Merle Tipton

Merle A. Tipton, age 96, of Montello passed away peacefully Wednesday evening, September 8, 2010 at the Montello Care Center. Merle was born in Menasha, WI on July 6, 1914 to Amol and Bessie (Norcross) Burgett. At age 12 Merle moved to Montello with her family; she attended Montello High School and through hard work she moved her way up to a supervisor with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections where she retired at the age of 67. Merle was a fun loving person; she liked to laugh and enjoyed dancing, reading, watching the birds, flowers and was even riding on a motorcycle on her eightieth birthday. Merle also traveled to many different places around the world. She also loved her family very much and enjoyed spending time with them. Survivors include, three children: Diane (Robert) Metcalf of Portage, Avis (Dr. Rudolf) Matzke of Spooner, WI and James Tipton of Kansas City, MO, nine grandchildren: Susan (Jim) Schultz, Jean (Jon) Sheller, Mark (Patti) Wegenke, Jay (Dayna) Wegenke, Andrew (Diane) Matzke, Peter Matzke, Dena (Brian Hanson) Matzke, Teresa (Jack) Johnson and Garth Matzke. She is also survived by 21 great-grandchildren and 6 great great-grandchildren as well as her loving companion of 34 years, Sprague Bartels. Merle is preceded in death by her parents and sister, Adele (Francis) Pufahl as well as two former husbands, Edward Gessner and Gail Tipton. A memorial service will be held on Monday, September 13, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at the Crawford Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of service. Pastor Sue Bryce will preside and inurnment will follow at the Montello City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Montello Care Center, 251 Forest Lane, Montello, WI 53949.

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Previous Events

Visitation
Monday, September 13, 2010
Memorial Service
Monday, September 13, 2010
Inurnment
Monday, September 13, 2010