Obit: Williams, Ina Rose (1908 - 2012)

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

Surnames: Williams, Downey, Lawrence, Oberman, Smith, Trogner, Finder, King, Jakobi, Dayton, VanDussen

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 11/28/2012

Williams, Ina Rose (24 October 1908 - 15 November 2012)

Ina Rose Williams, 104, passed away Nov. 15, 2012. She was born Oct. 24, 1908, to Orin W. and Nettie May (Downey) Lawrence in Alto. She spent her early years in the Minneapolis area. From her first marriage to Clarence Oberman, she had a son, Clarence (Terry). She was later married to (Henry) Melford Williams Jan. 27, 1930, in Neillsville. They resided in the Town of York. She worked hard raising five children and three step-children. She also cared for an ailing mother-in-law. She suffered the loss of her son Terry, age 14; the death of her mother-in-law and her step-son Roy within a year’s time. Later they moved south of Neillsville. She was a foster mom to three children. When Melford was no longer able to farm, they moved to Neillsville. She cleaned houses and took care of elderly people before getting a job at Bob’s Westside Market, where she worked for several years. She cared for her father and husband until their deaths. She always enjoyed having family and friends visit, and she was very active in her church.

Thirteen years ago, she moved to Oregon, WI. She enjoyed going to the Eldercare Daycare Center in Madison where she had many friends and had many wonderful outings. She loved the sing-along time and playing dominoes. She moved to Harmony House in Stoughton for four years and then on to the Sienna Meadows Care Home where she remained for the past seven years.

She is survived by her sons, Orin Williams, Rockford, IL, and Chester (Judy) Williams of Oak Creek; daughters, Dawn (Herbert) Smith of Milwaukee and Darlene (John) Trogner of Oregon; and sister, Olive Finder of Marshfield. Ina had 17 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and 25 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Melford Williams; son, Clarence (Terry) Oberman; step-sons, Roy and Earl; daughter-in-law, Doris Williams; grandson, Romaine; step-daughter, Ardena; and son-in-law, Richard King. Her sister, Fannie Jakobi, who was born on Ina’s fifth birthday, passed away three weeks ago.

Her funeral was held Nov. 19, at 11 a.m. with visitation at 10 a.m. at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville. Burial followed in the York Center Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Scott Trogner, Corey Trogner, Dennis Dayton, Todd Williams, Gregg VanDussen and Gerry VanDussen.

Memorial donations can be made to The Highground in Neillsville.