Leonard D. Felts, Thomas A. Gault, Arlie E. Jenks, Ronald L. Markin, Marcella Shutter Shaw, Loretta Jackson
Leonard D. Felts
Leonard David Felts, 91, of Tomah, passed away on Thursday, June 18, 2009, at the Morrow Memorial Home in Sparta. He was born Aug. 23, 1917, to Avery and Della (Zimmerman) Felts in Davis, IL. He graduated from the Monticello High School. He was united in marriage to Elizabeth “Betty” Goff on Sept. 27, 1939, in Tomah.
He was a U.S. Army veteran serving during WWII serving in the European Theatre. He worked for and retired from the Veterans Administration in 1978. He was a charter member of the Tomah Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Betty; two sons, Garnet “Stoney” (Julie) Felts of Tomah, Eugene (Colleen) of Rockford, IL; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a brother, Leo (Roberta) of Freeport, IL; a sister, Charlotte (Lester) Flack of Lena, IL, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A funeral service was held today (Monday), June 22, at 11 a.m. at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau St., Tomah. Pastor Ronald Tobin officiated. Burial was in Oak Grove Cemetery.
Relatives and friends called on Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. and today from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home.
Thomas A. Gault
TOMAH — Thomas A. Gault, 61, of Tomah, passed away peacefully Monday, June 15, 2009, at the Tomah VA Medical Center.
He was born on Jan. 10, 1948, to Robert and Mae Gault in Eau Claire, WI. Tom served 22 years in the U.S. Army, including two tours in Vietnam with the Special Forces. He then went on to be a top recruiter in the states of Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana. Tom finished his service as a Sergeant First Class.
Tom is survived by his wife, Jeanne (nee Todd) Gault; three sons, Mitch (Angie) Gault of Holmen, Matt (Kari) Gault of Cottage Grove, and Tim (Liliya) Gault of Chino Hills, CA; two stepchildren, Lance and Morgan; six grandchildren, Jaden, Carter, Spencer, Alexis, Lance Jr. and Leah; and his mother-in-law, Elaine Rosenthal.
Tom loved golfing, fishing, baseball, the Packers, American history, politics and his family. He will be greatly missed.
A private memorial service will be held in his honor.
Arlie E. Jenks
Arlie Eugene Jenks, 78, of Tomah, joined his wife in heaven on Thursday, June 18, 2009, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Tomah. He was born Aug. 21, 1930. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. He attended Sherman Burroughs High School in China Lake, CA.
He was united in marriage to Darlene Peth, Feb. 21, 1953, at the family farm. She preceded him in death on May 31, 2009. Arlie enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1951 and served his country for 20 years. He served in Thailand during the Vietnam War and was stationed in Germany for two overseas tours. He helped coach Little League and worked as a sports official for several years, refereeing for all levels of sports from children to pro athletes, and he refereed for the Harlem Globetrotters. After retirement, he worked at the VA Medical Center in laundry services and later in security.
Arlie enjoyed woodworking and bowling. He was a member of Curtis-McNutt V.F.W. Post #1382.
He is survived by a son, Arlie Jr. (Debbie) of La Crosse; two daughters, Donette (Jerry) Mashin and Constance “Connie” (Harley) Nicks, both of Tomah; eight grandchildren, Tim Jenks of La Crosse, Alex Jenks of St. Louis, MO, Shawna Anderson (fiancé Daren Moran) of DeForest, Greg Gorbet, James Nicks (Danielle) of New Auburn, and Jacqueline (fiancé Robert Van Erp) Nicks of Wausau, Travis Mashin of Sacramento, CA, and Diana (Dan) Montoya of Denver, CO; 11 great-grandchildren, Garrett, Delsie, Tiffanie, Roberta, Kyle, Alicia, Austin, Dakota, Cheyenne, Alex and Angel; two brothers, Roger (Eileen) Pasch and Robert Pasch, both of Janesville; three sisters-in-law, Shirley Peth and Mary Jane Peth, both of Tomah, and Aleda (Gene) Moseley of Warrens, and a brother-in-law, Larry (Marlene) Peth of Tomah, many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his stepfather, Elmer Pasch, and his mother, Margaret Jenks-Pasch; his wife, Darlene; a brother, Derald; two brothers-in-law, DeVere and Gary Peth.
Funeral services were held Saturday, June 20, at 10 a.m. at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, 525 Superior Ave., Tomah. Pastor Donald R. Buch officiated. Burial with military honors by Curtis-McNutt V.F.W. Post #1382 was in Oak Grove Memorial Gardens, Tomah.
Relatives and friends called on Saturday at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of the service.
The Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau St., Tomah, assisted the family with arrangements.
Ronald L. Markin
Ronald L. Markin, 67, of Tomah, died, Thursday, June 18, 2009, at the VA Medical Center in Tomah. He was born April 23, 1942, to Lester and Agnes (Tesky) Markin in Lodi, WI. Out of high school, he joined the U.S. Navy and served during the Cuban Missile Crisis. After his military career he worked as a Operating Engineer for Rezin’s Construction and other local construction companies. In the early 1980s he purchased his father’s milk route and drove for several years before returning to construction work.
He would be described as an outdoorsman, especially enjoying hunting, fishing and camping. He was generous and kind to others, keeping a “watchful eye” on those that he loved most. He enjoyed being surrounded by friends and family and will be remembered for living life to its fullest.
