his sisters, Amy (Brian) McClellan of Stoddard, WI and Caitlin (Chad) Kuhn of Onalaska, WI; numerous loving aunts, uncles, and cousins; Greta's parents, Denise and Mike Bernatz; and his dog, Birk. Jason was preceded in death by his grandparents.
There will be a private service for immediate family followed by a fun celebration of Jason's life when it is safe to gather. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family online at www.hofffuneral.com or mailed to Hoff Funeral Home, c/o Jason Poser Family, 3480 Service Dr., Goodview, Minnesota, 55987.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Wisconsin Land Information Association Foundation for student scholarships (https://www.wlia.org/about/wlia-foundation/). Hoff Celebration of Life Center, Goodview, is assisting the family with arrangements.
Tributes
"Greta, Al, Patty, Amy, Caitlin and all the many people who loved Jason, I am so sorry for your loss, for our loss. Although we weren?t close anymore in distance or in everyday life, as cousins we share precious childhood memories, and he was a very special part of our Poser family. Jason was such a great guy... a gentle, hilarious, adventurous, whip smart, gadget loving being who we miss dearly and who will always live in our hearts. "
"Greta, I\'m so sorry to hear of your loss. It sounds like Jason was a wonderful man. It\'s heartbreaking to lose a loved one at any time but I know it\'s especially difficult at this time. From all the tributes it\'s clear that you are surrounded by a loving community. Be well and take care."
"Dear Greta, My heart breaks for you. Please know that you and Jason are in our prayers. Marcy Van Fossen"
"Dear Greta, My heart breaks for you. Please know that you and Jason are in our prayers. Marcy Van Fossen"
"Al & Patty, I was so sorry to read that Jason had died. I remember him from scouting days. We had so much fun! May God grant you His peace, grace & comfort. My prayers are with you."
"Al & Patricia, and Precious Greta -- What a life lived! What an upbringing! And what a life full of adventure and love in the years since. It is so clear from his story and these photos that he loved you beyond measure Greta - it was gushing from his eyes, smile, and being. I am so very sorry that this planet and the lives of all who loved him are no longer graced with his presence. Heaven knows he left his mark everywhere he went and I am certain we will all be learning from him in all of our years to come... I will be praying for all of you. May God bless and keep you! - Nancy Van Erp, Saint Mary\'s University"
"Greta, I\'m so very sorry for your loss. Jason sounds like an absolutely wonderful man. Cherish the memories and know we are all praying for you!"
"I was sad to hear of Jason\'s passing. I worked with Jason many years ago at UWL. He was always a determined young man, very respective of others. He was a sensitive young person, I was very impressed by all of the things he accomplished in his personal and professional life. Prayers, June Reinert "
"What a great guy. Jason was so dedicated to his profession and to Buffalo County. I will miss him greatly"
"Patty and Al, We are very sorry for your loss. We only met him once when he was a little guy on a sandbar in Brownsville but he definitely became a fine adult. Al, I informed your Brookfield buddies, Turner and Hesse. Treasure your memories. Jack and Janet Miller"
" Al, so sorry to hear of the passing of your son. Am praying for you and family to enjoy God\'s peace and comfort . Good friend, Bill Floyd"
" Al, so sorry to hear of the passing of your son. Am praying for you and family to enjoy God\'s peace and comfort . Good friend, Bill Floyd"
"Jason was my little cousin, inquisitive and bubbly. Watching him grow was a treat; he found so much to love about his life. That bright little tow-headed boy said things that make me laugh out loud to this day. I feel so proud of him and so grateful to have known him. "
"Jason was a friend of our son, Erick. We first met him while Erick was going to the University in LaCrosse. He was a great kid and they were adventurous together moving to Montana to live the life ! Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Your grief will always be with you but all the fond and happy memories overflowing in your heart and soul will be with you until you meet again. ??? David & Gretchen Gelbke "
"Margaret and I have the Poser and Bernatz families in our thoughts. So sorry to hear of your loss."
"To Al and Family........I am deeply sorry for you loss and praying for all of you. I didn\'t know Jason, but as college dear friends at UW-L, my wife Kay and I are thinking about you and your family at this time. Jason had a good life and did life the right way. He must have helped so many. Heaven gained a real good one. Please know that you are in our prayers..............Coach Dick Luther "
"I had the opportunity to attend Saint Mary?s as a grad student at the same time as Jason and Greta. Jason made a big impact on me with not only how smart he was, but also with the way in which he interacted with others- always with giddy enthusiasm and a big smile. I feel lucky to have known him and to have shared some adventure stories together around a campfire. He was a remarkable and bright person. Condolences and well wishes to his family. "
"Really really enjoyed working with and knowing Poser at the Sportsman and Ski Haus in Kalispell. A true beacon of light with so much positivity. This truly makes me sad. Peace and love to his family. Kyle Joos. Whitefish, MT "
"Really really enjoyed working with and knowing Poser at the Sportsman and Ski Haus in Kalispell. A true beacon of light with so much positivity. This truly makes me sad. Peace and love to his family. Kyle Joos. Whitefish, MT "
"Jason was just a wonderful young man who loved life and everyone he met along the way. He always greeted you with a smile and a kind word. If there are Angel\'s living among us...Jason would definitely be one. We\'re all going to miss him...but we know hes with our Father in Heaven....God Bless Al and Patty ...your little boy grew up to be a wonderful young man. Sincerely..Mike and Terri Coady"
"Greta, I am so sorry for your loss. Be comforted in the strength and love of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Dian"
"My sympathy to Greta, and all of Jason?s family and friends. He was so passionate about modernizing our land records program in Buffalo County and always supportive of my office. It was truly a joy and honor to have worked with him. He was not only a co-worker but also a great friend. You will be missed. God only takes the best. RIP Jason"
"Jason was an amazing man. He could talk about technology, geography, and GIS for hours and his passion was contagious. I knew him from my time as a student at St Mary?s and working with him while he was at Buffalo County. My condolences to all of his family. He will surely be missed. "
"Jason was an inspiration... always had a smile on his face and some brilliant new idea floating around in his mind. Thank you Jason for all your contributions to our profession and for being so fun to be around. "
"I have so many memories of Jason in the six short years I knew him. He loved geography, technology, problem solving, his friends and family, and of course good BBQ! Jason was a client, a fellow WLIA board member, a colleague, and most importantly a friend. My condolences to his family during this difficult time. Jason left an indelible mark on many of our lives. "
"Jason contributed so much to his profession and to Buffalo County. He will be greatly missed"
"Jason left a indelible impact on his colleagues in the Wisconsin Land Information Association as professional and personal relationships were formed. He will be greatly missed and we truly benefitted from his presence. We intend to honor him as we continue to support education in GIS and strive to attain the success and production he did at Buffalo County. "