Ramona D Wisthoff

Now in the arms of her Savior, Mona Wisthoff passed peacefully from this life at home on Nov. 15, 2024. Mona was born in Neenah on April 3, 1935, the daughter of Inga (Omnes) and Jens Lauritzen. She graduated from Neenah High School and married her sweetheart, Dean Wisthoff on Sept. 12, 1953. They were married for 71 years.
Soon afterward, Mona and Dean moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where he served with the U.S. Army. Upon his discharge, they moved to Dayton, Tennessee, and lived in a log cabin, while Dean studied at Bryan College. A year later they returned to Menasha, where he earned his B.S. and M.S.T. in Science and Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Subsequently, his first teaching assignment was in Dowagiac, Michigan, where their son Dana was born. They then moved to Pulaski, Wisconsin, where Dean taught for two years, and their daughter Dawn was born. Shortly thereafter, the family returned to Neenah where Dean taught chemistry at Neenah High for 26 years.
Mona retired from Kimberly-Clark Corporation in 1990 after 14 years with the company; prior to that, she served as secretary to the pastor at Calvary Bible Church for 13 years. For years as a church member, she served alongside her husband as a youth leader, participated in various Bible studies and loved singing in the choir.
Mona and Dean enjoyed traveling and she usually had one of her 'projects' with her wherever they went. She loved sewing, quilting and cross stitch; her great skill and creativity were evident in all the special creations made for loved ones. Mona and Dean took their children on family camping trips to tour both the Eastern and Western states and later, the two of them enjoyed a European vacation. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with an Alaska tour and cruise, hosting their adult children and their spouses.
During her later years, Mona loved to read, work on jigsaw puzzles, and kept busy knitting soft caps for cancer patients. She started and maintained a ladies' weekly card club for a decade and enjoyed spending time with Dean at their woodland property in Adams/Friendship. So many loved Mona and will remember her cheerful countenance, generous spirit, and loving presence.
Preceding her in death were her mother and father, devoted sister Mae and two infant brothers, James and John, as well as niece Diane and nephew James.
Mona is survived by her beloved husband Dean; son Dana Wisthoff (Elisabeth), granddaughter Victoria of Phoenix, Arizona, and grandson Alexander (Morgan) of Oceanside, California; daughter Dawn Northway (Tim), and granddaughter Nicole (Branden) of Brooklyn, New York, and grandson Cody (Taylor) of Brillion, Wisconsin. In addition, loved ones reside in North Dakota, including her dearest sister-in-law Katie Wiedrick (Les), niece Ruth Skar (Brian) and nephews David (Tam) and Jonathon (Patricia) Wisthoff. Her nephew Stephen (Grace) Wisthoff lives in Nebraska and nephew Larry Rymer (Carol) resides in Texas.
A Celebration of Life will be Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 11 a.m. in the Calvary Bible Church Worship Center, with lunch following in the Fellowship Center. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts to Calvary Bible Church, PO Box 799, Neenah, WI 54957-0799. (Please include IMO Mona Wisthoff on the check memo line.)