After his military career he worked as a Operating Engineer for Rezin’s Construction and other local construction companies. In the early 1980s he purchased his father’s milk route and drove for several years before returning to construction work.
He would be described as an outdoorsman, especially enjoying hunting, fishing and camping. He was generous and kind to others, keeping a “watchful eye” on those that he loved most. He enjoyed being surrounded by friends and family and will be remembered for living life to its fullest.
He is survived by two sons, Gregory (girlfriend Christina) and Todd (Mischell), both of Tomah; two grandchildren, Matthew and Nicholas; his mother, Agnes of Warrens; a sister, Laurel (Arthur) Hathaway of Warrens; three uncles, Bill (Virginia) Markin of Eau Claire, Clifton Markin of California, and Rueben Tesky of Marshfield; other cousins, relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Lester.
A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, June 25, at 7 p.m. at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau St., Tomah. Pastor Mark Pittman will officiate. Burial will be in the Warren Mills Cemetery with military honors at a later date.
Relatives and friends are invited to call on Thursday at the funeral home from 4 p.m. until the time of the service.
Marcella Shutter Shaw
Marcella Shutter Shaw, 98, of Tomah, WI, passed away, Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at the Tomah Health Care Center.
Marcella was born in Milwaukee on February 4, 1911 to Benjamin and Winnifred (Smith) Tremain. She grew up and attended grade school in New Lisbon and graduated from High School in Hustler. She was united in marriage to Floyd “Stub” Shutter and together they ran Shutter’s store in Tomah. Stub was killed in an automobile accident leaving Marcella to raise two young boys and run the store alone. Many years later she married Thomas Shaw.
Marcella owned and operated the store for over 30 years. She sold the store to her son Robert and attended college in La Crosse and earned a degree in Special Education. Marcella interviewed for a position at Whitney School in Green Bay. During the interview, she was offered a position, she accepted with a stipulation that she receive a season ticket to the Green Bay Packers. She was given a ticket and continued teaching at Whitney School for many years. When she retired, Marcella became the director of volunteers for the gift shop at the Bellin Hospital in Green Bay as well as assisting at the information desk at the Bellin School of Nursing.
Marcella is survived by her son Robert “Bob” (Deanne) Shutter of Tomah; a daughter-in-law, Jeanne Shutter of Madison; grandchildren, Robert “Rocky” Shutter of Tomah, WI, Dann (Mary) Shutter of Tomah, WI, Brad (Michelle) Shutter of Plymouth, WI, Lance (Mary) Shutter, Hollie (Mark) Engman, Erica (Steve) Hill, and Kane (Kim) Shutter all of Madison, WI; great grandchildren, Melissa, Marc, Kelsey, Alex, Sam, Jacob, Brett, Collier, Haley, Marci, and Sedona; one great-great grandchild, Jayda; a nephew, John Tremain; along with many dear friends.
Marcella was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands Floyd Shutter; and Thomas Shaw; one son, Richard “Dick” Shutter; a brother and sister-in-law, Robert (Eleanor) Tremain; and a nephew, Don Tremain.
Private graveside funeral services will be held at the Hustler Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be given in Marcella’s memory. The Torkelson Funeral Home of Tomah is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are available at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
Loretta Jackson
Loretta Jackson, 96, of Tomah, passed away Friday, June 19, 2009, at the Morrow Home in Sparta.
Loretta was born on May 8, 1913 on the family farm west of Tomah. She was the second child of Arthur Drowatzky and Anna Marie Joffer. She was united in Holy Matrimony to Alvin Jackson in 1934 in Shennington. Loretta and Alvin raised a family of five children in Tunnel City. She spent most of her life as a loving homemaker and mother until Alvin’s death in 1966. She took a job at the V. A. hospital in Tomah working in the dietary department until her retirement in 1975.
Loretta was a talented lady. She loved doing all kinds of crafts including rosemaling, quilting, knitting, crocheting, sewing, and making ceramics. She was also an avid gardener raising vegetables and beautiful flowers. But above all raising her family was her most cherished activity.
Loretta will be sadly missed by many friends and her family including her children, Lois (Duane) Prise of Tomah; Shirley (Roger) Protz of Tomah; Karen (Michael) Penneau of Nashotah; Stanley (Shirley) Jackson, of Bradenton, FL; and Gordon (Kristine) Jackson, Portage. Her grandchildren are Eric (Mary) Prise, Kari (John) Steinhoff, Kurt (Denise) Prise, Karla (Dan) Welch, Kristin Micheel, Rebecca (Gordon) Korthals, Bobbi (Steve) Goodman, Diane (Chris) Muller, Susanne Penneau, Andrea Todd, Jay Penneau, Timothy (Sarah) Jackson, Nathaniel (Norma) Jackson, and Patrick Jackson. She is survived by two sisters, Grace Von Gunten of Waupaca, WI and Rita Schroeder of Sparta. She is also survived by twenty-three great-grandchildren, one great great-grandchild, and many other relatives and friends.
Loretta was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Alvin; one brother Linus Drowatzky; her sister-in-law Alice Drowatzky; two brothers-in-law, Lloyd Von Gunten and Harold Schroeder; and one great-granddaughter Elizabeth Micheel.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, June 24, at 1 p.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Tomah. Pastor William Rice will officiate. Burial will follow in the Mt. Vernon Cemetery, Tomah. Family and friends are invited for visitation Tuesday, June 23, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah. Online condolences may be offered at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.

