Fourth Generation

64. Kenneth Elmer "Cousin Kenny" KEWITT was born on 3 October 1921 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^{1,25,77,81,97,213} (He spelled his surname as "Kewitt" because when he joined the Army, they discovered that his birth certificate had mistakenly listed his name with two t's and recommended that he use that spelling. He did so for the rest of his life.) He was baptized on 23 October 1921 in Monroe County, WI.²¹³ He appeared in the census in 1930 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁴ Cousin Kenny appeared in the census in 1950 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. His household was at 1711 McClean Avenue and his occupation was "Dry Cleaner, Cleaning Establishment." He died on 23 March 2003 at the age of 81 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^25,81,83 Obituary Notes: "Kenneth E. Kewitt, 81, of Tomah died on Sunday, March 23, 2003, at the Tomah Veterans Administration Medical Center. He was born on Oct. 3, 1921, to Paul E. and Anna (Marquardt) Kewit at Ridgeville. He was united in marriage to Jean A. Kern on June 27, 1946.

Prior to his retirement, he operated the Old Heidelberg Inn that later became known as Kewitt's Tavern. He was a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran and was awarded both the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. He was a member of the Monroe County D.A.V., Curtis-McNutt V.F.W. Post #1382 in Tomah, a member of the Grassman-Sowle-Larsen-Senz American Legion Post 201 in Tomah, and a member of the La Societe des 40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux Voiture Locale #804 Grand Voiture du Wisconsin.

He was also an active and faithful member of St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church. Kenneth was a hardworking, loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and brother.

He is survived by his wife Jean of 56 years; a daughter, Jill (John) White of West Chester, Penn.; one granddaughter, Courtenay White of West Chester, Penn.; two sisters, Jeanette Becker and Ardella Gerke, both of Tomah; two brothers, Harold (Gladys) Kewit and Jim Kewit, all of Tomah; four step-sisters, Rita Kron of Tomah, Hattie Croy of California, Viola Paff of Millston and Dorothy Peterson of Sparta; one step-brother, Willard Schultz of Calif.; a sister-in-law, Janice Wisnaski of Otsego, Mich.; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by six sisters, Violet Farmer, Ada Miller, Helen Westpfahl, Gertrude Oakes, Beatrice Wakefield and Margaret Drews; and eight brothers-in-law, Harry Westpfahl, Carl Miller, Ovid Oakes, Rolland Wakefield, Carl Drews, Edward Becker, Allan Gerke and Curtis Farmer.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, March 26, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church. Pastor Donald R. Buch officiated. Burial was in Oak Grove Cemetery at Tomah with military honors by Grassman-Sowle-Larsen-Senz American Legion Post 201, Tomah."

Toward the end of his life, he suffered from Alzheimer's Disease. He was buried on 26 March 2003 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^25,81 in the Oak Grove Cemetery. (His surname is spelled "Kewitt" in the Oak Grove Cemetery records.)

Kenneth Elmer "Cousin Kenny" KEWITT and Jean Ann KERN were married on 27 June 1946 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.²¹⁴ at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church. (Her obituary listed their marriage date as 24 June 1947.) Jean Ann KERN, daughter of Robert KERN and Louise GOLDBECK, was born on 28 February 1926 in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI.²¹⁴ She appeared in the census in 1950 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹²⁸ She died on 8 February 2011 at the age of 84 in Fort Myers, Lee County, FL.²¹⁴

Obituary Notes: "Jean A. Kewitt, 84, of Ft. Myers, Fla., formerly of Tomah, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011, at Hope Hospice in Ft. Myers. She was born on Feb. 28, 1926, to Robert and Louise (Goldbeck) Kern in Sparta. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. She was united in marriage to Kenneth Kewitt on June 24, 1947. Jean was a member of St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Tomah. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the VFW Auxiliary. Jean and her husband Ken owned Ken’s Bar in Tomah for 25 years. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Jean had moved to Ft. Myers to live with her daughter and son-in-law. She is survived by her daughter, Jill (John) White of Ft Myers; a granddaughter, Courtenay (James) Acton of Coatesville, Pa.; and a great-grandson, Logan Acton; two sisters-in-law, Ardella Gerke and Gladys Kewit; a special nephew, David (Sharon) Wisnaski; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Kenneth; a sister, Janis Wisnaski; seven sisters-in-law and two brothers-in-law.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, May 9 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Tomah. Friends and relatives may call at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.

The Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, Tomah is assisting the family with arrangements."

Kenneth Elmer "Cousin Kenny" KEWITT and Jean Ann KERN had the following children: