Fifth Generation

59. Louis Wilhelm MATTHEWS was born on 13 May 1911 in Monroe County, WI.^54,62,65,151 He was baptized on 11 June 1911 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁵¹ He appeared in the census in 1920 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁷ Louis appeared in the census in 1930 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³² He died on 18 March 2002 at the age of 90 in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI.^54,65 He was buried in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁶⁵ in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Louis Wilhelm MATTHEWS and Verda Eunice PROHL were married on 26 September 1970 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.⁵⁴ at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church Verda Eunice PROHL, daughter of Theodore PROHL and Eunice EMERSON, was born on 15 December 1921 in Fairchild, Eau Claire County, WI.^152,153 She died on 2 January 2010 at the age of 88 in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁵³

Obituary Notes: "Verda E. Matthews, age 88, of Tomah, WI, passed away Jan. 2, 2010, at the Morrow Memorial Home in Sparta. She was born Dec. 15, 1921, to Theodore and Eunice (Emerson) Prohl in Fairchild, WI.

Verda lived in Fairchild and Black River Falls before moving to Tomah. She was a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Tomah. She enjoyed baking, gardening and flowers. Most of all, she loved spending time with kids and babysitting.

She is survived by children Steve Gorkowski of Tomah, Peggy (Mike) Ladwig of Monona, and Alice (Brede) Sorenson of Tomah; grandchildren, Nicole (Chris) Sondalle of Sheboygan, Nathan Sorenson of Milwaukee, and Erin Sorenson (fiancé, Steve Mittelstaedt) of Menomonie; one great-grandchild, Cohan Sondalle; and brother-in-law, Hallie Smith of Ladysmith; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Theodore and Eunice; husbands, Walter Gorkowski, Benjamin Davis and Louis Matthews; three sisters, Beth Person, Bernice Klatt and Joyce Smith; and a brother, Archie Prohl.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, Jan. 6, at 11 a.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Tomah. Pastor William Rice officiated. Burial followed in Oak Grove Cemetery, Tomah.

Family and friends called on Wednesday from 9 a.m. until the time of service at the church. The Torkelson Funeral Home of Tomah assisted the family with arrangements."