Obit: Guthmiller, Louise (1918 - 2012)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Guthmiller, Hieb, Grether, Stucki, Tesky, Buchholz, Gukeisen, Nyreen, Stoebner, Way

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 11/28/2012

(2 November 1918 - 24 November 2012)

Louise Guthmiller, 94, of Tripp, SD, passed away Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012.

Louise Guthmiller was born on a farm eight miles southwest of Tripp, SD, Saturday, Nov. 2, 19198. She was the youngest of 11 children born to Ludwig and Katharina (Hieb) Guthmiller. She was baptized and confirmed in the Reformed Faith and attended the Rural Oak Hollow School District #70 through the eighth grade. Louise’s father died in 1924 when she was six years old, and her mother and all the children worked hard to keep their farm. In 1943, Louise moved into Tripp from the farm and from 1943 to 1947, she was employed at various stores within the Tipp community.

In 1947, she traveled with Rev. and Mrs. Jack Grether to Neillsville, where she began working at the Winnebago Indian School. After earning her GED in July of 1961 and attending night school, she became an administrative secretary at the school, first for Rev. Grether and later for Rev. Ben Stucki. Over the years, “Miss Lou” was given many beautiful baskets hand-woven by the women and children at the Indian School.

Louise had maintained her ties to the Tripp area during her years in Wisconsin, as she had purchased a house in Tripp that she occupied during her school vacations, and then lived in it during her retirement. After retiring to Tripp, Louise cared for her sister, Esther, and her brothers, Konnie and Samuel, in their final years. Louise was an independent, ambitious woman who held strong opinions and had a “can-do” spirit. She was always busy. She loved to drive and will be remembered driving her red Dodge and later her white Beretta. Louise lived her life independently, driving her car and maintaining her home until age 93.

She was the Guthmiller family historian and chronicled all of the family events, names and dates. Louise was a member of Frieden’s Reformed Church and the Good Samaritan Auxiliary. She was treasurer for the auxiliary and was instrumental in the creation of the Tripp Community Calendar to benefit the Good Samaritan Society, duties which she enjoyed until just last year. She enjoyed gardening and mowing her yard, and she loved all animals, especially her cats, Mikey and Mickey.

Louise’s physical health began to deteriorate, but her mind remained sharp until the very end. She moved into Good Samaritan Assisted living in October of 2011 and became a resident of the nursing home last month. It is there that she passed away.

Louise is survived by numerous nieces and nephews and many great-nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Ludwig and Katharina Guthmiller, Louise was per ceded in death by three sisters: Athalia Tesky, Bertha Buchholz and Esther Guthmiller; seven brothers, Solomon, Samuel, Emanuel, Konnie, Leo, Otto and Carl; one niece and two nephews.

Funeral services for Louise were held Tuesday, Nov. 27, at Frieden’s Reformed Church in Tripp with Rev. Greg Way officiating. Organist was Shelly Finck and soloist, David Finck. Interment followed in Frieden’s Reformed Cemetery, Tripp. Casketbearers were: Charles Gukeisen, Chad Guthmiller, Harry Guthmiller, Judd Guthmiller, Mark Guthmiller, Daniel Nyreen and Myron Stoebner.

Louise’s arrangements were in the care of Goglin Funeral Home of Tripp and online condolences may be sent at www.goglinfh.com.