Obit: Vorland, Pearl A. (1913 - 2014)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Vorland, Kind, Kraut, Singstock, Hinkley, Zulke

Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, WI) 04 Jun 2014

Vorland, Pearl A. (6 NOV 1913 - 1 JUN 2014)

Pearl Anna Vorland, age 100, of Colby, died on Sunday, June 1, 2014 at Ministry St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield surrounded by her family. She was born November 6, 1913, in Curtiss to Frank and Ida (Kind) Kraut. She attended Curtiss State Graded School and graduated from Abbotsford High School in 1931.

Pearl enrolled in Madame LeClair's School of Beauty Culture in Milwaukee and returned to the area after graduation. She worked at the Mosinee Beauty Shop for ten months and with Frances Jackson in Abbotsford until she was old enough to get her manager's license. In 1933 she opened the Colby Beauty Shoppe at the Robinson Hotel and later moved her shop across the highway to the Briggs' building. She also opened a shop in Dorchester where her younger sisters, Ethel and Marie, were employed. As a beautician, Pearl met many wonderful people who became good friends, and throughout the years often reminded her that she fixed their hair and /or gave them their first permanent.

On October 7, 1943, Pearl and Gorton Vorland were married in Minneapolis, Minnesota, while Gorton was on furlough from the United States Army. He later received an honorable discharge and returned to the Jackson and Vorland law firm in Colby. Pearl and Gorton became parents of one daughter and one son. Gorton died June 11, 1951.

Pearl was active in many area groups and organizations while her children were growing up. She was president of the Mothers' Club at Colby Grade School, founder and leader of the Colby Brownies and Girl Scouts, Den Mother for the Colby Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, President of the PTA, Secretary of the District PTA, and Chairman of the American Field Service Program.

She helped at Marion Mellenthin's Beauty Shop, was employed at Firnstahl's Grocery Store, and worked at the Colby Drugstore for Henry Weddig and Bud Carlyon.

Pearl was Oracle in the Royal Neighbors of America (Colby Camp) and a member of the Eastern Star (Abbotsford, Owen and Marshfield). She belonged to the Sewing Club, was a 50-year member of the Colby Homemakers, and served for many years as Chairman of the Colby Community Chest. She also volunteered as Cancer Chairman and Heart Chairman and was a former treasurer of the Business and Professional Women of Marshfield.

Pearl was a charter member of the Colby VFW Auxiliary, a page at the National VFW Convention, and president of the Colby VFW Auxiliary in 1966-67 when Conrad Orth was the VFW State Commander.

In 1965, Pearl became a charter member and Vice President of the Clark County Historical Society. For many years she was the curator and a volunteer at the Rural Arts Museum in Colby. She was also a member of the Historical Committee for the 1973 Colby Centennial and was editor of the Colby Centennial Book. Because of her strong interest in history, in 2000 she received the Local History Award of Merit from the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.

As a member of the Colby United Methodist Church, Pearl was a Sunday School Superintendent, teacher, lay leader, and member of the Ladies Aid. She later joined the First United Church of Christ where she was a lector and past president of the Altar Guild.

Pearl belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary and served as its treasurer, was a charter member of the Colby Lioness (now the Colby Lions), was a member of the Body Recall Exercise group, worked at the Blood Mobile, and volunteered with a number of organizations at the nursing homes in Colby and Abbotsford,

Throughout her life, Pearl played an active role in her community. In 1982, she was honored as the first woman to be named Citizen of the Year by the Colby Chamber of Commerce.

Pearl was an avid sports enthusiast. She began going to Curtiss baseball games when her father coached the team and her brother, Franklin, was the catcher. She belonged to the Colby Archery Club, and bowled in numerous leagues in both Colby and Abbotsford. She cheered for the Colby High School sports teams, the Wisconsin Badgers, the Green Bay Packers, and especially enjoyed watching Brett Favre play the game.

She was honored to have Howie Sturtz and his band play for her 85th and 90th birthday parties. Howie and Lyle Miller then played for her 95th and 100th parties. Pearl felt blessed by the number of relatives and friends who attended each of these events.

Pearl was highlighted in the Summer, 2009 issue of BenchMarks, a publication from the Marshfield Clinic. The magazine article told about her contributions to her community as well as the monetary gifts she has made annually to the Marshfield Clinic for medical research. She was also honored by the Marshfield Clinic in 2012 as a recipient of the Spirit of Giving Philanthropic Award, and again in 2013 in recognition of her milestone 100th birthday.

In April 2013, Pearl received the Melvin Jones Award from the Colby Lions, and the Colby High School Madrigals honored her last December as the "Queen of Colby" during their Madrigal dinner and festivities. Pearl also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Colby-Abbotsford Area Chamber of Commerce in late January, 2014.

Some of the other monetary donations she has made have gone to UW-Stevens Point Foundation for a yearly scholarship to a theater/drama student, the Colby High School for four annual scholarships (previously the Unnamed Scholarships, now known as the Pearl Vorland Family Scholarships), The Colby High School Show Choir and Madrigal programs, the VFW for any work that needed to be done to provide upgrades to the Clubhouse, the Colby Public Library, the Lucille Tack Center in Spencer, and the Colby Lions Club.

Pearl is survived by her daughter, Mary (Allen) Singstock, Oshkosh; son, James (Pamela) Vorland, Neenah; and two grandsons, Colby (Rachel Hinkley) of West Lafayette, IN and Corey of Fargo, ND; her sister, Ethel Zulke, Hillsboro; nieces, nephews, cousins and their families, and other close relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gorton; her parents; her mother-in-law and father-in-law, George and Cora Vorland; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Georgia and Earl Nelson; her brother and sister-in-law, Franklin and Elsie Kraut; her sister and brother-in-law, Marie and James Cattanach; her brother, Donald Kraut, and her niece and god-child, Pamela Bentley.

Although she will be greatly missed by her family and countless friends, Pearl's legacy lives on in the many lives she has touched through her friendships and her giving spirit.

Our family would like to thank the Colby Ambulance personnel and the medical staff at St. Joseph's Hospital in Emergency, SICU, and on 7N for their kind and compassionate care of our mother during her hospital stay.

We also extend a special thank you to Pearls' many friends who have helped her remain active in her community. We appreciate all you have done and the love you shared with her.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 7, 2014 at First United Church of Christ in Colby. Pastor Teri A. Hanson and Rev. Kenneth A. Dix will officiate. Interment will be held in Colby Memorial Cemetery. Family and friends are welcome from 4:00 until 8:00 PM on Friday, June 6 with a VFW Women's Auxiliary Sevice at 6:30 PM and from 9:30 AM until time of service Saturday all at the church. The Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Colby in entrusted with the arrangements.

A Memorial Fund has been established in Pearl's name.

Online condolences can be made to www.maurinaschilling.com