Thirteenth Generation

231. Dorothy Elizabeth PURDY (`) (~) (^) was born on 9 October 1913 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^{44,58,77,91,94,128} She appeared in the census in 1930 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.⁸⁶ She graduated in 1931 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹²⁶ from Tomah High School. Between 1933 and 1940 Dorothy was an elementary school teacher in Monroe County, WI.¹²⁸ She appeared in the census in 1940 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹¹⁶ Her occupation was "Teacher, Public Schools" and her total wages in 1939 were $700. She appeared in the census in 1950 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹²⁹ Dorothy died on 13 December 1999 at the age of 86 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^44,58,130

Biography Notes: Dorothy Elizabeth Purdy, a lifetime resident of Monroe County, was born October 9, 1913. She was the youngest of two daughters born to Milo Augustus and Louisa Vroman Purdy. Her sister, Lefa Purdy Birkholz, was also a resident of Tomah.

Dorothy was born on the farm of her grandparents, John James and Mary Elizabeth Oakley Purdy, where her parents resided at that time. This farm was on the land in Greenfield Township which her great grandparents, Daniel Crane and Susan Savage Purdy, settled in about 1860. This area, originally known as Purdy Valley, later became known as Pleasant Valley.

In 1917, when Dorothy was four, the family moved to a small farm just north of what is now Highway 21, on the road to the Hiawatha Golf Course. There she grew up on a farm enjoying the farm chores, which no doubt explained why she was such a hard worker all of her life.

Dorothy attended Tomah High School, often driving a horse and buggy to school. She would stable the horse at the livery stable located on McLean Avenue, where the Red Owl store used to operate. Graduating in 1931, she stayed on for an additional year of teachers training.

From 1933 to 1939 she taught school in Grant Township at Union Valley School, near her grandparents William and Estella Lamb Vroman's farm, where she boarded until her marriage. Her last year of teaching was at the Congress Grade School near Ridgeville in 1940.

On August 28, 1937 she married Marvin Ludwig Bernhardt at Crown Point, IN. Their only son, Arlyn, was born on December 9, 1941 at St. Mary's Hospital in Sparta, WI.

They resided in Tomah on Superior Avenue, next to the A&W Root Beer Stand at the time Arlyn was born. About 1945 they moved to 1612 Stoughton Avenue. In 1951 they bought their first and only home at 1723 Stoughton Avenue, and remained there until Marvin's death in 1992. Dorothy then moved to a Tomah Housing Authority Apartment complex on Oak Street near the public grade school, where she remained until she had to move to Harmony Manor and where she remained until her death in December 1999.

Dorothy worked at Butts Resort on Lake Tomah, the Park Motel, the St. Paul's Lutheran School as Head Cook, and coordinator of the meals for elderly at Tomah High School. She and Marvin were active members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

After retirement, Dorothy was very active in local programs to help the elderly. Her struggle with ill health only made her more determined to maintain a happy, productive life as one of Tomah's most loved citizens. Her favorite hobby was playing cards, which she and Marvin did often with friends and relatives.
She was buried on 18 December 1999 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^44,127 in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Dorothy Elizabeth PURDY (`) (~) (^) and Marvin Ludwig BERNHARDT were married on 28 August 1937 in Crown Point, Lake County, IN.^44,128,131 Marvin Ludwig BERNHARDT, son of Johanus Ludwig George BERNHARDT and Anna Marie MARTEN, was born on 9 June 1907 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.^{44,58,91,96,131,132} He was baptized on 7 July 1907 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^44,132 at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. His sponsors were Gustav Bartels, Ernie Behrens, and Maria Bernhardt. He appeared in the census in 1910 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.⁷⁵ Marvin appeared in the census in 1920 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.⁷⁷ He was confirmed in 1922 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^44,133 at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church He appeared in the census in 1930 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁸⁶ He was a "laborer" on the farm of Rueben Roder. Marvin appeared in the census in 1940 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹¹⁶ His household was at 302 1/2 Clifton Street and his occupation was "Milk Hauler, Creamery." His total wages in 1939 were $300.

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. He appeared in the census in 1950 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹²⁹ His household was at 1612 Stoughton and his occupation was "Runs a cutting machine, Plastic Plant." He died on 14 October 1992 at the age of 85 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^44,96,130

Biography Notes: Marvin Louie Bernhardt, a lifetime resident of Monroe County Wisconsin, was born on June 9, 1907. He is the fifth of eight children born to Louis and Anna Marten Bernhardt. They include Avolt, Etta Pauch, Leonard, Gordon, Louis, Wilbert, and Merlin, the latter dying in infancy.

All were born and raised on the Bernhardt homestead, a 160-acre farm in Section 11 of the town of Wilton. This land was purchased in 1857 by Marvin's Grandparents, Conrad and Caroline Roeder Bernhardt, who came to Monroe County from Hartford, Wisconsin in 1858.

Marvin grew up in Cold Springs Valley, as it is called, where he attended Cold Springs school through the seventh grade. Eighth grade was at St. John's Lutheran School at Ridgeville. He often rode the eight miles on his horse named Lid.

He remained on the farm for several years helping with the chores. His father, Louie, purchased a Model A Ford in about 1924 and when Marvin left the farm a few years later he received the car as payment for his labors. During the late 1920's and early 1930's, Marvin worked for area farmers, including three years for Rueben ROEDER.

On August 28, 1937, he married Dorothy Elizabeth PURDY. They were married in the famous courthouse at Crown Point, Indiana where, in 1923, Rudolph Valentino was married. The popularity of this spot peaked in the very month they married. A record 1,019 marriage ceremonies were performed there in August 1937.

They have one son, Arlyn, born on December 9, 1941.

During World War II, Marvin worked at Camp McCoy. His first job there was to help build the camp. Later, one of his jobs was to keep the dynamite supply. This he did in a small building far removed from the main camp. He would also watch over German prisoners that were sent to the Camp.

In 1947, he was hired by Vanant Products Company, a new small firm which had recently located in Tomah where Tralmer's Store now operates. There he worked as a ream cutter for 25 years until his retirement in 1972. As a small boy, Arlyn would often visit his dad, whose machine was located just inside the large door on the north side of the building near the west end on Council Street. He eventually moved to the new plant erected near the railroad tracks.

After retirement Marvin and Dorothy were active in assisting with programs for the elderly in and around Tomah. One of Marvin's favorite hobbies was collecting aluminum cans. He would ride his bicycle around town picking them up. He did it more for the exercise than the money. Another hobby that began in 1959 when Arlyn started college was to collect match books from everywhere he and Dorothy went. He lined an entire wall in his basement workshop with them.

Marvin also enjoyed gardening. He had a garden until he was up into his 80's. With their lot near what was a golf course during the war, he would occasionally find a 30 or 40 year old golf ball when he tilled in the spring. Marvin and Dorothy also enjoyed taking the train to California to visit with Arlyn and his family when they lived in Huntington Beach..

Marvin was buried on 17 October 1992 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^44,96,127 in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Dorothy Elizabeth PURDY (`) (~) (^) and Marvin Ludwig BERNHARDT had the following children: