CAMP DOUGLAS - Catherine Wilma Neustadter, 92, of rural Camp Douglas, died on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at the Manitowoc Health Care Center. She was born on February 20, 1930 to Otto Raymond and Christance Sonova (Jacobson) Crook in Vernon County, WI. She grew up in Viroqua, WI and Camp Douglas, WI. She attended Camp Douglas High School.
Catherine (friends called her “Muff” or “Muffy”—a nickname she got as a baby) was united in marriage to Wayne Neustadter on August 14, 1947 in Sparta, WI. Wayne and Catherine became parents to two children, Diane and Gary. They lived on the family mink ranch in the Town of Cutler. Wayne died in 1967 from a sudden heart attack. The mink were sold and Catherine began employment at the Tomah Veterans Hospital in Tomah, WI where she worked in the supply department with her best friend Jean Wischow until retirement.
She was a skilled seamstress who was always willing to help a neighbor from a basic hem to a complete outfit (from scratch). “Grandma” enjoyed visiting with her three grandchildren as much as possible, attending their musical performances, school activities, and special vacations through the years. She enjoyed a good conversation with anyone who stopped by, hardly ever missed a funeral, loved to attend weddings, and was always eager to hear a good joke. She even took up deer hunting after Wayne passed and was VERY successful for many years.
Catherine was a faithful member of the Bethel Baptist Church and enjoyed the weekly Sunday dinners with the Georgeson family after church. She loved to sit on her front porch and watch the birds and deer. She did not like the squirrels or raccoons!
She is survived by her son Gary (Kristen) Neustadter, son-in-law Don (Diane) Larsen, daughter-in-law Kristen (Gary) Neustadter; grandchildren Garth (Anna) Neustadter, Derek (Lori) Larsen, Dacia (Seth) Hopfensperger; great grandchildren Rece Hopfensperger, Elle Hopfensperger, Austin Larsen; a sister-in-law Elaine (Les) Neustadter; and many relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Wayne in 1967, her daughter Diane (Don) Larsen in 2018, three sisters Irene (Bernard) Abbott, Ardith (Carl) Ness-Schmauder, Rachel Best, one brother Russell (Pauline) Crook, one sister-in-law Phyllis (Robert) Elsing, one brother-in-law Les Neustadter, and a brother-in-law Phillip Neustadter in infancy.
A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, August 1, 2022, 2:00 P.M. at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau St., Tomah, WI. Pastor Ronald Davidson will officiate. Burial will be in the Camp Douglas Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home on Monday from 12 Noon until the time of the service.
In remembrance of Catherine Neustadter’s life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to “Bethel Baptist Church.”
Online condolences may be sent to www.sonnenburgfamilfh.com
Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home
