TOMAH - Vera Kuehl, age 96, of Tomah, WI, passed away on Monday, March 4th, 2024 at Gunderson Hospital in La Crosse, WI.
Vera was born in Tomah on October 16, 1927 to Paul and Clara Boettcher. In January of 1943 (at age 15) she traveled to Texas by train to marry her hometown sweetheart, Martin Kuehl, who was in Army training. They were happily married for over 64 years.
Vera spent her entire life in the Tomah area, and she also enjoyed traveling throughout the country and to Germany, Alaska, and Hawaii. She was a lifelong member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and she served on several women’s groups there. Vera worked many years at Shutter’s Supermarket, eventually retiring from the Tomah VA Hospital.
Vera camped often with family and friends and she was also a very good cook. In retirement she participated in several card clubs in the area and was widely known as a very good player at both cards and at the casino. She enjoyed frequent visits from her family and also other relatives and friends including Mary and Terry Boettcher, Carol Aune, John and Ruth Ann Gamerdinger, Sherry and Gary Tolle and many others, to include paster Bob Gerke and pastor Steve Olson who provided her spiritual comfort.
Vera is survived by three children: Arlene (Mark) Fagasa of Texas, Craig (Christie) Kuehl of Tomah and Douglas (Judy) Kuehl of Georgia, seven grandchildren; Christopher Coleman of Texas and Deseree Rushford of Alaska, Trevor Ward of La Crosse, Brandon (Nicole) Kuehl of Madison, Gus (Glenda) Kuehl of Virginia, Adam (Courtney) Kuehl of Arizona and David (Laura) Kuehl of Georgia; ten great-grandchildren, Cassidy (Shane) Cada and Dylan Kotenbeutal of Minnesota, Sawyer Rushford of Alaska, Tanner and Caden Kuehl of Madison and Gracie Mae Kuehl and Adalyn Kuehl of Georgia, Jose’ Cabrera of North Carolina, and Daniel Kuehl & Ada Sanchez of Virginia; and one great great grandchild, Ayvree Cada of Minnesota.
Vera is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Martin, infant son Robert, daughter Barbara Ward, and granddaughter Tami Kotenbeutal; also brothers Michael Boettcher, Roland Boettcher, Earl Boettcher, Raymond Boettcher and sister, Dorothy (Boettcher) Kneifl.
Funeral Services for Vera will be held on Friday, March 8, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tomah. Burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Tomah. Family and friends are invited for visitation on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. The Torkelson Funeral Home of Tomah is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to the Lions Club/ Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin.
Vera and her family would like to give a special thanks to the wonderful people of the Morrow Home Community for the loving care and compassion they provided her.
Torkelson Funeral Home
