Ione Laura Fish, 95, of Tomah, passed away on Sunday, June 15, 2025, at Close to Home in Tomah. She was born on September 1, 1929, to Wayne F. and Hazel A. (Clair) Huber in the Town of Burns, and later attended Bangor High School. Ione was united in marriage to the love of her life, Donald L. “Don” Fish. They lived in the Town of Angelo before settling down in Tomah in 1948, and together, they welcomed 5 children: Gerry, Donna, Carol, Mary, and David. She was a faithful member of the EUB United Church that merged with the First United Methodist Church. She taught bible school and was involved with the lady’s aid. She was an excellent cook and will always be remembered for her Homemade Tomato Soup, pickles, milk gravy, and especially her treats. She would cater her meals for what each person wanted, and always had extra to send home. She was known as Grandma Fish, not just to her grandchildren but also to all their friends. She attended many sporting events and would be cheering for all of them. As a dedicated mother, Ione made it a point to always go above and beyond for her family, always making Christmas a special event, even when they did not have a lot. She was kind and welcoming, and made sure everyone felt included. She had a way of catering her love to everyone in her life and showed it.
Ione is survived by her children, Gerry Forsythe, Donna (Don) Friedl, Carol (Greg) Betthauser, Mary (Dann) Shutter, all of Tomah, and David (Kim) Fish of Rochester, MN; 12 grandchildren, John (Kim) Gunderson of Eau Claire, Gary (Karen) Gunderson of Holmen, Taryn (Chad) Sauey of Sun Prairie, Brooks (Sherry) Betthauser of Deerfield, J.T. (Kristin) Friedl of Stoughton, Melissa (Jay) Larsen of Tomah, Marc (Kelli) Shutter of Tomah, Joshua (Suzi) Fish of Shakopee, MN, Jordan (Heather) Fish of Eau Claire, Kelsey Shutter of Tomah, and Noah (Kara) Fish of Rochester; 2 step-grandchildren, Brian Forsythe and Shannon Forsythe; 23 great-grandchildren, Shawn, Morgan, Jamie, Brooklyn, Sadie, Ryan, Hannah, Mason, Rylee, Lily, Jayda, Emmeri, Gibb, Ophelia, Avery, Arthur, Sophie, Rooney, Logan, Hudson, Nolan, Mila, and Kellen; great-great-grandchildren, Ella, Lucas, Grace, Drew, Leo, Ryler, Jeremiah, and Grayson; sisters, Norma Anderson, Laura Mae (Bill) Haefner; and many nieces, nephews, other family members, and friends.
In addition to her parents, Ione is preceded in death by her husband, Don; grandson, Bryan Betthauser; great-granddaughter, Hailey Betthauser; sons-in-law, Richard Gunderson and Don Forsythe; sisters, Beverly Rediske and Lorraine Thill; brothers, Russell Huber and James Huber; her mother and father-in-law, and many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, June 20, 2025, 1:00 P.M. at First United Methodist Church, 1105 Butts Ave. Pastor Claudia Deedee will officiate. Burial will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery.
Relatives and friends are invited to a visitation on Thursday from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau St. Tomah. And at the church on Friday from 12 Noon until the time of the service. Online condolences may be sent to www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com. The family request memorials be given in Ione’s memory.
Sayde Barth // Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home
