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Eva V. Petska, William E. “Bill” Rabe, Joyce A. Wilson

Eva V. Petska

Eva V. Petska, 94, of Tomah, died Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse. She was born April 27, 1915, to James Burton and Eva (Fields) Christie. She was united in marriage to Harry U. Balliett in 1935 in Augusta. He preceded her in death on Aug. 6, 1950. She then was united in marriage to Alfred J. Petska Jr. on May 8, 1954. He preceded her in death on April 16, 1986. She owned and operated the Balliett’s Tavern in Cornell for many years. She worked for Douglas Aircraft in Illinois for many years before moving to the Tomah area. Eva was a faithful member of the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. She had a love for the outdoors, especially when she was hunting and fishing. She taught her children to hunt before she taught them how to cook. She was a loving and caring mother who acted as a home health care nurse for her daughter Bev, and took in many foster children that she raised as her own.

She is survived by her children: Beverly Balliett, Darlene (Thomas) Petska, Donna (John) Berry, Alan Balliett, all of Tomah, and Sherry (Steven) Vlasak of Elroy; seven grandchildren: David (Lynda) Petska, Daniel (Jillian ) Petska, John (Heidi) Berry, Christopher Berry, Michael Balliett, Adam and Nicole Vlasak, two great-grandchildren: Danielle and Raymond Petska, seven step-grandchildren: Angie (Dan) Thoma, Jon (Sara), Jessica, Joshua, Niki Resop, Jonathan, and Cory Einwater, two step-great grandchildren: Joey and Ethan Resop,Amelia and Olivia and many other relatives and friends.

In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents; a grandson Charles Morrell Jr., three sisters: Goldie, Sylvia, and Ottivie, five brothers: Patrick, Ernest, Ira, Roy, and Arthur.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, Nov. 23, 2009, 10:30 a.m.. at the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 310 W. Elizabeth St. Pastor Pete Peterson and Pastor David Dahl will officiate. Burial will be at the Cornell Cemetery, Cornell, WI.

Relatives and friends are invited to call on Sunday from 3 until 7 p.m. at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau St., and at the church on Monday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service.

William E. “Bill” Rabe

William E. “Bill” Rabe, age 89, of Tomah, WI, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, at the Park West Medical Center in Knoxville, TN. He was born Oct. 6, 1920, to William and Ruth Rabe in Tomah. Bill served in the United States Army and later attended college in Madison.

Bill was united in marriage to Doris E. Graf on Jan. 20, 1948. He worked in Physical Therapy at the Tomah VA Medical Center for many years. He served in the U.S Army. and the Army National Guard. He was active in the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and the Tomah community and was a member of the Tomah Coin Club, VFW Post #1382 and the Tomah Masonic Lodge. Bill enjoyed hunting and playing cards in his spare time.

He is survived by his wife, Doris; daughter, Roxanne (Ruben Melton) Leedy of Knoxville, TN; daughter-in-law, Kim Rabe of Holcomb, WI; grandchildren, Michael (Jessie) Rabe, Russell Rabe and Seth Leedy; sister, Shirley Dietzman of Madison; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his son, Mark Rabe; son-in-law, E. Dean Leedy; brothers, Richard and Charles; and a sister, Marjorie Smith.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 11 a.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Tomah. Pastor David Dahl officiated. Burial followed in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Tomah. Family and friends called Friday, Nov. 20, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Torkelson Funeral Home. Family and friends also called on Saturday 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 may be offered at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.

Joyce A. Wilson

Joyce A. Wilson, 85, of Tomah, died peacefully on Nov.21, 2009, surrounded by her loving family. She was born May 9, 1924, to John “Jack” Bessie (Lamb) Kelley in Sparta, Wisconsin. She attended the Reels Valley Grade School and was member of the Tomah High School Graduating Class of 1944. She was united in marriage to Arthur “Ted” Wilson on Aug. 9, 1944, in Wilton. He preceded her in death on August 12, 1996. Joyce and Ted moved to Wilton to farm in 1948. Up until 2 weeks ago Joyce was still on the family farm. During WWII, Joyce worked at Fort McCoy in the radio school. She was a member of the Utopian Homemakers Club of Ridgeville, the Tomah Valleyettes and various camping clubs. Joyce loved socializing with family and friends. She enjoyed working the Wilton township elections polls, the family camping trips, especially the trips down south, but mostly she enjoyed spending countless hours surrounded by her family.

She is survived by a daughter, Karon (Bruce Baker) Henry, and a son, Robert (Dorothy) Wilson, all of Tomah; six grandchildren; Rob Wilson, Kate (Aaron) Schindler, Rebecca (Mark) Pitel, Brent (Toni) Henry, Deanna (Dan) Mumm all of Tomah, Michelle (Vern) Rowan of West Salem, eight great grandchildren, Cassie (Jeff) Luckwee of Lodi, Karlyee Heidemann of Tomah, Dustin and Rhett Wilson of Tomah, Caitlin and Sydney Rowan of West Salem, Tyler and Trent Ruedy of Tomah, Grace Schindler of Tomah; a brother, Roland (Doris) Kelley of Tomah; a sister-in-law, Joan Hutson of Hobart, IN; a brother-in-law Edward Pingel of Wilton; and a very special friend and caregiver Dee Brabant, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Ted; a son, Donald Eugene Wilson; a grandson Donald Kirk Wilson; a son-in-law, Marion Henry; a nephew, Scott Kelley; 2 sisters, Anita Popp and Ruth Pingel and a sister-in-law, Grace Tully.

Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009, 11 a.m. at the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Tomah. Pastor David Dahl will officiate. Burial will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau St., Tomah, on Tuesday from 5 until 8 p.m. and at the church on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.