Eunice K. Neitzel, 94, of Tomah and formerly of Kendall went to her final resting place May 5, 2015, at Liberty Village in Tomah.
She was born May 25, 1920, to Theresa (Karis) and Hubert J. Heintz in Wilton. She attended various schools in the Wilton area, as her father built many houses in the area, and they usually lived in them while he built the next one. She attended Tomah High School and graduated as one of the highest in her class, earning the Spade Award.
After graduating from high school, she went to work at the Tomah Cash Store, where she worked for four years. In 1940, she married Leonard Neitzel of Kendall. They lived in Tomah for a couple of years, and then moved to the Neitzel family farm in rural Kendall, where they farmed until 1970, when they sold their farm and moved into Kendall. Eunice worked for the Midland Co-op from 1970 until 1974, when she went to work at the 1st Bank of Sparta in Wilton. She worked there until she retired in 1991.
After her retirement, she traveled all over the country, Hawaii, and Europe with her husband Leonard and several of their lifelong friends. They both enjoyed playing cards and attended many card clubs in the area. After Leonard’s death in 1998, Eunice moved from their home in Kendall to one of the Kendall housing units. While there, she remained active at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, the Kendall Senior Citizens, and with family and friends. In 2002, she moved to Willow Woods housing complex in Tomah and remained active in St. Mary’s Catholic Church. In 2013, she moved into Liberty Village assisted-living community.
One of Eunice’s lifelong hobbies was crocheting. People for miles around would call her to make a special doily for a friend or family member. She was especially skilled and was still making them just a few weeks before her death. She enjoyed attending several fall craft fairs, but always looked especially forward to the one at Kendall Community Hall sponsored by the Kendall Senior Citizens.
She is survived by a daughter, Jaleata Kindt of Sparta; a son, Darrell of Tomah; a brother, Linus (Margaret) Heintz of Sparta; a brother, Norman (Audrey) Heintz of Medford, Wis.; four grandchildren Mark and Jason Schaitel of Sparta, Elizabeth Neitzel of Sparta and Benjamin Neitzel, of Des Moines, Iowa; and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard; a brother, Kenneth; a grandson, Nathan; two brother-in-laws, Arnold and Raymond Neitzel; and three sisters-in-law, Edna Lorch, Lydia Neitzel and Erma Neitzel.
A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial was at 11 a.m. Friday, May 8, at St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Church, 315 W. Monroe St., Tomah. Rev. Msgr. Richard W. Gilles officiated. Burial was in Glendale Cemetery in Kendall.
The Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home in Tomah assisted the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com.
