Obit: Vitort, Jeanette Marie (1925 - 2015)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Vitort, Shilts, Stelter, Long, Bichler, Bernklau, Fuller, Wiernik, Tomkowiak, Rogalski, Acker, Helgerson, Buresh, Wilda, White, Sindler

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI) 8/05//2015

Vitort, Jeanette Marie (25 March 1925 - 31 July 2015)

Jeanette Marie Vitort of Stanley, WI, died at the Hospice House in Wausau, WI on July 31, 2015, after a brief illness. Jeanette was born on March 25, 1925, in Eau Claire County, the ninth child born to Edward and Ethel (Shilts) Stelter. Jeanette was joined in marriage to James V. Vitort on June 12, 1943. She farmed with her husband for 25 years. Jeanette was a devoted mother to their five children and grandmother to their 12 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

Jeanette held many positions during her life. She was an Avon representative, a Weight Watchers lecturer, and served as the Deanery President for the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women from 1872-1974. In addition, she worked as a sales clerk at Farmer Store and in housekeeping at Victory Memorial Hospital.

Jeanette will always be remembered for her beautiful singing voice, her 20 years of working with school children as a volunteer Foster Grandparent for CESA 10, and her welcoming nature to share with others at her table.

Jeanette is survived by her children: Katherine (George) Long, James (Barbara) Vitort, Larry (Grace) Vitort, Lydia (Howard Bichler) Vitort, and Cynthia (Mark) Bernklau; her 11 grandchildren: Angie (Curt) Fuller, Jamie Vitort, Craig (Melissa) Vitort, Melissa (Jeff) Wiernik, Paul (Misty) Vitort, Allison Vitort, Travis Tomkowiak, Seth Bichler, Anastasia (Kevin) Rogalski, Chandler Bernklau and Alex Bernklau; and a sister, Genevieve Acker.

Jeanette was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, James Vitort; grandchildren; Anthony Tomkowiak and Megan Fuller; siblings: Violet Shilts, Madlyn Helgerson, Ford Stelter, Lyle Stelter, Edna Buresh Wilda, Floyd Stelter, Marlyn Stelter, Eleanor White and four sisters in infancy.

Funeral services were at 11 a.m. on Monday, August 3, 2015, at the Abundant Life Pentecostal Church, Thorp, with Rev. John Sindler officiating. Burial followed in the Edson Union Cemetery. Visitation was from 4 until 8 p.m. on Sunday at the Plombon Funeral Home in Stanley and one hour prior to services Monday at the church in Thorp.