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Vern D. “Babe” Gebhardt, Esther Leis, Lois A. Pingel, Teresa Williams (Wilkinson)

Vern D. “Babe” Gebhardt

Vern D. “Babe” Gebhardt, 72 of Warrens, died Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at St. Mary‘s Hospital, Rochester, MN. He was born October 22, 1936 to Edwin and Sadie (Goetzka) Gebhardt at Warrens. He attended the Warrens Elementary School. He was married to Nell Griner at the Coolidge Baptist Church in Coolidge, GA. Vern worked for Felton Manufacturing and as a mosser. He planted his first 20 acres of cranberry beds in 1969, and has been the owner and operator of Vern Gebhardt’s Cranberry Marsh. He enjoyed building cranberry bogs and inventing and manufacturing new equipment to be used on the marsh. Vern had all sorts of interests; he enjoyed traveling with Nell in their motor home and spending time in Georgia. He watched the lift off of the space shuttle in Florida. He loved sitting on his Dozer and sculpting dirt. Any project he started he wouldn’t stop until it was finished. He raised catfish on his marsh, he loved to garden, and to plant flowers and landscape. He had a love for Great Danes and had a special companion with his dog Blue. He will be deeply missed by all that knew and loved him.

He is survived by his wife, Nell, 4 children: Stephen (Betty), Gina (Todd) Potter, Kelly (Joy), Randy (Michelle) all of Warrens; 10 grandchildren: Heather (Tyler) Moore, Nicholas (Tiffany), Nathan, all of Warrens; Jared McConnell of LaCrosse, Kristine (Gary) Lund of Black River Falls; Blake Warthan, Krista, Kade, Riley, Reese all of Warrens; 4 great-grandchildren: Jazmine Gebhardt, Alexa Moore, Justiss Lund, and Libby Leis, a brother, Eugene (Evelyn), of Warrens; a sister, Elaine Morton of Warrens; a nephew, Robert Gebhardt of Warrens; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Doug Griffin of Warrens; Juanita Gebhardt of Warrens, Gerald (Marsha) Griner of Pavo, GA, Earl Griner of Coolidge, GA, Jenice (Joe) Hall of Coolidge, GA, June Griner of Coolidge, GA, and Teresa (Reggie) Carver of Hawkinsville, GA, nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 brothers, Edwin Jr., and Gordon; 3 sisters, Vivian Van Voorhees, Arlene Babbitt and Marrianne Griffin; a brother-in-law Benjie Griner, a niece Eileen Schroeder, and a nephew, John Langland.

Funeral services will be held Monday, July 27, 2009, 1 p.m. at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, Tomah. Pastor David Oakes will officiate. Burial will be in Warren Mills Cemetery at Warrens. Relatives and friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Monday from 11 a.m. until time of the service.

Esther Leis

Esther Leis, 87, of Kendall died Friday July 24, 2009 at her home. She was born to Herman and Mary (Baumbach) Breitenfield on November 28, 1921 on her family’s farm in Cashton. She was a member of the Cashton High School Graduating Class of 1939. She was united in marriage to Albert A. Leis on April 9, 1942 at St. Peter’s & St. Paul’s Catholic Church at Pine Hollow. He preceded her in death on May 28, 2001. She and her husband farmed in the area known as “Little Ireland” since 1947. Esther loved flowers. She had a large garden and grew a large amount of peas and pickles. She was a terrific cook and made delicious pies and super homemade bread. She enjoyed reading and writing poetry. Most important to Esther was her family, she loved her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, and was always a willing babysitter.

She was a faithful member of St. Joseph’s the workman Catholic Church and a member of the PCCW.

She is survived by 3 sons, Robert (Margaret), Ronald (Patty), and James Leis’ all of Kendall; 3 daughters Sister Esther Leis, FSPA of LaCrosse; Ann (Christopher) Solchenberger of Cazenovia; and Theresa Leis of Kendall, 7 grandchildren, Mary Sue Erickson of Kendall, Scott Ziese of Lodi; Debra Denman of Kendall, Brent Ziese (Jenica) of Edgerton; Jeannie Leis-Hanson of Camp Douglas, Joni (Matt) Graewin of Kendall; Jacqueline Leis of Kendall; 9 great-grandchildren Danille (Alexander) Vlasak of Onalaska, Diana (Peter) Nicholson of Elroy, Jay Ziese of Janesville, Ian Erickson of Kendall, Gabrielle Ziese of Lodi, Hunter Ziese of Edgerton, Martina, Jaylene, and Estanna Graewin all of Kendall, 3 great-great grandchildren Natasha Nicholson and Alec Nicholson, and Carter Vlasak, 2 brothers-in-law George (Delores) Leis of Cashton and Peter Leis of Sparta, 2 sisters-in-law Theresa Schaub of Middle Ridge and Gracia Leis of Sparta, many other nephews, nieces and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a son, Roger, a daughter, Catherine, a sister, Gladys Korn, 3 brothers Victor, Jennings, and Donald Breitenfield

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, July 28, 2009, 11 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Father Richard C. Dickman will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Relatives and friends are invited to call at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Monday from 2 until 4 p.m.. and from 7 until 9 p.m, and on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.

