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Corlis H. Behrens, Thomas A. Gault, Betty E. Tow

Corlis H. Behrens

Corlis (Corly) Henry Behrens, of Tomah, and recently of La Crosse, passed away peacefully on June 22, 2009, at Bethany Riverside in La Crosse, with family by his side. He was 90 years old.

Corlis was born on March 31, 1919, to Henry and Irene (Wenzel) Behrens in Tomah.

Corlis worked at City Service in Tomah, was in the U.S. Army for five years, then worked at the Tomah locker plant and Burnstad’s as a meat cutter, at the Tomah Veterans Hospital as a nurse’s aide and then worked in the boiler plant at the VA. He later transferred to the VA engineering department and was a repairman.

Corly served in the United States Army during WWII, from 1941 to 1945. He was a sergeant with the 2nd Division, 38th Infantry, Company D on Omaha Beach, June 7, the second day of the invasion. He was in charge of two 30 caliber machine gun crews. His units participated in some of the most horrific fighting as they fought their way out of the beach head and through the hedgerows. He received a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart, among other military awards. He was wounded in France and spent six months in a British hospital.

Corly married Margaret Rischette on Feb. 6, 1946.

Corly was a disabled American veteran and a member of the Tomah American Legion, and he had a lifetime concern for veterans’ issues. He loved to be with his wife and his family, to vacation in northern Wisconsin, play cards, fish, watch baseball on TV, read newspapers and joke books, and visit with relatives, neighbors and friends. He was a hard worker all his life and had an excellent reputation. Corly and Margaret’s marriage was a wonder to behold and they were each devoted to the other. He was a loving husband, a good father and grandfather, and a friend to many. He will be dearly missed.

Survivors include Margaret, his wife of 63 years, and four children: Carmen (Jim) Lennartson, of Winona, MN, Lois (Mike) Gilbert of La Crosse, Bradley (Lois) Behrens of Tomah, and Andy (Kathie) Behrens of Holmen; and also seven grandchildren, John Lennartson of Minneapolis, Ann (Chris) Shaw of Minneapolis, Liza Gilbert of Lake Geneva, Ron Behrens of Minnesota, Dan and Leslie Behrens of Hinckley, MN, and Sam Behrens of Holmen, as well as by five great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his parents, Henry and Irene, and his sister, Evelyn Potts.

Funeral services were today (Thursday), June 25, at the Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah, with visitation from 12-1 p.m., followed by the service at 1 p.m., and burial at Mount Vernon Cemetery. The Torkelson Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Disabled American Veterans.

Online condolences may be sent to torkelsonfuneralhome@yahoo.com.

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 (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.

Betty E. Tow

FAIRMONT, MN. - A Mass of Christian Burial for Betty Tow, 75, of Fairmont, will be at 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 26, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Fairmont. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. today (Thursday) at the Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairmont and one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. There will be a prayer service at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairmont.

Betty (Elizabeth Ann Schultz) Tow went home to be with the Lord on June 22, 2009. Betty was at the lakeshore home she loved with her loving husband at her side when she departed from this earth. Betty was the victim of the ravages of cancer undetected for far too long. When it was discovered, it was a battle Betty could not win. It was her second bout with cancer and it was overwhelming for her. She was taken from us all at a time when she was most content with her life.

Betty was born on May 26, 1934, the daughter of Jesse and Margaret Schultz. At the age of two months as a result of the death of her mother from cancer, Betty was raised by her special aunt and uncle Edward and Rose (Schultz) Maum. Betty grew up in Oakdale, WI, and went to country school. In 1953, she graduated from Tomah High School. She moved to Madison to begin working for Wisconsin Bell Telephone Company. While living in Madison, she met James Tow. They were married Oct. 26, 1957, making their first home in Madison. Betty was then transferred to Mankato, MN, with the telephone company, and later transferred to Albert Lea, MN, where she was a Group Chief Operator. She worked for the telephone company for 18 years. In 1971, Jim and Betty moved to Fairmont to their home on Shoreacres Drive. Betty had jobs with Hillestead Drug Store, Johnson Drug and Photo Gazelle. In 1984, she began working at Shoemakers Jewelry in the Fairmont Mall. She joined Thompson and Haugen Jewelers in 1996 and was working there until her death. She loved the jewelry store and fine jewelry. She loved dogs, especially poodles, and had 10 in her lifetime. Betty was a member of St. Ambrose Circle, a faithful member of St. John Vianney Catholic Church.

She is survived by her husband and best friend, James Russell Tow; sisters, Margaret Rezin, Marian (Lawrence) Sowle, Eileen (Delbert) Gruen, Donna (James) Fiedler; sisters-in-law, Geraldine Schultz, Diane Schultz and Lucille Tow; brothers-in-law, Donald Tow, Raymond Tow, Herbert Banton; many nieces and nephews.

She was proceded in death by her parents, Ed and Rose Maum, Jesse and LaVonne Schultz; brothers, Arthur Schultz and Daniel Schultz; sister, Winnifred Schultz; brothers-in-law, Harold (Shorty) Tow and Vernon Tow; brother-in-law, Robert Rezin, and sister-in-law, Norma Jane Banton.

The family has requested that memorials be sent in her name to the American Cancer Society, Nettifee Animal Shelter, or United Hands Hospice www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net.