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Rose Marie Parr, Gerald “Jerry” E. Rudolph, Bernice V. Thiemke

Rose Marie Parr

Rose Marie Parr, age 85, of Tomah, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009, at the Franciscan Skemp Medical Center in La Crosse. She was born Jan. 24, 1924, in Bloomingdale, WI, the daughter of Otto and Mary (Appleman) Mossholder, the ninth of their 10 children. Her mother died when she was less than 2 years old and she was raised by her father and older sisters. On Oct. 26, 1940, she married Fay Oren Parr, who preceded her in death June 21, 1989.

She resided in Vernon County until about 1948 when the family moved to the Tomah area where she spent the remainder of her life. She was employed for some time at the Badger Café in Tomah. She was active in the Methodist church serving in their volunteer organizations. She was a quilt maker for many years, supplying many of them to her children and grandchildren. She was a genealogist spending many years tracing her ancestors.

She is survived by a son, Jerry (Mickie) Parr of La Valle, and their four children, Jerry Jr. (Sandy) of Byron, MN, Craig (Margaret) of Albuquerque, NM, Brian (Linda) of Warrenville, IL, and Debra Kackley of Fenton, MO; a son, Allen (Sal) Parr of North Port, FL, and their children, Todd of Tomah, Tracy (Heidi) of Warrens, Terry (Andrea) of Onalaska, Cheryl (Rick) O’Keefe of Wisconsin Rapids,Tammy (Jeff) Braiedy of Chanhassen, MN, and David (Gerilynn) Falkosky of Marshfield, and a daughter, Carol Chroninger (Ken Hoff) of Onalaska, and her three children, Amy (Tom) Brieske of Onalaska, Andy (Stef) of Stoddard, and Anita Ruppert (Jeff Fisher) of Sparta; her daughter-in-law, Joan Parr of Tomah, and her three children, Jenny Parr (Darrell Chambers) of Tomah, Lynn (Dennis) Martin of New Lisbon, and Phillip of West Salem; a sister-in-law, Velma Parr of Ontario, WI; 23 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, other relatives and her special friend, Lester Harris of Tomah.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Otto and Mary; her husband, Fay; her son, David; three brothers and six sisters; a special friend, Preston Arity; and a great-granddaughter, Carly Lynann Parr.

Funeral services were today (Monday), Oct. 19, at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Tomah. Pastor William Swan officiated. Burial followed in Oak Grove Cemetery. Family and friends called on Sunday, Oct. 18, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah and today from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church. The Torkelson Funeral Home of Tomah assisted the family with arrangements.

Online condolences are available at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.

Gerald “Jerry” E. Rudolph

Gerald “Jerry” Eugene Rudolph, 76 of Wyeville, died Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009, surrounded by his family at his home after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born Oct. 3, 1933, to George and Ione (Rattle) Rudolph on the family farm near Shennington. He was a member of the Tomah Senior High School Graduating Class of 1952. He was united in marriage to Juanita Baldwin on Sept. 11, 1964, at the First United Methodist Church. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and served in the Asian-Pacific Theatre. After his discharge from the Air Force, Jerry went to work for Rezin’s Construction. He then went to work at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Tomah spending most of his time working in the Carpenter’s Shop, until his retirement in 1994. He enjoyed spending time outdoors fishing and hunting. He enjoyed working with his hands and making furniture. He made lots of different things for many different people. He was a member of Grassman-Sowle-Larsen-Senz American Legion Post #201. He loved being a grandpa, and spent time babysitting for his grandchildren. He was a devoted husband, and a loving father, grandfather, brother, and friend.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Juanita of Wyeville; four children, Robin Noth of Bangor and Randy, Rhonda (Kurt) Kuehl, and Renee (Mike) Pierce, all of Tomah; nine grandchildren, Jordan of La Crosse, Amber serving in the U.S. Army stationed in Iraq, Caitlin serving in the U.S. Army stationed in Monterey, CA, Tyler and Daniel of Bangor, Tanner, Kade, Mallory and Brett, all of Tomah; a brother, Vern (Edith) Rudolph of Shennington; a sister, Helen (Carl) Hedstrom of West Allis; eight brothers-in-law, Arthur (Frances) of Valley Junction, Ronald of Denver, CO, Teddy of Colorado Springs, CO, Harvey (Rebecca) of Black River Falls, Jeffery of Tomah, Bradley (special friend Michelle Rabine) and Scott, both of Valley Junction and David (Diane) of Necedah; six sisters-in-law, Elizabeth “Liz“ (Edward) Brown of Tomah, Ruth Clark of Wyeville, Joyce (Larry) Clark of Necedah, Cathy (Heinz) Scherreiks of Tomah, Margaret Taylor of Tomah and Carol Baldwin of Wyeville, nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his step-mother Ethel (Shaw) Rudolph, his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Peg and Lloyd Baldwin, and a brother-in-law, Leo Clark.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, Oct. 23, at 11 a.m. at the Grassman-Sowle-Larsen-Senz American Legion Post #201. Pastor Edwin Stigen will officiate. Burial will follow in the Wyeville Cemetery.

Relatives and friends are invited to call at the American Legion Post from 9 a.m. until the time of the service.

The family requests that memorials in Jerry’s name be given to the TACS or the Tomah Hospice Touch.

The Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Bernice V. Thiemke

Bernice V. Thiemke, 90, of Tomah died Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009, at Tomah Memorial Hospital. She was born Dec. 15, 1918, to Oscar and Mabel (Purdy) Prell.

She was united in marriage to Arthur Thiemke Sept. 28, 1939 at Waukon, IA. He preceded her in death in 1969. She worked at Rollings Rehabilitation Center for many years as a bookkeeper.

They lived on several farms in the Tomah area where she enjoyed spending time in her garden. While she was a resident at the Tomah Care Center she enjoyed participating in their many activities.

She is survived by a son Bruce (Kathy) of Endeavor, 2 granddaughters, Kristin (Christopher) Cushing of Palatine, IL, Susan (Michael) Dettmann of Watertown; 2 grandsons Daniel (Luciana) Thiemke of Sun Prairie and Steven (Jacque) Thiemke of Oshkosh; 7 great-grandchildren; 2 brothers, Merlin Prell of Renton, WA, and Robert Prell of Mesa, AZ, and 2 sisters, Letha Noth of Bangor, Margie Mesa, AZ, many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, a son Gerald, and 2 brothers, Noel and Ronald.

Memorial services will be held Wednesday October 21, 2009, 11 a.m. at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau St., Tomah

Relatives and friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until time of the service.