Seventh Generation

539. Dowaine Robert GIRAUD was born on 15 June 1935 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^152,381 He died on 6 March 1987 at the age of 51 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁸¹ He was buried on 10 March 1987 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁸¹ at Mount Vernon Cemetery.

Dowaine Robert GIRAUD and Myrna Theresia WESTPFAHL were married on 24 August 1957 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^313,530,532 at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Myrna Theresia WESTPFAHL, daughter of Otto August WESTPFAHL and Therese Wilhelmine Maria GERKE, was born on 23 November 1940 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁵² She graduated in 1958 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁶¹⁵ from Tomah High School. She died on 3 January 2023 at the age of 82 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁵³⁵ 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."

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