Obit: Rossow-Darton, Lillian I. (1920 - 2013)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Rossow, Darton, Kuester, Bakerburg, Shefus, Friske, Bender, Lawrenz, Schmidt

----Source: Tribune/Record/Gleaner (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 09 Oct 2013

Rossow-Darton, Lillian I. (17 JUL 1920 - 2 OCT 2013)

Lillian I. Rossow-Darton, 93, Greenwood, died on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013, at Ministry Saint Joseph's Hospital, Marshfield. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., on Tuesday, Oct. 8, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Greenwood. Rev. Brian Campbell officiated. Burial followed in the Greenwood City Cemetery. Pallbearers were Darren Weber, Carl Rossow, Kyle Friske, Tim Gehrke, Jeff Miller, J.R. Black, Jacek Romanski and Timothy Jarog.

Lillian Ida Kuester was born on July 17, 1920, in Loyal, the daughter of Gustave C. Sr. and Emma W. (nee Bakerburg) Schefus-Kuester. She was raised on the family farm and received her education in Loyal schools. After two years at Loyal High School, Lillian moved to Waukesha to work and completed her high school education in Oconomowoc, graduating from Oconomowoc High School in 1938. She married Edward C. Rossow on Oct. 24, 1939, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Loyal. Together they farmed in the town of Beaver. In 1951, Lillian went to work as a bookkeeper/secretary for the Loyal Cannery until its closing in the 1980s. They built a home in the town of Warner, rural Greenwood, and moved there in 1974. Her husband, Edward, died on Aug. 14, 1978. Lillian then married Hugh E. Darton on April 12, 1980. He died on Nov. 20, 1986. She continued to reside at home until the time of her death. Lillian was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church and its Ladies Aide, the Curtiss Corners Quilting Club, the Eastern Star, was on the election board for the town of Warner for many years, was a foster mother for several years, and did bookkeeping for the horse auctions in Neillsville. She had many interests, but especially loved spending time with her family, crafts, ceramics, quilting, traveling, baking, cooking, sewing, knitting, crocheting and gardening.

She will be dearly missed by her three children, Nancy Weber, Danny Rossow and Peggy (David) Friske, all of Greenwood; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; two step-daughters, Caryl Jean (Merlin) Bender, Marshfield, and Donna Lou (Lynn) Lawrenz, Algoma; three siblings, Henry (Shirley) Kuester, Waukesha, Minnie Schmidt, Towner, N.D., and Harry (Elizabeth) Kuester, Tomahawk; two sisters-in-law, Isla Kuester, Hillsboro, and Bobbe Kuester, Tomahawk; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Lillian was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Edward Rossow and Hugh Darton; one daughter-in-law, Nancy (nee Dean) Rossow; three brothers, Alfred Kuester, Edwin Kuester and Gustave Kuester Jr.; two sisters, Leona May and Florence Welch; and a half-brother, Herman Schefus.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be given to Our Savior's Lutheran Church or a charity of choice.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com.

Cuddie Funeral Home, Greenwood, assisted the family with arrangements.