Obit: Tufts, Jennie G. (1896 - 1982)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Tufts, Hovdt, Iverson, Hemple, Ion, Schussler, Howard, Dahl, Pederson, Grap, Bruhn, Gluch, Drescher, Allen, Spangler, Rossley, Schlitz, Olson, Hill, Blanchard, Landry, Noll, Anday, Clark

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 4/22/1982

Tufts, Jennie G. (3 November 1896 - 13 April 1982)

Funeral services were held on Saturday afternoon, April 17, for Jennie G. Tufts, 85. The Rev. Gary Clark officiated at the Neillsville United Church of Christ service with burial made in the Riverside Cemetery, Withee.

Mrs. Tufts was well-known in the Neillsville community both for her active involvements in various clubs and her ownership of a large landmark home on south Hewett Street.

The deceased was born on November 3, 1896, in North Dakota to Mr. and Mrs. (Hovdt) Iverson. She received her education if North Dakota and Minnesota schools. On December 27, 1919, she married W. B. Tufts in Minnesota ceremonies.

In 1931, the Tufts moved to Neillsville where she taught school for several years. In 1953, they retired and moved to Tacoma, Washington, making their home there for ten years. In 1963, the Tufts moved back to Neillsville and purchased the Hemple residence.

Mrs. Tufts passed away in Neillsville Memorial Hospital on Tuesday, April 13, after a brief illness.

She was an active member of the United Church of Christ, the Order of the Eastern Star, the VFW Auxiliary and the Masonic Shriner Auxiliary.

Surviving her are four sisters, Clara Ion of Duluth, Minn., Lisa Schussler of Seattle, Wash., Anne Howard of Wilmington, Calif., and Tena Dahl of Grand Forks, N.D.; and a brother, John Pederson, Canada. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband (May 16, 1963).

The Gesche Funeral Home of Neillsville was in charge of arrangements. Serving as pallbearers were Wayne Grap, Earl Bruhn, Ronald Gluch, Art Drescher, Tom Ion and W. H. Allen. Deon Spangler offered music for the service.

Attending the funeral from out of town were Mr/Mrs. Robert Rossley, Mr./Mrs. J. Tom Ion, Brenda Schiltz, Robin Ion, Mr./Mrs. John Olson, Mrs. Bruce Hill, William Ion, Chris Rossley, Emily Schiltz and Michael Ion, all of Duluth, Minn.; R. Charles Rossley and Leasa Blanchard, both of Minneapolis, Minn.; Mr./Mrs. Donald Olson, Winona, Minn.; Robert Ion, Sioux City, Ia.; William Tufts, Grayling, Mich.; Lenore Landry and John Landry of Madison, Mr./Mrs. Arnold Noll, Granton; and Margit Anday, Wausau.