Ella Parker,age98,died on Saturday,February 7,1998 at the St. Joseph's Nursing Home in Hillsboro. She was born on April 12,1899 at LaFarge,Wisconsin.Ella was the daughter of Mila Ann Rice and Leroy Wood. Her Father was a railroad employee. While still a young child she moved with her Mother and two brothers to West Lima. Here the family operated a boarding house. While at West Lima,Ella's Mother remarried George W. Weeden and then moved the family to Debello Ridge outside Hillsboro Ella recieved her formal education at the Debello School. Ella contributed her long life to hard work. At age 14 she began work as a hired girl in the
Schneider Home,while there she met her first husband,Lewis Onsager. They married May 16,1914. Lewis died October 6,1918 of influenza while in the Army. On October 3,1919 Ella married Loyal Parker of Mather. They married in Tomah and established their first home in Greenwood Twp.,Vernon County. Here Mirriam Mila there only child was born. After the farm they moved to Viola near Goose Creek where they were employeed in a cheese factory. Next they moved on to Richland County,WI. and operated another cheese factory,soon they moved back to the farm on Debello Ridge.On Debello the Parker's operated a cheese factory, a store and did the farming.On July 12,1956 Loyal Parker died.Ella continued to operate the store until 1959, with the help of Shirley Camel-Thew. Ella continued caring for her Mother Mila also. In 1961 Ella moved to Elroy,living there for 27 years with daughter Mirriam and son in law Robert Stanek.In 1988 Ella moved to Georgetown II Apartments and lived there until 1995.Upon which time she entered the St. Joseph's Nursing Home in Hillsboro,WI.
She is survived by a daughter,Mirriam(Robert Stanek)of Hillsboro,six grandchildren,Robert(Donna) Stanek of Appleton,Roger(Anita)of Madison,Dan(Karen)of Sun Prarie,Gary(Lani)of Winneconne,Rosemary Stanek of Madison and Alice Baehman of Appleton, 12 Great Grandchildren,Nine Great Great Grandchildren. Two sister in laws,Jennie Parker-Kellog,and Lena Parker-Click.In addition to her husbands she was preceded in death by her parents,son in law,a grandaughter,Mary E. Stanek,a great grandson Christophere Stanek,two brothers, Elmer(Lulu)Wood and Buford B.(Goldie)Wood, a sister Orpha Wood and many other dear relatives and friends.Funeral services will be held on Monday,February 9,1998 at 10:30 a.m. at the Picha Funeral Home in Hillsboro. Reverand Roger Miller officiating.Burial will be in the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery near West Lima. Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday, February 8,1998 from 2 p.m. until 8 a.m.
Wisconsin State Journal February 8,1998.(contributed by Debra Steinmetz,Debra thank you so much!)