Obit: Wirtala, Fern J. (1939 - 2018)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Branch, Churkey, Clark, Lehnen, Myhre, Stafford, Wickerham, Wirtala

----Source: The Owen-Withee Enterprise, Facebook (Owen, WI) 3/22/2018

Wirtala, Fern J. (Churkey) (19 OCT 1939 - 21 MAR 2018)

Fern J. Wirtala, age 78 of Longwood passed away on Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at the Marshfield Medical Center.

Funeral services for Fern will be 10:30 am on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at Saint John’s Lutheran Church in Withee with Reverend Tom Myhre officiating. Family and friends are welcome from 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Friday March 23, 2018, at Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Owen and 9:30 am until the time of services at the church on Saturday. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery.

Fern was born on October 19, 1939 in the Town of Green Grove, the daughter of Marvin "Jim" and Edith (Stafford) Churkey. She attended Owen schools and graduated from the class of 1958 at Owen-Withee High School. She was united in marriage to William Wirtala on May 23, 1959 at the old St. John's Lutheran Church of Withee.

During Fern's younger years, she was a bookkeeper for ITT in Thorp, Foremost Foods of Owen and Master Package of Owen. In her late thirties, she went to beauty school in Eau Claire, after school she worked for Irene Lehnen in the beauty shop for one year and received her managerial certificate and then opened her own beauty shop in her house. Fern also served the Town of Longwood as treasurer for 20 years. In 2005 she retired and enjoyed traveling the U.S. with her husband, Bill. Fern enjoyed playing softball when she was younger, bowling, horseshoes, cards, especially bridge, and canning.

Fern is survived by her husband: William; her three sons: Jim (Cheryl) of Wind Lake WI, Russ (Tami) of Reno, NV, and Dan (Liz) of Chandler, AZ; five grandchildren: Rachel, Joshua (Heidi), Micaela (Cody) Clark, Jessika (Ryan) Branch and Emily; and two great-grandchildren: James Wirtala and Deacan Branch. She is further survived by a sister: Mae Wickerham of Cameron, WI and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents.

Online condolences can be made to www.maurinaschilling.com.