Obit: Thomsen, Elmer (1931 - 2013)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Colby, Dahl, Freese, Gumz, Jochimsen, Koltz, Larson, Phillips, Piller, Sackmann, Schwantes, Taves, Thomsen

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 06/27/2013

Thomsen, Elmer "Peewee" (12 JAN 1931 - 23 JUN 2013)

Elmer "Peewee" Thomsen, 82, Ashland, died while surrounded by his family and under hospice care, on Sunday, June 23 at his home. He will be cremated. No service will be scheduled.

Elmer Thomsen was born on January 12, 1931 in the Town of Deer Creek to the late Herman and Freida (Jochimsen) Thomsen. He attended Medford Area Public Schools.

On November 27, 1954, he married Lorraine Larson, and they later divorced. On May 18, 1979, he married Christine Koltz, who survives. He worked for Soo Line Railroad from 1950 to 1954 as a gandy dancer installing and repairing railroad tracks and ties.

He served in the United States Army from 1954 to 1956 as an anti-aircraft radar operator at LLAD AFB in Fairbanks, Alaska and was awarded the Good Conduct and Sharpshooter medals.

He also worked at Hurd Millwork in Medford from 1956 until retirement in 1995, and operated his family's dairy farm in the Town of Deer Creek. During retirement he worked at various supper clubs in Minocqua, Woodruff and Ashland until ill health forced his final retirement in 2010.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, going for walks enjoying nature, reading and gardening.

In addition to his wife, survivors include two sons, Ricky Thomsen of Stetsonville and Kevin Thomsen of Medford; six daughters, Sharee (Steve) Colby and Shelly (Rich) Freese, both of Abbotsford, Debbie Thomsen and Wendy (Rodney) Dahl, both of Medford, Julie (Wayne) Taves of Athens, and Tanya Thomsen of Ashland; 10 grandchildren, Dacota Gumz, Trisha Schwantes, Eric Colby, Matthew Colby, Aaron Phillips, Jamie Phillips, Nathan Taves, Makenna Dahl, Garrett Dahl and Emily Piller; and 10 great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Clarence, Carl and Harold Thomsen, and a sister, Edna Sackmann.