Ninth Generation

150. Sharron Lea BENJAMIN was born on 15 January 1938.¹²⁰ She died on 1 October 2020 at the age of 82 in La Crosse, La Crosse County, WI.¹²⁰

Obituary Notes: "Sharron Lea Neitzel of Kendall passed away peacefully on Thursday October 1, 2020 at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, WI at the age of 82 years 8 months, 30,211 spins around the sun.

Sharron was born to Frank and Ethel Benjamin on January 15, 1938. She was the middle of three children and the only girl. She was a proud Kendall Mustang, graduating from the Kendall High School in May 1956. She married her high school sweetheart George Neitzel on June 25th 1955, and recently celebrated 65 years of marriage.
 
Sharron was the mother to four children, and homemaker while they went through school, she later started working as a CNA for Tomah Memorial Hospital, and Heritage Nursing Home. She worked for Ho Chunk Gaming and Casino in Wisconsin Dells as Security and EMT. For many years she was an active participant with the Kendall holiday craft fairs.

She founded Sheri’s Shop, which created and sold plaster crafts and more. Sharron loved ceramics, woodworking, leather tooling, painting, and many other arts and crafts. She was gifted musically and played the cornet, accordion, organ and piano. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, playing cards, country music and the occasional polka.

She loved to travel and heading to Canada with her husband and family for 53 summers of fishing. Lunch island will never be the same without her. She took up 3D archery being a member of the Kendall Archery Club and Wilton Rod and Gun Club. Sharron was an active member of the Kendall Area Ambulance Service and EMT for 37 years starting in 1971. She was an instructor of first aid and CPR classes, regularly helping Monroe County with Mock disaster training by staging scenes to help prepare emergency responders.
 
She also enjoyed spending summer days at her family cottage, time outside, riding her motorcycle and DIY. She never missed and episode of As the World Turns, or Wheel of Fortune. Sharron’s love of bowling started in the 1960’s and continued throughout her life. She participated in league bowling until early 2020.

She loved her family more than life itself, holidays brought out her pie baking and candy making. She prepared a dinner no one would go away hungry from, and don’t forget the rutabagas. Christmas was always her favorite time of the year bringing all of the family back home to fill the house she so loved. She was the family historian and storyteller being blessed with the GIFT of gab. She was an active and faithful member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kendall where she enjoyed Sunday services and movie nights. Covid couldn’t touch this spitfire, she went out on her own terms and will be greatly missed by her family.   
 
She is survived by her husband, George, daughters Deborah Dopson-Kienast (Stanley) of Lawson, MO; Teri Parrish (Gary) of Brodhead, WI; LeAnn Steinbrink (Randy aka Hotdog) of Wilton, WI; and son Jerry Neitzel (Kathy) of Fitchburg, WI; Grand-Children Tina Parrish (Mark), of Beloit; Jennifer Dopson (David) of Tomah, WI; Josh Parrish (Trisha) of Brodhead, WI; Candace Steinbrink (Andy) of Tomah, WI; Matthew Neitzel (Kelly) of Big Flats, WI; Christopher Steinbrink (Morgan) of La Crosse, WI; and Duane Neitzel of IA. Step-Grand Children Tracy Kienast, Kristy Sibell, and Shawn Kienast. Great-Grand Children – Gia Cladwell-Debuque, Damon Parrish, Andrew, Logan, Annabelle, Haley Jane, Kylee and Leroy Olson, Matthew Jr., Landyn, Gracelynn, and Aubreighanna Neitzel; and her beloved grand-pups; 12 step great-grandchildren and many other family members.
 
She was proceeded in death by her parents, brother Harold (Vonnie) Benjamin, brother Lee Benjamin, Aunt Hazel Stehr, brother-in-law Alfred Stehr, Mother-in-law Irene (Murray-Johnson) Neitzel, Father-in-law Erwin Neitzel, Brother-in-law Erwin Neitzel Jr.
 
Celebration of life arrangements will be announced at a later date due to Covid-19 Pandemic. Cards can be sent on behalf of the “Neitzel family” to the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, PO BOX 762, Tomah, WI 54660.   Online condolences may be given at www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com."

.

Sharron Lea BENJAMIN and George Arthur NEITZEL were married on 25 June 1955 in Kendall, Glendale Township, Monroe County, WI.^61,121,122 George Arthur NEITZEL, son of Erwin William NEITZEL and Irene SONNENBERG, was born on 26 September 1936 in Kendall, Glendale Township, Monroe County, WI.¹²² He died on 14 June 2022 at the age of 85 in Mauston, Juneau County, WI.¹²² Obituary Notes: "George Arthur Neitzel of Kendall, WI passed away peacefully on Tuesday June 14, 2022, at Fairview Nursing Home in Mauston, WI at the age of 85 years 8 months.

George was born in Kendall, WI at home on September 27, 1936, to Erwin and Irene (Sonnenberg) Neitzel. He was the second born of nine children growing up on the family farm in rural Kendall later moving to New Lisbon. George attended New Lisbon High School where he enjoyed playing football graduating with the Class of 1954.

He married his high school sweetheart Sharron Benjamin on June 25, 1955, at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kendall, WI. They raised four children together. The sparks would fly but George and Sharron survived 65 years of marriage together living in Kendall, WI.

George was a man of strength and integrity. A strong leader of his family teaching them hard work, community service and dedication. George devoted his life to three things, fishing, family, and community. He enjoyed 55 summers of fishing trips to Lac des Mille Lacs, Canada. With Sharron by his side, he would meet up with his longest fishing buddy Paul, guiding his family and friends on the lake; and if you were lucky, he’d take you to fish back in “The Boot” his favorite fishing spot. Granted this always would include a stop at lunch island, a meal filled with the freshest catch and fishing stories new and old. When the grandchildren, or rug rats as he would lovingly call them were old enough, he would take one along every summer to learn the lake.

He watched over his community for decades joining the Kendall Police Department & Ambulance Service serving the community for 38 years. George also joined the Kendall Fire Department serving them for 50 years. He enjoyed suppling the fish for the Fire Departments fundraising fish fries. He served in many rolls including Kendall Fire Chief and Police Chief. George worked as a mechanic at Schroeder Motors in Kendall for many years, before transitioning into body work at Gary’s Auto Body in Tomah, WI until retirement.

George also enjoyed playing cards with friends, riding motorcycle, snowmobiling, cutting wood and shooting the sh** with friends. He was a master at making little Joe’s for catching that trophy walleye, a lover of licorice, turtles, and a Korbel. As George would say “Now quit your bitchen”, it’s time to enjoy that awesome fishing hole in the sky.

He is survived by daughters Deborah Dopson-Kienast (Stanley) of Lawson, MO; Teri Parrish (Gary) of Brodhead, WI; LeAnn Steinbrink (Randy aka Hotdog) of Wilton, WI; and son Jerry Neitzel (Kathy) of Fitchburg, WI; Grand-Children Tina Parrish (Mark), of Beloit; Jennifer Dopson (David) of Tomah, WI; Josh Parrish (Trisha) of Brodhead, WI; Candace Steinbrink (Andy) of Tomah, WI; Matthew Neitzel (Kelly) of Big Flats, WI; Christopher Steinbrink (Morgan) of La Crosse, WI; and Duane Neitzel of IA. Step-Grand Children Tracy Kienast, Kristie Sibell, and Shawn Kienast. Great-Grand Children – Gia Cladwell-Debuque, Damon and Evelyn Rose Parrish, Andrew, Logan, Annabelle, Haley Jane, Kylee, and Leroy Olson, Matthew Jr., Landyn, Gracelynn, and Aubreighanna Neitzel; and grand-pups; 12 step great-grandchildren, siblings, Roger (Barbara) Neitzel of Melrose, WI; Robert (Nancy) Neitzel of Gettysburg PA; Barbara (Doug) Moskonas of Cataract, WI; Rose of Tomah, Donald Neitzel of Tomah, WI; Linda (Dick) Martin of Kendall, WI; David (Kathy) Neitzel of New Lisbon, WI; many nieces, nephews and extended family members.

He is proceeded in death by his wife Sharron, his parents, brother Erwin Neitzel JR., brother in-laws Lee Benjamin, Harold (Vonnie) Benjamin, and baby Olson.

Visitation will be held on Friday July 8, 2022, at 10am, service to follow at 11am at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kendall, WI. Cards can be sent on behalf of the “Neitzel Family” and sent to Sonnenberg Funeral Home, PO Box 762, Tomah, WI 54660. Online condolences and service information found at www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com.

Sharron Lea BENJAMIN and George Arthur NEITZEL had the following children: