----Source: Wednesday, February 18, 2004, Clark County Press

Theola I. Bird

Theola Bird, age 82, of Neillsville, died February 13, at the Memorial Nursing Home in Neillsville.

Theola Irene Bird was born on September 15, 1921 in Clark County, the daughter of John and Elsie (Schlinkert) Pagenkopf. She graduated from Neillsville High School. and then moved to Chicago, Ill. where she worked at the Mars candy Factory for three years. She was united in marriage to Ernest Bird on December 9, 1944 in Neillsville. They farmed in Weston Township until 1984, when they retired and moved to a beautiful lake home in Augusta. Theola enjoyed her home on the lake and making crafts.

She is survived by two sons, Richard (Pat) Bird of Greenwood, and Robert (Sandra) Bird of Fairbanks, Alaska; one daughter, Barbara (David) Boyer, of Neillsville; four granddaughters, Maria Bird of Eau Claire, Amanda (Brian) Rowlands of Abilene, Texas, Nora Bird of Colorado, and Jessie Bird of Greenwood; two grandsons, Gary (Karen) Boyer of Auburndale, and Christopher Boyer of Thorp. She is also survived by cousins and other relatives.

Theola was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest; her parents; and an infant brother, Orin.

Funeral services for Theola were held Wednesday, Feb. 18, at the Gesche Funeral Home, Neillsville. Pastor Douglas Bjerke officiated. Music was provided by Eileen zank, organist. Interment was in the Neillsville City Cemetery.

casket bearers were Allen Schoonover, Wayne Voss, Herman Seebandt, Kurt Hediger, Gerald Anderegg, and Hans Harder.

The Gesche Funeral Home assisted Theola's family with funeral arrangements.