Obit: Pettis, Ella Mae #2 (1920 - 2007)
Contact:  Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Pettis, Smith, Rimling, Strangfeld, Dick, Warkintin

----Sources: Clark County Press (Neillsville, WI.) January 31, 2007

Pettis, Ella Mae (June 29, 1920 - January 25, 2007)

Ella Pettis, age 86, of Neillsville died Thursday, January 25, 2007 at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire.

Ella Mae Pettis was born on June 29, 1920 in Fairchild, WI the daughter of Leonard and Luella (Smith) Rimling. Ella attended grade school in Fairchild and graduated from Fairchild High School. She was united in marriage to Paul Woodrow Pettis on May 6, 1942 at the Fairview Church in Fairchild. After marriage, Ella worked as a homemaker and raised her family. She also had a great love for animals and always cared for them.

Ella was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and St. Anthony’s Circle in Neillsville, Wis. While in the nursing home she became a member of the Red Hat Society, the Book Club and she enjoyed Bingo.

She is survived by three children, Paul M. (Beverly) Pettis, of Cadott, WI; Patricia (Arnold) Strangfeld, of Nekoosa, WI; and Mary (Daniel) Dick, of Neillsville; 17 grandchildren and 41 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul in 2001; her parents; a sister Harriet Warkintin and an infant brother.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Ella was held Monday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Neillsville, Wis. The Celebrant was The Very Woodrow H. Pace. Music was provided by Ronald Resong, organist, and St. Mary’s Choir. Interment was in the Columbia Cemetery in Hewett Township.

Casket Bearers were: Adam Pettis, Matt, David, Tim and Arnold "Peter" Strangfeld, Matt Wurzer, Dan Enestvedt, Jeff Lightner and Scott Schoengarth.

The Gesche Funeral Home assisted Ella’s family with funeral arrangements.