Tomah - Marie Augusta (Suhr) Drescher, 96, of Tomah, WI died on Thursday, November 3, 2022, at the Serenity House in Tomah. Marie was born on October 17, 1926 in Cochrane, WI to Adolph and Marie (Riechmann) Suhr. She was baptized and confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church in Cochrane on March 17, 1940. Marie attended rural schools in Rose Valley and Cochrane High School. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree at UW-Madison in 1948. Upon graduation, she found employment in Neillsville, WI, as a UW extension home economist for Clark County. While there, she met Norman Drescher and they married on May 27, 1950, in Cochrane. During the first year of marriage, she worked as a dietician at the Neillsville Hospital.
In 1957, Norman was employed by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture and the family was transferred to Tomah, WI. Marie served as a leader in 4-H, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Church Circle, Extension Homemakers, and Monroe, Juneau, and Jackson County Genealogical Workshop. She was a bookkeeper for many years for the Tomah Cash Mercantile Company and served as the secretary-treasurer of Tomah’s Oak Grove Cemetery (from her home office for 15 years). Marie served on the Wisconsin Legislative Cemetery Advisory Committee, and she was instrumental in creating Tomah’s Oak Grove Cemetery Foundation, Inc. to fund preservation and improvements. She began the entry of cemetery records into a computer format, including all old records for research. Marie was a founding member of the Tomah Area Historical Society and an initial board member. For many years she served as a curator for the museum. Marie enjoyed gardening, reading, history, corresponding with friends, translating German documents for friends and relatives, and she especially enjoyed visits with family. Before her eyesight failed, she enjoyed sewing and craft painting.
Marie is survived by her 5 children: David (Nancy) Drescher of Lake Mills, WI; Diane Drescher of New York, NY; Donna Stratton of Apopka, FL; Karen Drescher of Chicago, IL; and John (Peggy) Drescher of Bartlett, IL; her 8 grandchildren: Sara Drescher, Michele (Michael Berry) Drescher, Dan (Laurel) Drescher, Bryan (Belinda) Stratton, Joshua Stratton, Adelynn Drescher, Michaella (Zach Nelson) Drescher, and Braedon Drescher; and her 13 great-grandchildren: Brandon Stratton, Bradley Stratton, Brianna Stratton, Austin Stratton, Reagan Drescher, Miles Berry, Madelyn Berry, Lily Drescher, Olivia Drescher, Giselle Drescher, Harvey Drescher, Tessa Drescher, and Paige Nelson.
Marie is preceded in death by her husband, Norman; her parents, Adolph, and Marie; two stillborn brothers, Adolph and Gustav Suhr, and two grandsons: Kevin and Adam Stratton.
A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, November 19, 2022, 11:00 A.M. at Good Shepard Lutheran Church, 1221 LaGrange Ave., Tomah, WI. Pastor Bert Thompson will officiate. A burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery.
Family and friends are invited for a time of visitation on Friday, November 18, 2022 from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau St. Tomah, and at the church on Saturday from 10:00 until the start of the service. Online condolences can be sent to www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com. Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Memorials in Marie’s honor can be sent to a church or historical society of your choice.
Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home