The Smith-Nelson Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangement

Lois A. Pingel

Lois A. Pingel, 84, of Tomah, died Thursday, July 23, 2009, at Touch of Home Assisted Living in Tomah. She was born April 29, 1925, to Ralph and Lula Damerow) Pingel on the home farm in the town of Tomah, Monroe County. She was baptized on April 25, 1925, and confirmed in the Lutheran faith on April 2, 1939, at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran School. She attended the Sunny Ridge Schoolhouse and was a member of the Tomah Senior High School Graduating Class of 1943. Shortly after graduating, she took a job at Van Pak, and worked there until her retirement. Lois enjoyed taking trips, she had many travel companions and traveled all across the United States, and overseas. While she was at home, she enjoyed spending her time taking long walks. She collected teddy bears and Beanie Bears. Lois was a faithful and devoted member of St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church. She loved spending time with her family, especially her nieces, nephews, her great-nieces and nephews, and her great-great-nieces and nephews.

She is survived by her brother Howard (Laurita) of Tomah and her sister Marie (Gene) Pedersen of Warrens, nieces and nephews: Debra (Jeff) Verkuilen of Appleton, Chris (Jay) Lewis of Tomah, Robert Pedersen of Rio and De Anna (Ed) Raiten of Tomah; 10 great-nieces and nephews: Jenna (Matt) Olson of Tomah, Ryan (Cathy) Brookman of Tomah, Courtney Pedersen of Owatonna, MN, Tracy (her fianceé Steve Fuerst) Verkuilen of Appleton, Jason (Heather) Verkuilen of Appleton, Sean Verkuilen of Appleton, Jamie (Joshua) Mitchell of Tomah, Heather Raiten of NC, Melanie Raiten of Tomah, and Jesse Raiten of Tomah, in addition to many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 27, at 11 a.m. from St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, 525 Superior Ave., Tomah. Pastor David T. Brandt will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, Tomah.

Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home on Sunday from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. and at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service.

Virgie M. Verwiebe, 97, of Kendall, died July 25, 2009 at the Heritage Manor in Elroy. She was born June 28, 1912 to James and Edith (Hancock) Wood in Cornell, WI. She was united in marriage to Harry Frank Verwiebe on Sept. 15, 1942. Harry and Virgie farmed on South Ridge for many years before moving to Kendall in 1982. Harry preceded her in death on Aug.20, 1987. Virgie worked for the Tillman’s Chicken Factory for many years than at Ray-O-Vac in Wonewac until her retirement. She used to love dancing the Polka, Waltz, and also ballroom dances with Howie Sturtz Orchestra and for many years could be seen at just about any dance with her friends from around Kendall. She enjoyed playing cards, and visiting with her friends. She was a member of the Birthday Club in Kendall. She was a longtime member of St. John Ev. Lutheran Church in Kendall.

She is survived by a daughter Essem a (William) Lane of Mauston, Arlen (Marian) Verwiebe of Melrose, a son-in-law Edward Melecek of Forrest Lake, MN, 10 grandchildren, Celene Daines of Las Vegas, NV, Thomas Johnson of Elroy, Gaylin (Mary) Johnson of Elroy, Steven Melecek of St. Paul, MN, Anthony (Barb) Melecek of St. Paul, MN, Patricia Meleck of St. Paul, MN, Sara McGarvey of Blaine, WA, Marci Verwiebe of Blaine, WA, Jason Verwiebe of LaCrosse, 20 great-grandchildren, 16 great-great grandchildren, a brother Earl (Reba) Woods of Trenton, Tx, a sister-in-law Norma Loveless of Hayward, many other nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, a daughter Geustina Melecek, 3 sisters, and 6 brothers.

Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 11 a.m. at St. John Ev. Lutheran Church, Kendall. Pastor Fred Fedke will officiate. Burial will be in the South Ridge Cemetery.

Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Smith-Nelson Funeral Home on Tuesday from 4 until 8 p.m. and at the church on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.

Teresa Williams (Wilkinson)

Teresa Williams (Wilkinson), age 37, of Tomah, WI, died on Wednesday, July 22, 2009. She was born on Aug. 24, 1971, to Allen and Kay (Organ) Williams. She was a 1989 graduate of Tomah High School. Teresa graduated from WTC on Dec. 17, 1999, and received her nursing license on Feb. 25, 2000.

She started working at Tomah Memorial Hospital in 1997 as a CNA and was currently working as a Registered Nurse in the OB department. She delivered many babies and will be remembered for her cheery disposition and genuine love for taking care of her patients.

She will be sadly missed by her children, Devyn Rae and Dawson Gary Prielipp; her parents, Kay Williams of Warrens, and Allen (Roberta) Williams of Oakdale; a brother, Rick (Veronica) Williams of Warrens, and their children Tyler, Alex, Mikayla, Eric and Yvette; aunts, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 27, at 11 a.m. at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Kirby. Pastor Philip Enderle will officiate. Burial will follow in the Brookside Cemetery, Millston. Family and friends are invited for visitation on Sunday, July 26, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. at Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah. Family and friends are also invited for visitation on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church. The Torkelson Funeral Home of Tomah is assisting the family with arrangements.

Online condolences are available at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.

Death

Phillip Frye

Phillip Frye, 84, of Morristown, TN, and formerly of Tomah, died July 29, 2008.

Memorial services will be held Wednesday, July 29, 2009, at 1 p.m.. at St. Matthew Ev. Lutheran Church, Kirby. Pastor Phillip Enderle will officiate. Inurnment will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, Tomah.

Relatives and friends are invited to call at the church on Wednesday from noon until time of the service.

The Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, Tomah, assisted the family with arrangements.