Mildred Welke

Welke, Mildred (Peat) MADISON/ PRESQUE ISLE - Mildred (Peat) Welke, age 82, passed on to eternal life, on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2006, at the Anderson Johnson HospiceCare Center, after a short, but courageous battle with cancer. She was born on Sept. 7, 1924, in Clifton Township, Wis., to Delmar and Clara (Bast) Peat. Mildred spent her youth in the Livingston/ Dodgeville area and most of her adult life in Madison. She enjoyed living the last 18 years on Presque Isle Lake in Presque Isle. Watching the lake change with the seasons, as well as the deer, squirrels, birds and even bears on her deck, brought her great pleasure. Photography was a special interest and Mildred often tried to capture these wild animals and other beautiful scenes in nature with her camera. Her love of animals also extended to her dog, Dolly and her cats, Ralph and Kitty. She was also an avid gardener, even though it required having a high fence to keep the deer out. Although Mildred often found politics frustrating, she kept abreast of every issue and never missed an opportunity to vote. Mildred was a member of East Madison Baptist Church while in Madison and Living Hope Church while in Presque Isle. She was very grateful for the love and friendship of her church family at Living Hope Church. Mildred is survived by two sons, Robert (Ruth Ann) Foley of Winter and James (Linda) Foley of Arlington; three daughters, Barbara (Terry) Peck of Presque Isle, Rhoda (Don) Blatterman of Oregon and Patricia (Don) Kotlowski of Madison; a step-daughter, Susan McKay of Poynette; nine grandchildren; a step-granddaughter; 15 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Carolyn Arms of Fennimore and Ivanelle (William) Foley of Winter; and sisters-in-law, Lola Welke, Charlene Peat and Shirley Peat, all of Madison, Marie Welke of Sun Prairie and Margaret Peat of Dodgeville. She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry; her parents; grandsons, Edward Foley and Daryl Derer; brothers, William, Kenneth and Delmar; a sister, Ardythe Wilcox; and brother-in-law, La Vern Wilcox. A memorial service will be held on Monday, Oct. 23, 2006, at 11 a.m., at LAKE CITY CHURCH, 4909 E. Buckeye Road, Madison, with the Rev. John Ruck presiding. Fellowship will follow the memorial service. It was Mildreds wish that there be no flowers except for five carnations from her children. Instead, memorials may be made to Living Hope Church, HC 2, Box 572, Winchester, WI 54557. The family would like to thank the staff, especially of Pod 5, at the Don and Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center, for their loving care. Gunderson East Funeral and Cremation Centers 5203 Monona Drive (608) 221-5420 www.gundersonfh.com