Kenneth Dale Parlow, 67, of Tomah died Monday, Feb. 8, 2010, at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Tomah.
Kenneth was born on a farm on Feb. 15, 1942, on to Vernon and Amelia (Honel) Parlow in the town of Adrian, Monroe County.
He was baptized Jan. 9, 1944, at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church. He attended eight years of grade school at St. Paul’s Lutheran School and was confirmed in 1956. He attended Tomah High School for four years and had one year of automotive trade at Western Wisconsin Technical College in La Crosse.
In 1960 Ken joined the Army National Guard. In 1961 he was activated and served with the Wisconsin National Guard Red Arrow Division because of the Berlin Crisis. Ken was stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash.
After his service of active duty, Ken worked on the railroad as a switchman in Chicago. He later came back to Tomah and worked at OK Tire Service. He also worked at the Kennedy Auto Supply and Norris Vernier Ford Auto.
In 1971 Ken went to work as head of maintenance for the Tomah Schools Garage. He retired from the Tomah Schools Garage in 1997 due to health reasons. Due to health insurance costs, however, he did work part time at the 6M Cranberry Marsh, Wildes Transmission, and Granger’s Campground and Small Engine Service of Oakdale.
In 1963, he met Bonnie Short of Ontario, and they were engaged later that year. They married May 29, 1964, at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church. Ken enjoyed fishing, tenting, boating, water skiing, hunting and playing cards. He especially enjoyed the 11 years of camping at Birch Point Resort in Bloomer, Wis., and spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren. Ken also enjoyed spending time with classmates from the Tomah High School class of 1960.
Ken’s last years of life were mostly spent at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Tomah. He was a devoted husband, a loving father, grandfather, and on Jan. 9, 2010, he became a very proud great-grandfather. He was very grateful for the care and kindness that was given to him by the staff of the Veterans Administration Hospital.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Bonnie; four sons, Kevin of Sparta, Michael of Tomah, Steven of Mauston and David of Tomah; eight grandchildren, Dana Marie Parlow, Jennie Parlow, Benjamin Parlow, Brittany Parlow, Kennedy Sommerfield, Katelyn Parlow, Tyler Parlow and Abigail Parlow; a great-grandson, Colby James Parlow; two brothers, Donald (Maxine) Parlow of Belvidere, Ill., and Gerald (Robin) Parlow of La Crosse; two sisters, Verna Jean Robinson of Enon, Ohio, and Sharon Rowell of Millston, Wis.; two sisters-in-law, Leona (Richard) Drew of Sparta and Elizabeth (Karl) Dorwin of Sparta; three brothers-in-law, Delbert (Rosie) Short of Ontario, Martin (Carol) Short of Hillsboro and Anthony Flock of Norwalk; an aunt, Ester Matzke of Milwaukee; and special cousins, Della Brown and Nancy Tenner. He is further survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many special friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a granddaughter, Sara; two brothers-in-law, Allen Robinson and Asa Rowell; a sister-in-law, Violet Flock; an uncle, Arnold Bernhardt; and many aunts and uncles.
Funeral services at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 12, at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, 525 Superior Ave., Tomah. Pastor Curtis Backhaus will officiate. Burial with military honors will be in Mount Vernon Cemetery in the town of Tomah.
Relative and friends are invited to call from 5–8 p.m. Thursday at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau Street, Tomah, and one hour prior to services Friday at the church.
