Obit: Thomas, Arlene #2 (1929 - 2013)

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

Surnames: Thomas, Radke, Etta, Tuthill, Price, Schott, Schofield, Kippenhan

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 6/12/2013

Thomas, Arlene (31 July 1929 - 4 June 2013)

Arlene Thomas, 83, of Neillsville died Tuesday, June 4, 2013, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield.

Arlene Mae Etta was born July 31, 1929, in Greenwood, the daughter of Arthur and Julia Lila (Radke) Etta. She was a devoted wife to Frank, a loving mother to her six children and a caring grandmother and great-grandmother.

She was an avid collector of beanie babies, butterflies and birds, and she also enjoyed gardening and cooking. Arlene was a friendly, wonderful person who adored all who met and knew her. She was loved deeply by her entire family. We will miss her smiling face and quick wit. Rest in Peace Mom.

She is survived by six children, Judy (Brent) Tuthill of Hendersonville, NC; Vicki (Jerry) Price of Mariposa, CA; Larry (Penny) Thomas of Sturgis, SD; David Thomas of Marshfield; Jennifer (Dave Scott) Thomas of Eleva; and Randy Thomas of Neillsville. Arlene is further survived by 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and three brothers, Arnold Etta of Sedro Woolley, WA, Leonard (Sally) Etta of Granton and Clifford (Sandy) Schofield of Greenwood.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank A. Thomas; her mother, Julia Radke-Etta-Schofield; her father, Arthur Etta; her step-father, Robert Schofield; two brothers, Irvin Etta and Melvin Etta; a sister, Ruth Kippenhan; a sister-in-law, Angie Etta; and a daughter-in-law, Terresa Thomas.

A celebration of Arlene’s life and a time for friends to met with her family was held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 8, 2013, at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville. Interment was made next to her husband in the Neillsville City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, IL 60674.

Online condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.  The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Arlene’s family with arrangements.