Source: Tribune-Record-Gleaner (Clark County, Wis.) 07/25/2001
 

Pettis, Paul W. (1918 - 2001)

Paul W. Pettis, 83, Neillsville, Clark County, died on Friday, July 20, 2001, at the Edgewater Haven Nursing Home, Port Edwards. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., on Tuesday, July 24, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Neillsville. The Rev. Woodrow Pace officiated. Interment was in the Columbia Cemetery. Pallbearers were his grandsons, Scott Dickson, Matt Strangfeld, David Strangfeld, Tim Strangfeld, Arnold Peter Strangfeld, and Adam Pettis.

Paul Woodrow Pettis was born on June 24, 1918, in Fairchild, to Floyd C. and Margaret J. (nee Whitcomb) Pettis. He attended Pettisville Grade School, located between Fairchild and Augusta, and later graduated from Fairchild High School, at the age of 16, as the valedictorian. After graduation, he attended two years of farming short course in Madison. Then as a way for him to pay for his future college courses, he worked as a milk tester in Rusk and Vernon counties. He attended teachers college in Eau Claire and then went on to teach school. He married Ella Rimling on May 6, 1942, at the Fairview Church, Fairchild. Shortly thereafter, he entered the Army, was injured in training, and transferred over to the Army Air Corp, where he taught navigation during World War II. Upon returning from the service, he worked as a mill rite in the paper mill in Eau Claire. Eventually, he returned to teaching and one of the schools he taught at was the Riverside School, located five miles south of Neillsville. In 1954, he and his family moved to Neillsville and in 1955, he became a social worker and worked for Clark, Wood, and Outagamie counties. He retired in 1982 and then he and his wife did volunteer driving for the Clark County Social Services Department. They drove all over the state and often would make several trips to Marshfield in one day. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and had taught catechism. He was also a member of the Nation Rifle Association and was an avid hunter and gunsmith.

Survivors include his wife, Ella Pettis, Neillsville; one son, Paul M. (Beverly) Pettis, Cadott; two daughters, Patricia (Arnold) Strangfeld, Nekoosa; and Mary (Daniel) Dick, Neillsville; 17 grandchildren 23 great-grandchildren one brother, Russell (Alice) Pettis, New Brighton, Minn.; four sisters, Lorraine Hardesty, Augusta, Dorothy (Bill) Heinenmann, California; Phyllis Pettis, Augusta, and Sylvia Bertrang, Eau Claire; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother-in-law, Loyal Hardesty.

Gesche Funeral Home, Neillsville, assisted the family with arrangements.