Fifth Generation

213. Darlene Dawn LIBKE was born on 22 January 1937 in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI.^87,327 She graduated in 1954 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³²⁸ from Tomah High School. She died on 6 December 2021 at the age of 84.³²⁷ Obituary Notes: "Darlene D. Trowbridge, 84 of Tomah was called to glory on Monday, December 6, 2021. She was born on January 22, 1937, to Harold and Norma (Gerwing) Libke in Sparta. She was a member of the Tomah High School Graduating Class of 1954.

On February 11, 1956, Darlene was united in marriage to Dale D. Trowbridge in Iowa. He preceded her in death on Sept. 7, 2007.

Darlene had an inherit gift of artistry from an early age, she spent countless hours blending colors and textures bringing black and white photos to life by capturing all the beautiful colors as an oil colorist, in between maintaining a household, and raising a bustling family of 6. The Trowbridge household was always buzzing with activity, with friends and neighbors coming and going and although she was a full-blooded German woman who ran a tight ship, she had enough love in her heart to give to everyone that crossed her path. She was an avid bowler and, together, Darlene and Dale often bowled in the couples' leagues. She also enjoyed spending time in the garden.

She is survived by her children, Diane (Michael) Anderson, Dixie (Thomas) Neitzel) and Dale II (Shelly), David (Kristie) and Dennis all of Tomah, 9 grandchildren, Jennifer (Tim) Dietzen, Crystal, Shelly and Heather (Michael) Pasch, Dena, Tanya, Chelse, Angelica, and Emily, 8 great-grandchildren Michael Anderson, Damon and Dalana Benoit, Kit Meacham, Ryder Ray Rozek, Bella and Ivy Guynup, and Ashton Olszewski, a sister-in-law, Ann Trowbridge of Schofield, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Dale, a son Darold, a grandson Darold, a daughter-in-law Vicky, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Rex and Evelyn Trowbridge, brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law, Donald Trowbridge, Beverly and Dayton Sowle.

A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, 11:00 AM at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, Tomah. Pastor Curt S. Backhaus will officiate. Burial will be in Mt. Vernon Cemetery.

Relatives and friends are invited for a time of visitation on Monday from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau Street, Tomah and on Tues at the church from 10:00 AM until the time of the services. The family requests memorials be given to St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church in Darlene’s name."

Darlene Dawn LIBKE and Dale Dean TROWBRIDGE Sr. were married on 11 February 1956 in Iowa.³²⁷ Dale Dean TROWBRIDGE Sr., son of Douglas TROWBRIDGE and Evelyn QUAM, was born on 19 December 1935 in Monroe County, WI.⁸⁷ He graduated in 1954 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³²⁸ from Tomah High School. He died on 7 September 2007 at the age of 71 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁴

Obituary Notes: "Dale D. Trowbridge, 71, of Tomah, died Friday, Sept. 7, 2007, at Tomah Memorial Hospital. He was born Dec. 19, 1935, to Rex and Evelyn (Quam) Trowbridge at Wyeville. He was baptized at the church rectory in Shennington. He was united in marriage to Darlene Libke on Feb. 11, 1956, in Iowa. Dale joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed on the USS Boxer and served during the end of the Korean War. While in the service, Dale was an amateur boxer. Dale served as the Sheriff of Monroe County for 10 consecutive years, from 1990 until his retirement in 2000. He began his law enforcement career as one of 66 applicants for a full-time patrol officer on the night shift, working six days a week with Mondays off. At that time, there were three radio operators, three traffic officers, one relief man, and three police vehicles. The Sheriff’s Department consisted of three men including the sheriff. On June 26, 1966, he was appointed as the Traffic Chief. He worked at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department for 43 years. He was a member of the Monroe County Police Association, the Wisconsin Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Association, the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Association and the Wisconsin Police Association. He was also appointed by Gov. Anthony Earl as a member of the Governor’s Council of Traffic Law Enforcement. He was a Wayne Truttman Award Recipient. Dale accompanied youths of the School Safety Patrol Program to Washington, DC, for 25 years, and had the privilege of placing a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. He attended and was on the planning committee for approximately 25 years of the Wisconsin Dells Safety Patrol Congress. He was awarded the Francis Eckerman Award for his long standing support of youth safety programs. Dale was an alderman representing the Third Aldermanic District on the Tomah city council; he had also served as the chairman of the Council’s Recreation Park Committee and served on the Audit, Budget and Finance Committee and the Lake Committee. He was an active bowler and was a league member for several years. He was a sports enthusiast, especially when it came to watching horseracing and playing softball. He was an avid outdoorsman and deer hunter and enjoyed motorcycle riding. He was a faithful member of St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church in Tomah

Most important to Dale were his wife Darlene; his children, and his grandchildren. He was a devoted husband, loving father, grandfather and brother.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Darlene of Tomah; five children, Diane (Michael) Anderson, Dixie (Thomas) Neitzel) Schaldach, Dale II (Shelly) and David (Kristie), all of Tomah, and Dennis of Fort Meyers, FL; nine grandchildren, Crystal (special friend Kurt Bernhardt), Shelly (special friend John Benoit) and Heather (special friend Michael Pasch) Anderson, Dena, Tanya, Chelse, Angelica, Emily, and Jennifer (Tim) Dietzen; four great-grandchildren, Michael Frost, Damon and Delana Benoit, Kit Meacham; a brother, Donald (Ann) of Schofield; a sister, Beverly (Dayton) Sowle of Tomah; nieces, nephews, many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Darold; a grandson Darold, a daughter-in-law, Vicky; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Harold and Norma Libke.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, 525 Superior Ave. Tomah. Pastors Donald R. Buch and Curt Backhaus will officiate. Burial will be at the Mount Vernon Cemetery, Town of Tomah, with military honors by the Grassman-Sowle-Larsen-Senz American Legion Post #201."

Darlene Dawn LIBKE and Dale Dean TROWBRIDGE Sr. had the following children: