Obit: Wren, Louise G. #2 (1913 - 2010)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Wren, Jordan, Gabrovic, Bauer, Schmidt, Gault, Kurth, Cirone, Sedevic, Foley, Lee

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) July 21, 2010

Wren, Louise G. (17 September 1913 - 13 July 2010)

Louise Wren, 96, of Neillsville, died Tuesday, July 13, 2010, at the Neillsville Care and Rehabilitation Center in Neillsville.

Louise G. Wren was born Sept. 17, 1913, in Hendren Township, the daughter of Lucas and Louise (Jordan) Gabrovic.  She grew up and was educated in Willard.  She worked on the family farm and in 1934 went with friends to Chicago and worked.  She married Gilbert A. Wren April 2, 1938, in Neillsville. 

For many, many years Louise was a cook at the Arbutus Café in downtown Neillsville.  Her oldest daughter, Patsy, was a waitress then and became Neillsville’s first Dairy Festival Queen in 1954, winning over 15 other contestants. For many years Louise was housekeeper for several businesses and private homes.

Raising her family, Louise enjoyed vegetable gardening and making homemade sauerkraut, picking wild blackberries and raspberries to make jellies.  She liked sewing and mending for family and friends to keep her fingers limber.  At age 90-plus she could still thread a needle.

She was a member of the Neillsville United Methodist Church.

She is survived by two daughters, Linda Bauer of Franksville and Rochelle (Walter) Schmidt of Neillsville; two sons, Ronnie Wren of Iron Ridge and Tom (Lynn) Wren of Waukesha; a daughter-in-law, JoAnn Wren of Neillsville; 14 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and good friends, Marsha Gault and Alice Kurth.

Louise was preceded in death by her husband, Gilbert, in 1984; two daughters, Patsy and Judy; a son, Larry; infant granddaughter, Patsy Schmidt; three brothers, John, Jack and Ignac Gabrovic; one half sister, Mary Cirone; and a son-in-law, Fred Bauer.

Funeral services for Louise were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 17, at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville with visitation from 10 a.m. until time of service.  Pastor Dong Su Lee officiated.  Interment was in the Neillsville City Cemetery.

Casketbearers were Amy Wren, Sheri Wren, Michelle Wren, Janel Sedevic, Laurie Schmidt and Deb Foley. 

Online condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.

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