Darleen “Dar” E. Martalock, 87, of Tomah died Thursday, July 2, 2015, at her home.
She was born Dec. 1, 1927, to Gustav and Emilie Hemerley in the town of Wellington. She was united in marriage to Elmuth “Bud” Martalock on June 17, 1947, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kendall. He preceded her in death Aug. 17, 2009. She was a member of the Kendall graduating class of 1946. Darleen and Bud farmed together in Black Valley for six years before moving to Tomah. In 1959, they moved to Beloit, and then returned to Tomah in 1982.
Darleen was a devoted and faithful member of the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. She was a good mother and kept a clean house. Darleen enjoyed playing cribbage, playing Pfeiffer with her card club, and would travel to the Elroy, Kendall, Wilton, Ontario and Norwalk areas to play bingo.
She was an excellent cook, and St. Patrick’s Day’s was one of her favorite days. She would treat her family to corned beef and cabbage. She was a devoted Milwaukee Brewers fan. She enjoyed her flowers and watching the birdfeeder; she could sit out all day fishing if possible.
Darleen especially loved spending time with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; they were the “sunshine” of her life. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother.
She is survived by a son, Alan (Pam) of Beloit; a daughter, Linda (Clarence “Butch”) Martin of Tomah; 10 grandchildren, Kay, Andy (Cyndi), Sara, Ruth (Jim) Lynch, and Lora, all of Beloit, Misty (Anthony) Iannone of Elgin, Ill., Eve (special friend Rachel Javan) of England, Jesse (special friend Diana) Rinehart of Tomah, and Amy (Josh) Larsen and Chad (Jenny) Martin, both of Tomah; 17 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Ramona Waterworth of Columbus, Wis., and Judy Kessenich of Denver, Colo.; a brother, Vernie (Lucile) Hemerley of Tomah; a brother-in-law, Frank (Darlene) Martalock of Ontario; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
In addition to her husband, she is preceded in death by her parents; a son, Vernal “Butch”; a grandson, Alan Jr.; a brother, Everett Hemerley; five brothers-in-law, Roy Pruess, Edwin Rydzewski, Fred Hansen, Russ Waterworth and Albert Martalock; five sisters-in-law, Marceda Hansen, Ruby Rydzewski, Leona Preuss and Arlene Martalock; and an infant sister-in-law, Bernice.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, July 6, 2015, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 310 W. Elizabeth St., Tomah. Pastor David Dahl will officiate. Burial will be in the South Ridge Lutheran Cemetery, town of Wellington.
Relatives and friends are invited to call Sunday at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau St., Tomah, from 4–8 p.m. and at the church on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.
