Surnames: THEISEN REIF FURMAN BLUBAUGH SCHMIDT

----Sources: Loyal TRG 10 August 2005

Theisen, William A. (30 OCT 1915 - 7 Augl 2005)

William "Bill" Anthony Theisen, 89, Loyal, died Sunday, Aug. 7, 2005, at Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Marshfield. A visitation and rosary were held on Wednesday, Aug. 10, at 9:45 a.m. The Rev. Luke Steiner, O.S.B., St. John’s Abbey, Collegeville, Minn., officiated. Burial was in St. Anthony/s Catholic Cemetery, Loyal. Grandchildren served as pallbearers.

William Anthony Theisen was born Oct. 30, 1915, in Milwaukee, to William F. and Mae (nee Reif) Theisen. He married Ethelyn Furman on Aug. 16, 1941, in Winneconne. They would have celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary this year. He graduated with a teaching degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens point in 1937 where he competed in intramural gymnastics, participated in choral and instrumental music organizations, and served as editor of The Pointer, the UWSP newspaper. He attended the Vanderbilt School of Music during the summers of 1938, 1939 and 1940. He received his master’s degree in mathematics from Southern Illinois University in 1969. He began his teaching career in Spencer, and also taught in Cornell, Weyauwega and Menasha. He took a 20-year respite from teaching to join his father in the Theisen Brothers Hardware business from 1946-66. In 1966, he joined the faculty of the Loyal, High School, where he taught mathematics and music. While he formally retired from teachingin1981, he continued to teach throughout his life. In his retirement, he was involved in teaching English as a second language to immigrants. He was an active member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. He served as lector, directed the parish choir for a number of years and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He served in World War ll from June to December 1945, and was a member of the American Legion. He was elected to both the Clark County Board of Supervisors and the Loyal City Council. He was active in intramural athletics, including teaching tennis and gymnastics. He had a wide array of interests and vocations. He achieved the level of master piano tumer in the U.S. Piano Tuner’s Guild, and until recently, tuned and rebuilt pianos across Wisconsin. He directed the Clark County Male Chorus and was a member of the Diocese of LaCrosse choir. He read widely and, over the years, contributed to the Rural Life Column for the LaCrosse Register, the Diocese Paper. He enjoyed music, woodworking, reading, travel, wide-ranging conversations and crossword puzzles. He was a highly proficient handyman, and enjoyed designing and building "gizmos" to solve everyday problems. He had a custom picture framing business for some years. He was an active member of Trialogue, an interfaith group dedicated to promoting understanding and fellowship among people of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths.

Survivors include his wife, Ethelyn Furman Theisen, Loyal; seven children, Mary Theisen, Franklin, Cynthia (Arthur) Theisen Smith, Park rapids, Minn., John Theisen, East Troy, Phil (Maria) Theisen, Mequon, Kathleen 9Willy) Theisen Schmidt, Cudahy, Marjorie (Bill) Theisen Blubaugh, Hickory, N.C., and Clarice Theisen, Singapore; eleven grandchildren, John (Wendy) Theisen, Tristane Theisen, Joshua Theisen, Nathanael Theisen, Aaron Theisen, Rachael Theisen, Walter Schmidt, Jack Schmidt, Sam Schmidt, David Blubaugh, and Clare Blubaugh; one great-grandchild, Slater Theisen; his siblings, Betty Theisen Johnson, Eau Claire, Charles Theisen, M.D., South Milwaukee, and Barbara Theisen Betts, R.N., Kirtland, Ohio.

Preceding him in death were his parents; and his siblings, Leo Theisen, Eleanor Theisen Norton, Ray Theisen, Florence Theisen Ward, Mary Jane Theisen Helms, and Abbot Jerome Theisen, O.S/B.

Donations May be made to the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, 1000 N. Oak Ave., Marshfield, WI 54449; Palliative Care Unit, Foundation of Saint Joseph’s Hospital, 611 St. Joseph’s Ave., Marshfield, WI 54449; or the charity of your choice.

Cuddie Funeral Home, Loyal, assisted the family with arrangements.