Third Generation

15. Ruth Mae MESNER was born on 17 February 1922 in Knapp Township, Jackson County, WI.^8,10,12 She was a member of the First Baptist Church about 1926 in Warrens, Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.²² She appeared in the census in 1930 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.⁸ Ruth died on 29 September 2006 at the age of 84 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁰

Obituary Notes: "Ruth Roberts Harris, age 84, of Tomah, WI, passed away on Friday, Sept. 29, 2006, at her home surrounded by her family. She was born on Feb. 17, 1922, to William C. and Mabel (Rochester) Mesner in Knapp Township. She was a 1940 graduate of Tomah High School.

Ruth was united in marriage to Cecil C. “Bob” Vandervort in 1941. To that union was born a daughter, Betty R. Carlson. Cecil was killed in action November of 1944 while serving his country in WWII. Ruth then married Mervin F. Roberts. To this union a daughter, Sharon K. Laufenberg was born. Mervin preceded her in death in 1994. In late 1997, she was united in marriage to Lester Harris and he remains to mourn her death.

Ruth was a very active member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. She was a member of the Ladies Circle, Mission Circle and several church choirs. She was active and enjoyed politics and was a member of the Republican Women Association. Ruth served as the clerk for the Town of La Grange for over 25 years. She was also a member of the Tomah City Council and the Monroe County Board for many years and served on several committees. Ruth took great pride in organizing class reunions for the Tomah High School Class of 1940 and also Mervin’s Army reunions.

She is survived by her husband, Lester of Tomah; two daughters, Betty (Eric) Carlson and Sharon (Stephen) Laufenberg all of Tomah; grandchildren, Rick Carlson, Robert (Kristi) Carlson, Stephanie (Bill) Coady and Sarah Laufenberg (fiance’, Henry Thiele); her two brothers, Lloyd (Bev) Mesner and Dale Mesner; sister-in-law, Pauline Mesner and four great-grandchildren, Joshua, Cassan-dra, Hope and Katrina Carlson; stepson, Marland (Evelyn) Magee; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Cecil Vandervort and Mervin Roberts; brothers, William “Bud” Mesner and Harold Mesner; sisters-in-laws, Elaine “Tootie” Mesner and Hazel Mesner.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, Oct. 2, 2006, 11 a.m. at the St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. Pastor Donald Buch will officiate. Burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Tomah. Family and friends were invited for visitation on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2006, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah. Family and friends are also invited for visitation on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church."

She was buried on 2 October 2006 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁰ in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Ruth Mae MESNER and Cecil Clayton "Bob" VANDERVORT were married on 5 October 1941.^28,29

He worked for several summers for John T. Vandervort at the Forest Primeval in Sayner, Wisconsin. (Source: Personal correspondence from John T. Vandervort to Mary Clay Vandervort and personal reminisces of Lawrence Carl Vandervort.)

He joined the Army in 1941 and attained the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He was a navigator in the Army Air Corps. He and all but two members of the crew of their B-17, "Patches," died on a mission over Merseberg, Germany, when they were hit by anti-aircraft fire. Cecil Clayton "Bob" VANDERVORT, son of Emile Peter VANDERVORT and Mary CLAY, was born on 18 February 1920 in Kirby, Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.¹² He appeared in the census in 1930 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.⁸ He graduated in 1937 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁰ from Tomah High School. Bob appeared in the census in 1940 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI. He was living with his mother and his occupation was "Laborer, Home Farm."

. He died on 25 November 1944 at the age of 24 in Haaren, Nordrhein-Westfalen Province, Germany.^29,31 He was a pilot in the Air Force, when he was killed in WWII. He had been reported missing in December 1943. His remains were interred at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky in 1950. (Sources for military information are the 8th Air Force History Association; the National Archives.) He was buried in Warrens, Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.³² in the Warren Mills Cemetery.

Ruth Mae MESNER and Cecil Clayton "Bob" VANDERVORT had the following children:

Ruth Mae MESNER and Mervyn Floyd ROBERTS were married about 1945.^10,33 Mervyn Floyd ROBERTS died in 1994.⁶

Ruth Mae MESNER and Mervyn Floyd ROBERTS had the following children:

Ruth Mae MESNER and Lester William HARRIS were married in 1997.¹⁰ Lester William HARRIS, son of Arthur Floyd HARRIS and Grace Ellen JOHNSON, was born on 11 October 1919.³⁴