Eighth Generation

504. Myrna Theresia WESTPFAHL was born on 23 November 1940 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI.¹³⁰ She graduated in 1958 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁵¹⁴ from Tomah High School. She died on 3 January 2023 at the age of 82 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁵¹⁵ Obituary Notes: "Myrna T. Giraud, 82, of Tomah passed away surrounded by her family on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at the Serenity House. She was born on November 23, 1940 to Otto and Theresa (Gerke) Westpfahl. She attended Reels Valley Country School and later the Tomah Senior High School Class.

On August 24, 1957, Myrna was united in marriage to Dowaine R. Giraud at St. John Ev. Lutheran Church, Ridgeville. He preceded her in death on March 6, 1987. Together they farmed one of the largest dairy farms in Monroe County. Myrna loved country living and all the hard work that comes along with farming, she especially enjoyed driving the tractor and ploughing the fields.

From 1987 until 1991 she was a member of the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, as well as a member of the Monroe County Board. In 1972 Dowaine and Myrna received the Outstanding Farmer of the Year Award. She was very dedicated to the Valley Ville 4-H Club and county fairs, the St. John’s Ladies Circle, and the homemakers group. She was also a lifelong faithful member of St. John Ev. Lutheran. In her younger years she enjoyed playing the accordion and taught accordion lessons.

On March 19, 2006, Myrna was united in marriage to Richard “Dick” Sommerfeldt. She loved dancing and singing, playing golf, an avid sports fan to the Packers, Badgers, Nascar, Kentucky Derby, and enjoying time with friends. Dick and Myrna made several trips to Tennessee to golf. Family was most important to Myrna, she always looked forward to family gatherings, spending time with her children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, and many nieces and nephews would always bring a smile to her face and often she was the last to leave. In her last weeks she enjoyed many visits from her family and friends. She will be sadly missed by all that knew and loved her.

She is survived by her husband, Richard “Dick” Sommerfeldt of Tomah, children, Don (Sherri) of Tomah, Keith of Tomah, Craig (Michele) of Norwalk, Todd (Laurie) of Sparta, and Diane Sesolak of Lodi, step children, Kurt (Marilyn) Sommerfeldt and Sue Solberg, step daughter-in-law, Yvonne Sommerfeldt, grandchildren, Kayla (special friend, Remy) Giraud, Chelsie (Ron) Blashaski, Nicole (special friend, Shawn) Giraud, Shannon Giraud, Matthew (Amber) Ramlet, Kayla Ramlet, and Calie Giraud, Jaden Christner, Carly Kowitz (special friend, Michael), Julia (Nathan) Treadwell, Alexanne (special friend, Carter) Sesolak, great grandchildren, Lily, Robert and Chanse, Ashlynn, Shayla, and Malcolm, Amaya, Jacob (Leah), Josh, Cora, Clay, Jayce, Sawyer and Kadience, Carson, Ezra, Lily, Rowan and Maddox, Finn, and an expected grandchild as well as the Sommerfeldt and Ducklow families grandchildren and great grandchildren. She is further survived by special friend Kathy Von Haden, many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many dear friends.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Dowaine, son-in-law, Jeffrey Sesolak, stepson Rick Sommerfeldt, infant great grandson, Jaxson, a brother Harold, 2 sisters, Joyce Olson and Sonja Pierce, 2 brothers-in-law Loren Pierce Jr and Duane Pierce, 3 sisters-in-law, Dolores Westpfahl, Grace Pierce, and Sue Pierce.

A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, January 7, 2023, 11:00 A.M. at St. John Ev. Lutheran Church, 21693 County Hwy A, Tomah (Ridgeville). Pastor Robert Gerke will officiate. Burial will be in Mt. Vernon Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited for a time of visitation on Friday from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau Street, Tomah and on Saturday at the church from 10:00 AM until the time of the service. Memorials may be directed to the church. Online condolences can be offered by visiting www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com. Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home is assisting the family."

Myrna Theresia WESTPFAHL and Dowaine Robert GIRAUD were married on 24 August 1957 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^189,399,516 at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Dowaine Robert GIRAUD, son of Robert Eugene GIRAUD and Gertrude Luella KEWIT, was born on 15 June 1935 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^130,296 He died on 6 March 1987 at the age of 51 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁹⁶ He was buried on 10 March 1987 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁹⁶ at Mount Vernon Cemetery.

Myrna Theresia WESTPFAHL and Dowaine Robert GIRAUD had the following children:

Myrna Theresia WESTPFAHL and Richard R. "Dick" SOMMERFELDT were married on 19 March 2006.⁵¹⁵ Richard R. "Dick" SOMMERFELDT, son of Reinhold G. H. SOMMERFELDT and Dorothy C. DOMKE, was born on 2 October 1933 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.¹³⁰ He lived at his home in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI in February 2004.⁷⁵ He died on 22 November 2023 at the age of 90 in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI. Obituary Notes: "Richard “Dick” R. Sommerfeldt, 90, of Tomah, passed away on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, at the Morrow Home in Sparta, WI.

Dick was born on October 2, 1933, to Ronald D. and Dorothy C. (Domke) Sommerfeldt on the Raliegh Clark farm south of Wilton, WI where he lived his entire youth life. He was a member of the Wilton High School Graduating Class of 1952. After graduation, Dick enlisted into the United States Air Force and was stationed overseas in England for two years during the Korean War and was honorably discharged as an Airman Third Class.

He returned home in 1954 to marry his high school sweetheart, Lila M. Farmer on August 13, 1954, in Wilton. She preceded him in death on February 13, 2004. Dick and Lila moved to Montana for a few years before returning to Tomah in 1957. They resided in the Lemonweir area until 1961 when they purchased their forever home on Elm Street. Dick worked for Ranney’s Dairy from 1957-1967, for the 7-Up Bottle Company from 1967 to 1970 before returning to Volk Field as a contracting officer, retiring in 1993 as an Air Guardsman. Dick was fortunate to find love again in 2005 when meeting Myrna Giraud. They were united in marriage on March 19, 2006. She preceded him in death on January 3, 2023.

Throughout his lifetime, Dick enjoyed golfing. He was a member of the Holiday Lodge golf league and competed in couples’ league with Lila in his earlier years. He and Myrna took many golf trips to Tennessee in the later years. Dick enjoyed traveling and had the good fortune to travel with Lila to almost every state in the US. They also went to Niagara Falls, on family camping trips to Yellowstone, trips to the Grand Tetons and Florida are just a few of the countless trips that Dick was able to enjoy throughout the years.

This time of year, Dick would look forward to planning snowmobiling trips around the state. He never passed up the opportunity to enjoy a turn around the dance floor. Dick also enjoyed hunting and was always excited when deer season was approaching. He loved to hunt with his kids and his grandkids through the years. Many memories were made. Watching and cheering his grandchildren and great grandchildren on at their sporting events brought him a tremendous amount of joy and he looked forward to every time he was able to spend time with them. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather who will be dearly missed by those that loved him.

He is survived by his son; Kurt (Marilyn) Sommerfeldt of Rochester, MN; a daughter-in-law, Yvonne Sommerfeldt of Warrens; grandchildren and great great grandchildren; Aaron (Krista), their children, Reed and Kinzie; Joslyn (Mark), their children, Madisyn and Emma; Brian (Danielle) their children, McKinley and an expected grandchild in December, Danielle (Sam) their children, Nyah and Camden; Alicia (Curtiss), their children, Davisyn and Kallyn; stepchildren, Don (Sherri) of Tomah; Keith of Tomah; Craig (Michele) of Norwalk, Todd (Laurie) of Sparta; and Diane Sesolak of Lodi; step grandchildren and step great grandchildren. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Preceded in death by his parents, Ronald and Dorothy, his first wife Lila; second wife Myrna; son, Richard “Rick” Sommerfeldt; daughter, Susan Solberg – her partner in life Ray Hardimon; sister, Arlene Buddy; brother, Gordon Summerfield, sister-in-law, Beverly Schroeder, and brother-in-law Jim Farmer and his faithful four-legged companion, Lexus.

A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, December 1, 2023, at 11:00 AM at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau Street, Tomah, WI. Pastor David Dahl will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery with military honors by Grassman-Sowle-Larsen-Senz American Legion Post #201 following the funeral. Lunch will be served at the Sonnenberg Funeral Home after the visit to the cemetery.

Relatives and friends are invited for a time of visitation on Thursday from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM at the funeral home and on Friday from 10:00 AM until the time of the service. Online condolences can be offered by visiting www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com."