Eotus E. Tonn, 98, of Norwalk died Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012, surrounded by his loving family, at the Morrow Home in Sparta.
The son of Emil and Anna Radke Tonn, he was born Sept. 27, 1914, in Wilton.
On Sept. 14, 1940, he was united in marriage to Rozella Pasch at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mauston by Pastor Albert Winters. Their first home was in Melrose, Wis., where Eotus owned the E. E. Tonn Service Station. In 1943, Eotus was called to serve in the U.S. Army and later fought for our freedom in World War II in Central Europe and the Battle of the Bulge. His daughter, Barbara Jo, was born in 1945, just before his return from his military service. After living in Wilton a short time, the family moved to Norwalk in 1946 and opened Tonn Electric Service. He was the local electrician there for 40 years. A son, Dennis, was born in 1949.
Eotus was a current member of St. Jacob’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Norwalk, having served previously on the church council. Eotus was a past member of the Norwalk Village Board and a current member of Norwalk American Legion Post 438.
Survivors are his daughter, Barbara (Fredrick) McNaughton; his granddaughter, Emily (Jason) Knott; his great-granddaughters, Kendall and Kamryn Knott; his grandson, Matthew (Jessica) McNaughton; his great-granddaughter, Mara; and and his great-grandson, Cole McNaughton. He is further survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Rozella; his son, Dennis; his parents, and his sisters, Luena Heilman, Almeda Eckleberg and Rilla Kindt.
A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at St. Jacobs Evangelical Lutheran Church, Norwalk. Pastor Matthew Minzlaff will officiate. Burial will be in Pilgrim Home Cemetery, with military honors. Relatives and friends are invited for visitation from 4-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at the Smith-Nelson Funeral Home in Wilton and from 10-11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Online condolences may be given at www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com.
