By Geri Parlin
For the Tribune
For Kathy Markos, family is everything. And that includes building a Christmas village that represents her family history and much of the history of La Crosse.
One of her favorite buildings is painted blue â her father Louieâs favorite color â and has been altered to resemble Markos Jewelers at Seventh and Mississippi streets, which was her dadâs store until he died in 1977.
She originally acquired the building thinking it would be part of a train setting but decided it had to become part of her family village.
Also in the village is her dadâs sister, the late Mary Patros. âIâve got Aunt Mary in my village as an old-fashioned photographer and sheâs taking pictures of my kids,â she said, something Patros did many times in her career as a photographer.