Obit: Gumz, Barbara A. (1930 - 2013)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Drake, Goodchild, Griswald, Gumz, Hackel, Kaeser, Koch, Lilley, Paul, Peterson, Rasmussen, Sorenson, Van Heel

----Source: The Abbotsford Tribune - Phonograph (Abbotsford, WI) 05/08/2013

Gumz, Barbara A. (Rasmussen) (2 JUL 1930 - 2 MAY 2013)

Barbara A. Gumz, 82, Colby, died at The Homeplace, in Dorchester, on Thursday, May 2, 2013.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 7, 2013, at Christ Lutheran Church, in Abbotsford. Rev. Dr. Gary Paul will officiate and burial will follow in the Dorchester Memorial Cemetery North.

Pallbearers will be Ryan Hackel, Russell Hackel, Gary Van Heel, Dean Kaeser, Cody Kaeser and Jon Drake. Honorary pallbearers will be Chastity Drake, Devin Hackel and Lindsey Gumz.

Visitation will be held at Christ Lutheran Church, on Tuesday, from 9 a.m. until time of service.

Barbara Ann Rasmussen was born on July 2, 1930, in Thorp, the daughter of Carl Sr. and Esther (Sorenson) Rasmussen. She was raised and received her education in the Colby area, graduating from Colby High School in 1949. Barbara then attended Medford Teachers College and earned her teaching certificate in Elementary Education. She taught for a short time in Clark County before her marriage to Eugene L. Gumz on April 5, 1952.

In the mid-1950's, they purchased a farm in the Milan area. In 1960, they bought a farm in the Town of Hull, 5 miles east of Colby, where they farmed until 1986. They remained on the farm until building a home, in the Town of Hull, in 2001.

She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church and its Women's Guild, served on the Town of Hull election board, volunteered at Bethesda in Wausau, provided childcare throughout the years to neighbors and friends, was a Colby Lioness member, and was a member of the Marathon County Homemakers.

In her spare time, Barbara loved sewing, especially doll clothes that she sold at craft sales. She also enjoyed quilting, traveling, gardening, canning, cooking and baking homemade pies.

She will be dearly missed by her children, Carl "Charlie" (Darlene) Gumz of Trinidad, Colo., Loretta (Gary) Van Heel of Albany, Minn., Judy (Dean) Kaeser of Colby; nine grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; two sisters, Mary Peterson of Stanley, Betty (Charles) Lilley of Dexter; one brother, Charles Rasmussen (Helen Goodchild) of Wildwood, Fla.; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene, on June 30, 2011; one daughter, Sally Gumz in 1963; one son, Dale Gumz in 1985; one adopted son, James Gumz in 1982; her parents; 2 sisters, Dorothy Koch and Shirley Griswald; and one brother: Carl Rasmussen, Jr.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given in Barbara's name to The Homeplace of Dorchester.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com.

Cuddie Funeral Home, of Loyal, is assisting the family with arrangements.