Ninth Generation

661. Duane Arthur PRISE was born on 1 July 1932 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^130,189,571 He appeared in the census in 1940 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁶⁴ He appeared in the census in 1950 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³³⁶ He was living with his parents and his occupation was "Setting Pins, Bowling Alley." Duane died on 11 August 2021 at the age of 89 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁵⁷¹ Obituary Notes: "Duane A. Prise, age 89, of Tomah, Wisconsin, passed away Wednesday, August 11, 2021, at the Serenity House is Tomah. He was born July 1, 1932, to Wilbert and Lucille (Vincent) Prise in Tomah, Wisconsin.

He was united in marriage to Lois Jackson. Duane worked in maintenance at Union Camp in Tomah. He was a member of the Tomah Volunteer Fire Department, a member of the Tomah Ambulance Service and taught fire safety at Western Technical College for many years. Duane was involved in many civic organizations where he served in several capacities. He was a member of the Tomah Jaycee’s and volunteered at the Tomah Historical Society. Duane also volunteered at the Tractor Pull, worked the election booth for the City of Tomah and was a longtime ambassador for the Tomah Chamber of Commerce.

Together Duane and Lois enjoyed raising their family and watching their grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow. He had a strong work ethic and was proud to have instilled that in his children. Duane’s witty disposition and sense of humor will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Lois, his children, Eric (Mary) Prise of Tomah, WI, Kari (John) Steinhoff of Tomah, WI, Kurt (Denise) Prise of Tomah, WI, Karla (Danny) Welch of Tomah, WI and Kristi Micheel of Sparta, WI, grandchildren, Mallory (Erik) Egstad, Courtney (Beau Jacobson) Prise, Whitney (Tim) Gnewikow, Ryan (Jolene Danca) Steinhoff, Emily (Eric) Newbury, Molly (Troy) Moseley, Kyle Welch, Zachary Welch, Cody Micheel and Corey Micheel, great grandchildren, Henry Egstad, Jenalynn and Owen Gnewikow, Logan and Riley Larsen, Josie and Jack Newbury, Jameson, Margaret and Rory Moseley, his brother, Lowell (Deb) Prise of Tomah, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilbert and Lucille and a granddaughter, Elizabeth Micheel.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 13, 2021, 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tomah. Pastor Curt Backhaus will officiate. Burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery. Family and friends are invited for visitation on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Tomah Hospice Touch or the Tomah Fire Department. The Prise family would like to thank the Serenity House and Touch of Home for the wonderful care given to Duane. The Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are available at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com."

Duane Arthur PRISE and Lois Ann JACKSON were married on 11 October 1958 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁸⁹ at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Lois Ann JACKSON, daughter of Alvin JACKSON and Loretta M. DROWATZKY, was born on 28 April 1935 in Tunnel City, Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI.¹³⁰ She graduated in 1953 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^422,423 from Tomah High School. She died on 10 October 2023 at the age of 88 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁵⁷² Obituary Notes: "Lois Ann Prise, age 88, of Tomah, WI, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at Touch of Home in Tomah. She was born on April 28, 1935 to Alvin and Loretta (Drowatzky) Jackson in rural Monroe County. She was raised in Tunnel City and was a graduate of Tomah High School, class of 1953.

Lois had a special bond with her sister Shirley--it was never just Lois or just Shirley it was always "Lois and Shirley." They both went to Milwaukee and attended the school of cosmetology. After returning to Tomah, Lois worked as a beautician at Steele Rexall.

Lois met and married Duane A. Prise on October 11, 1958. Together they raised five children who they loved dearly. They were proud of the work ethic they instilled in all of them.

She was a homemaker until her children started school, and in 1973 she started at Tomah Memorial Hospital as an admissions clerk; later she joined the insurance department until her retirement.

Lois's grandchildren were always loved. They all share memories of walking to Grandma and Grandpa's house after school, eating popsicles in the backyard and talking with Grandma in her kitchen. She enjoyed camping trips with her family, and reading and watching her favorites like Gone with the Wind and The Sound of Music. She was a fantastic baker and you could always expect a treat in the cookie jar. Lois had a sweet tooth which she passed on to most of her children and grandchildren.

At Christmas she decorated her home beautifully, always setting up her Christmas village. At Christmas time her porch was always full of her baked goods, including her holiday cutouts which were often decorated with the help of her grandchildren.

Lois was a faithful member of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, and was active in the Esther mission circle. She volunteered at St. Paul's Lutheran school in the cafeteria and was also a member of the Tomah Memorial Hospital Auxiliary as well as helping out in the hospital gift shop.

Lois is survived by her children, Eric (Mary) Prise, Kari (John) Steinhoff, Kurt (Denise) Prise, Karla (Danny) Welch all of Tomah, and Kristi Micheel of Sparta, WI; grandchildren, Mallory (Erik) Egstad, Courtney (Beau) Jacobson, Whitney (Tim) Gnewikow, Ryan (Jolene Danca and her children, Logan and Riley Larsen) Steinhoff, Emily (Eric) Newbury, Molly (Troy) Moseley, Kyle (Katelyn Larsen) Welch, Zachary (Wynne Larson) Welch, Cody Micheel and Corey Micheel; great grandchildren, Henry and Emmy Egstad, Jenalynn and Owen Gnewikow, Josie and Jack Newbury, Jameson, Margaret, and Rory Moseley; her brothers, Stanley (Linda) Jackson of Bradenton, FL and Gordon (Kris) Jackson of Portage, WI; brother-in-law, Michael Penneau; brother-in-law, Lowell (Deb) Prise; along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Alvin and Loretta Jackson; husband, Duane; her granddaughter, Elizabeth Micheel; her in-laws, Wilbert and Lucille Prise; her sisters Shirley (Roger) Protz, and Karen Penneau; and a sister-in-law, Shirley Jackson.
The Prise family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Touch of Home and Hospice Touch for the wonderful care they provided to Lois.Funeral Services for Lois will be held on
Friday, October 13, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tomah. Pastor Korey Van Kampen will officiate. Burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Tomah. Family and friends are invited for visitation on Friday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice Touch of Tomah or to St. Paul's Lutheran Church."

Duane Arthur PRISE and Lois Ann JACKSON had the following children: