Fourth Generation

98. Corlis Henry BEHRENS was born on 31 March 1919 in Monroe County, WI.⁸⁷ He died on 22 June 2009 at the age of 90 in La Crosse, La Crosse County, WI.²⁰⁵

Obituary Notes: "Corlis (Corly) Henry Behrens, of Tomah, and recently of La Crosse, passed away peacefully on June 22, 2009, at Bethany Riverside in La Crosse, with family by his side. He was 90 years old.

Corlis was born on March 31, 1919, to Henry and Irene (Wenzel) Behrens in Tomah.

Corlis worked at City Service in Tomah, was in the U.S. Army for five years, then worked at the Tomah locker plant and Burnstad’s as a meat cutter, at the Tomah Veterans Hospital as a nurse’s aide and then worked in the boiler plant at the VA. He later transferred to the VA engineering department and was a repairman.

Corly served in the United States Army during WWII, from 1941 to 1945. He was a sergeant with the 2nd Division, 38th Infantry, Company D on Omaha Beach, June 7, the second day of the invasion. He was in charge of two 30 caliber machine gun crews. His units participated in some of the most horrific fighting as they fought their way out of the beach head and through the hedgerows. He received a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart, among other military awards. He was wounded in France and spent six months in a British hospital.

Corly married Margaret Rischette on Feb. 6, 1946.

Corly was a disabled American veteran and a member of the Tomah American Legion, and he had a lifetime concern for veterans’ issues. He loved to be with his wife and his family, to vacation in northern Wisconsin, play cards, fish, watch baseball on TV, read newspapers and joke books, and visit with relatives, neighbors and friends. He was a hard worker all his life and had an excellent reputation. Corly and Margaret’s marriage was a wonder to behold and they were each devoted to the other. He was a loving husband, a good father and grandfather, and a friend to many. He will be dearly missed.

Survivors include Margaret, his wife of 63 years, and four children: Carmen (Jim) Lennartson, of Winona, MN, Lois (Mike) Gilbert of La Crosse, Bradley (Lois) Behrens of Tomah, and Andy (Kathie) Behrens of Holmen; and also seven grandchildren, John Lennartson of Minneapolis, Ann (Chris) Shaw of Minneapolis, Liza Gilbert of Lake Geneva, Ron Behrens of Minnesota, Dan and Leslie Behrens of Hinckley, MN, and Sam Behrens of Holmen, as well as by five great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his parents, Henry and Irene, and his sister, Evelyn Potts.

Funeral services were today (Thursday), June 25, at the Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah, with visitation from 12-1 p.m., followed by the service at 1 p.m., and burial at Mount Vernon Cemetery. The Torkelson Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Disabled American Veterans."

Corlis Henry BEHRENS and Margaret RISCHETTE were married on 6 February 1946.^205,206 Margaret RISCHETTE, daughter of William RISCHETTE and Julia A. SCHOBER, was born on 21 April 1921 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁰⁶ She graduated in 1939 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁰⁷ from Tomah High School. She died on 7 November 2010 at the age of 89 in La Crosse, La Crosse County, WI.²⁰⁶

Obituary Notes: "Margaret Mary (Rischette) Behrens, of Tomah, and recently of La Crosse, passed away Sunday evening, Nov. 7, 2010, at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital, with her children by her side. She was 90 years old.

Margaret was born April 21, 1920, to William and Julia (Schober) Rischette in Tomah and was one of ten children. She was close to her parents and loved her brothers and sisters. She lived most of her life in Tomah and resided in La Crosse at Hearten House I for the last year and a half.

Maggie graduated from Tomah High School with the class of 1939. During her high school career, she played violin in the orchestra, sang in the choir, and was a cheerleader. She later worked as a telephone operator for Northwest Telephone Company.

On Feb. 6, 1946, Margaret married Corlis Behrens, a decorated World War II veteran. Maggie and Corly had known each other since they were five years old. Their happy 63-year marriage was blessed with four children, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. They enjoyed annual vacations to Wisconsin’s northwoods and many happy times together. Maggie delighted in being around her children and grandchildren, was often the life of the party, and enjoyed games and card playing, telling stories, reading, sewing and art. She was always willing to help others and even in her elderly years looked for ways to brighten other people’s days and help them out. She was rich in friends.

Maggie led by example and was a terrific wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She contributed to her community in countless ways including: working as a reading volunteer at Miller School; serving with St. Coletta’s guild at St. Mary’s Church; assisting at blood drives for 25 years with the American Red Cross; becoming a ribbon-winning Wisconsin porcelain artist; working at the Tomah Memorial Auxiliary Thrift Shop and with the Retired Senior Volunteers Program. Maggie worked many years as an election poll worker and phoned her children before every major election to remind them to make their votes heard. In her last year and a half, she enjoyed singing, participating in the social, game and program activities at Hearten House and visiting with her children.

Margaret is survived by her four children: Carmen (Jim) Lennartson, of Winona, Minn., Lois (Mike) Gilbert of La Crosse, Bradley (Lois) Behrens of Tomah, and Andy (Kathie) Behrens of Holmen; seven grandchildren, John Lennartson of Minneapolis, Ann (Chris) Shaw of Minneapolis, Liza Gilbert of Lake Geneva, Wis., Ron Behrens of Brainerd, Minn., Dan and Leslie Behrens of Hinckley, Minn., and Sam Behrens of Holmen; as well as by six great-grandchildren; a brother, John Rischette; and a sister. Veronica Fisher.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Julia; and her beloved husband, Corlis, brothers and sisters, Sylvester, Peter, James, Anthony, Francis, Ann and Liz. She will be dearly missed by all who were privileged to know her wit and wisdom, her kindness, courage and strength.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010, 10 a.m. at St. Mary Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Tomah. Monsignor Richard W. Gilles will officiate. Burial will follow in the Mount Vernon Cemetery, Tomah. Family and friends were invited for visitation Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010, from 5 until 7 p.m. with a 5 p.m. rosary led by the P.C.C.W. at the Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah. Memorials that are given will be divided among Margaret’s favorite charities. The Torkelson Funeral Home of Tomah is assisting the family with arrangements."

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Corlis Henry BEHRENS and Margaret RISCHETTE had the following children: