Tomah Journal - Obituaries

Nelly Derkez, Edna Marie Jenkins, Edward P. Levy, Mae Robillard

Nelly Derkez

Nelly Derkez, age 71, of rural Camp Douglas, died on Friday Feb. 29, 2008, at her son’s home in Tomah, WI, with her family by her side. She was the daughter of Jesse and Lillie (Close) Martin and was born Sept. 4, 1936, in Waukesha, WI. She was united in marriage to Donald L. Derkez on April 16, 1955. She had lived in the Tomah and Camp Douglas area most of her life. Nelly was a member of the Lone Rock Baptist Church. She enjoyed reading and traveling, and loved to collect ceramic birds.

She is survived by her husband, Donald of Camp Douglas; five sons, Don (Zayna) Derkez of New Lisbon, Todd (Christina) Derkez of Tomah, Tom Derkez of Mauston, Stephan Derkez of Camp Douglas and Terry Derkez of Tomah; a daughter, Kathy Jensen of Racine; a brother, Ben (Lee) Martin; and by six sisters, Lillian Martin, Ruth Bingham, Rosie Straight, Josie Kolinski, Viola Tucker and Betty Mavis; 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Dorothy and Faye, and a brother, Lester.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday March 4, at 2 p.m. at the Lone Rock Baptist Church in rural New Lisbon. Relatives and friends called from noon until the 2 p.m. time of service. Burial was in the Orange Township Cemetery.

Online condolences and information available at www.harefuneralhome.com.

Edna Marie Jenkins

Edna Marie Jenkins, 73, of Tomah and formerly of Red Wing, MN, died Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at her home. She was born Sept. 10, 1934, to James and Daisy (Stillwell) Cesar, Sr. in Kansas City, MO. She was united in marriage to Verne F. Jenkins on June 20, 1953. He preceded her in death on May 15, 1993. She then married William DeLasso in March of 1996. He preceded her in death Jan. 21, 2000. In addition to being a homemaker, she worked as a school cook, as a secretary for Red Wing Optical, and as a Real Estate Agent in Rockport, TX. She was a member of the American Legion Auxilary and the V.F.W. Auxiliary. She was the president of the American Legion Auxiliary in Red Wing, MN, and in Rockport, TX. Edna started the first American Legion Auxiliary Color Guard in the state of Texas. She was a member of the American Legion in Texas, Wisconsin, and Minnesota and was involved in the American Legion Youth Scholarship Program. She was President of District 14 American Legion in Texas for two years. She worked with the Girl Scouts and Campfire Girls. She enjoyed spending time with her family and her special pet Sparkle.

Her hobbies were crossword puzzles, sewing, crafts, and she was an avid bowler.

She is survived by four daughters, Diana Jenkins of Tomah, Cynthia “CeCe” Jenkins of Prairieville, LA, Barbara Avery of Red Wing, MN, and Alicia (David) Blinkiewicz of Tomah; five grandchildren, Candace Ottman and her fiance Dave Zytkoskee of Plymouth, MN, and Brian Ottman, of Fond du Lac, Natalie Avery and her fiance Jake Littfin of Chanhassen, MN, Brandon Avery of Red Wing, MN, and Travis Blinkiewicz, of Tomah; a great-granddaughter, Allison Littfin of Chanhassen, MN; a sister, Carol Harrison of Galveston, TX; two brothers, Harry (Pat) Cesar, Sr. of Rockport, TX, and James Cesar, Jr., of Branson, MO; two sisters-in-law, Cora Mae Gates of Bakersfield, CA, and Dorothy Vetter of Thousand Palms, CA; nieces, nephews, many other relatives and friends.

In addition to her parents and her husbands, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Marian Limbach and Jo Ann Yates; a son-in-law, Brent Avery, and her beloved pet Sparkle.

Relatives and friends are invited to call today (Thursday), March 6, from 5 until 8 p.m. at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau St., Tomah.

A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. Pastor William Swan will officiate.

Memorials may be made to the Hospice Touch, c/o Tomah Memorial Hospital, 321 Butts Ave., Tomah, WI 54660, or to a charity of your choice.

Edward P. Levy

Edward Paul Levy, 76, of Sparta, formerly of Kendall, died Saturday, March 1, 2008, at Rolling Hills Rehabilitation Center. He was born Sept. 23, 1931, to William and Bozena “Bessie” (Filipova) Levy in Kendall. He farmed in the Town of Wellington for many years on the home farm.

He is survived by a sister, Georgia (Daniel) Kallies of Camp Douglas; a brother, Carl of Kenosha; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his twin brother Martin.

A Mass of Christian Burial was Tuesday, March 4, at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Kendall. Rev. Richard C. Dickman officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Relatives and friends called at the church Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of service. The Smith-Nelson Funeral Home of Kendall assisted the family with arrangements.

Mae Robillard

1920-2008

KENOSHA - Mae Robillard, 87, of Pleasant Prairie, died Monday, March 3, 2008, at her home Room 103, St. Joseph’s Home. She was born on May 1, 1920, in Oakdale, WI, the daughter of the late George and Emma (Prell) Batten. She attended schools in Shennington and Camp Douglas. She married Leon Onisim Robillard on Aug. 13, 1938, at St. James Church in Camp Douglas. He preceded her in death on April 8, 1984.

They moved to Kenosha in 1940. She was a charter member of St. Therese Catholic Church and was a member of the Christian Mothers Society. Mae was a member of the Kenosha County Homemakers and also taught knitting to 4-H members in the Pleasant Prairie area. She enjoyed cooking, sewing and most of all gardening and spending time with friends and family.

Mae is survived by her eight children, Leon (Sandy) Robillard and Michael (Susan) Robillard, both of Pleasant Prarieie, Wayne (Carol) Robillard of Laramie, WY, Carol Alter of Pleasant Prairie, Susan (James) Spice of Beach Park, IL, Elinor Robillard of Pardeeville, Therese (Jeffrey) Edgar and Mary Menden, both of Manitowoc; her brothers, Alfred Batten of Luxemburg and Robert Batten of Camp Douglas; and her sister, Grace Eckstein of Dousman; 12 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband and parents; two brothers, Charles and Edgar, and two sisters, Evelyn and June.

A special thanks to St. Joseph’s Home for the loving care of Mae these last five years. In lieu of flowers, memorials for St. Joseph’s Home or St. Therese Catholic Church would be appreciated by the family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, March 8, at 10:30 a.m. from St. Therese Catholic Church with entombment to follow at All Saints Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until service time.

Kenosha Funeral Services, 8226 Sheridan Road, Kenosha, WI 54143, 262-652-1943, is assisting the family with arrangements.