Obit: Dearth, Lorraine (1920 - 2022)

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

Surnames: Dearth, Dostler, Romfoe, Burtard, Hendzel, Teclaw, Herman, Elmendorf, Beardsley

----Source: Plombon-Funeral Service (Stanley, Chippewa Co., WI) 12/21/2022

Dearth, Lorraine (14 December 1920 – 17 December 2022)

Lorraine Dearth, 102 of Thorp, went home to be with the Lord on December 17, 2022, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls with her family by her side.

She was born on December 14, 1920, to Magnus and Marie (Dostler) Romfoe at the family home in Polley. Lorraine graduated from Gilman High School in 1940. She was united in marriage to Rueben Burtard in December 1946. They had four children together. They later divorced. She married Frank Dearth in June 1984. Frank proceeded her in death in 1993.

In her early years she worked at the Gilman Library and at the soda fountain at Romig’s. After her kids had grown up, she went on to get her CNA license. Lorraine worked as a CNA at the Gilman Nursing Home and then for many years at the Oakbrook Nursing Home in Thorp. She was a caring and compassionate lady and truly loved caring for others especially the elderly. Most important to her was her family. She looked forward to family gatherings where she would always show up with an ice cream pail or two full of a fresh batch of her famous cookies. She will always be remembered as the “Cookie Grandma” to the grandkids! Lorraine remained a faithful Christian for her entire life and that value of faith was instilled in the lives of her kids and grandkids.

She is survived by her four children, Donald Burtard of Tripoli, Rachel (Ed) Hendzel of Gilman, Renée (Jerry) Teclaw of Thorp and Jeffrey (Nancy) Burtard of Post Falls, Idaho, eight grandchildren, Heather, Jennifer, Jody, Joshua, Eric, Sarah, Tracie and Mary, 25 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandsons. Lorraine is preceded in death by her parents, husband Frank and first husband, Rueben Burtard and 2 sisters, Beatrice Herman and Myrtle Elmendorf.

A funeral service will be held at 11 A.M. on Thursday, December 22, 2022, at Zion Lutheran Church-Gilman with Pastor Brian Beardsley officiating. Burial will follow in Meadowbrook Cemetery-Gilman. Visitation will be one hour prior to service at the church. Plombon Funeral Service assisted the family with arrangements.

A special thank you to the staff of St. Joseph’s Hospital-Chippewa Falls, Our Lady of Victory-Aspirus Hospital, Dr. Jonathan Justice, the Thorp Ambulance Crew and Pastor Beardsley for their care and attention given to our mother.