Full Obituary

     Theodore (Ted) Meyer passed away on Tuesday, May 17, 2016, at Miller Alternative Care in Thorp, Wisconsin, while Rosalie, his wife of nearly 72 years, was at his side.
     He was born the son of Frank and Freda (Wiss) Meyer on August 20, 1918, on a farm near Edson, Wisconsin. Upon completing his elementary education in Edson and working on the family farm, at the age of 21, Ted took the train to Chicago, Illinois, where he attended and graduated from Coyne Electrical School. After graduation, he worked for Westinghouse Electric in Chicago repairing electric motors. 
     In 1943, Ted joined the U.S. Marine Corps and was assigned to the 9^th Marine Air Wing as a Corsair fighter plane electrician at Parris Island, South Carolina, putting his electrical education to use during World War II. He was honorably discharged in July of 1946.
     While attending Coyne Electrical School, Ted met the love of his life, Rosalie Czerwionka, of Chicago, Illinois, and they married on July 1, 1944, in Jacksonville, Florida, while Ted was in the service. After he was discharged, they moved to Wisconsin, eventually settling in Thorp and having seven children over the years.
     In 1947, they started Thorp Electric Motor Service, which they operated for thirty-seven years. After selling the business to their son Dennis in 1984, Ted continued to work there part-time, and in January 2016, Dennis sold the business to his son (and Ted’s grandson) Jeff, making Thorp Electric Motor Service one of few third-generation businesses in Thorp.
     As a hard worker and great provider who cared deeply for his family, Ted’s greatest legacy to his children was a strong work ethic. His work days in the shop were long, but he always said if you loved your job, it wasn’t work.
     Ted took great pride in being a member of St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church, the Thorp American Legion, Knights of Columbus, the Holy Name Society, the Thorp Volunteer Fire Department for twenty-three years, and the Clark County Community Service Board for twenty-six years.
     He loved the outdoors, especially gardening, fishing, and hunting. As a long-time member of the Big Chiefs Hunting Lodge near Tony, WI, he enjoyed not only the hunt but the camaraderie as well. However, some of his greatest pleasures were taking his grandchildren four-wheeling and ice fishing and using his many handyman skills to help his children with various remodeling and building projects. He was a master at preparing charcoal-grilled chicken on his little old-fashioned rotisserie grill that he rigged up in the backyard; as far as his family was concerned, no chicken ever tasted better!
     Ted is survived by his wife, Rosalie; their children, Nancy (Raymond) Kodl, and Dennis (Arlene) Meyer of Thorp; Donna (Dennis Klick) Meyer-Klick of Boyd, WI; Mary (Jim) Felix of Greenwood, WI; Jerry (Sally) Meyer of  Menomonee Falls, WI; and Frances Meyer-Briggs of Holcombe, WI.; eleven grandchildren: Lindsey (Travis) Wright, Molly Meyer (Shane) Swope, Jeffrey (Trisha) Meyer, Michael (Ashley May Klick) Klick, Sarah Klick (fiancé Patrick Sperl), Andrew Klick (special friend Jenn Barrett), Clara, Rachel (fiancé Daniel Needham), Miriam (fiancé Jeff Coleman), Tim, and Abigail Meyer; two great-grandchildren; one sister, Marceline Zwiefelhofer of Boyd, WI; one sister-in-law, Dr. Felicia (Michael Hartnett) Czerwionka of Park Ridge, IL; and numerous nieces and nephews.
      Ted was preceded in death by an infant son, Teddy; his parents; parents-in-law, Ted and Rose Czerwionka; three brothers, Henry, Clayton, and Baylon Meyer; brothers-in-law, Jack Zwiefelhofer, Robert Eck, Martin Weisenburger,  and Ted, Reverend Francis, and Fred Czerwionka; sisters-in-law May, Maria, and Sylvia Meyer, Genevieve (Weisenburger) Eck, Irene Eck, Mary and Gladys (Dolly) Czerwionka; and his son-in-law, Brian Briggs.
     Visitation will be held Sunday, May 22, 2016, from 5 to 8 PM at Thorp Funeral Home, 110 W. School Street, and from 9:30-10:30 AM Monday, May 23, at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Church, 111 N. Church Street, Thorp, followed by a Christian Mass of Burial at 10:30 AM, and inurnment at St. Bernard’s Catholic Cemetery with military rites conducted by Thorp American Legion Post 118.
     In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to Thorp American Legion Post 118, PO Box 421, Thorp, WI 54771, or the Highground Veterans Memorial, W 7031 Ridge Rd., Neillsville, WI 54456.