Full Obituary

Erna Alice (Pernsteiner) McNeely, age 89, went home to her heavenly Father on Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at St. Joseph's Hospital, Marshfield, Wisconsin. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, November 1, 2014 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Loyal, WI. Father Eric Berns will officiate. Family and friends are welcome on Friday, October 31, 2014 from 4 to 8 P.M., and again on Saturday, from 9 A.M. until time of service at the church. Acting as pallbearers will be her grandsons: Matthew McNeely, Paul McNeely, Scott Tregelowne, Dennis Cepress, Joshua McNeely, Adam McNeely, Adam Smith, Andrew Meshnick, Jacob McNeely, Joe McNeely, Michael Girgenti, Keith McNeely, Anton Folz, Daniel Enerson and Ben Frericks.
Erna was born in Medford, Wisconsin on March 30, 1925, the daughter of Joseph, Sr. and Ella (Crosswaite) Pernsteiner. She graduated from Medford High School in 1943. On February 9, 1944 she was united in marriage to Raymond McNeely at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Medford. Following their marriage, they farmed in the Jump River area before moving to Loyal, where they farmed until 1980. They then retired to the city of Loyal where Erna resided until she relocated to Marshfield in 2013. During Erna and Ray's retirement years they enjoyed traveling and spending time at their cabin in Lake Holcombe, WI. Erna devoted her life to her husband and raising her children, lifting family and friends up in prayer daily. Her gentle spirit, kind heart and loving compassion resonates in her living legacy, her family.
Erna is survived by her eight sons: Stephen (Dixie), Green Valley, AZ; Michael (Diane), Neenah, WI; Patrick (Ruth), Curtiss, WI; Jeffrey, Neillsville, WI; Daniel (Debra), Loyal, WI; John (Jane), Prairie du Sac, WI; Mark (JoAnn), Prairie du Sac, WI; Luke (Darilyn), Sauk City, WI; and ten daughters: Mary (Tom) Slagoski, Wausau, WI; Lana (Ron) Ertl, Marshfield, WI; Theresa (Lynn) Smith, Loyal, WI; Kathryn (Mark) Meshnick, Neillsville, WI; Ann (Murley) Wheeler, Rockford, IL; Lori (David) Girgenti, Rockford, IL; Mara (Jeff) Folz, Howell, MI; Sarah Gunderson, Eau Claire, WI; Lisa (Scott) Enerson, Prairie du Sac, WI; and Joan (Steve) Frericks, Marshfield, WI; 64 grandchildren, 74 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by four sisters-in-law: Faye McNeely, Stratford, WI; Lucille Pernsteiner, Marshfield, WI; Clare Pernsteiner, Loyal, WI; and Wilma Pernsteiner, South Dakota.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her parents-in-law, Ed and Edna (Hehman) McNeely, her husband of 55 years, Raymond Edward McNeely (January 27, 2000), two grandchildren; Erin McNeely (March 7, 2009) and Samuel McNeely (September 5, 2013), one great grandchild, Isabelle Marie McNeely (October 19, 2014), five brothers and sisters-in-law, Alvin (Lillian) Pernsteiner, Herman (Evelyn), (Mary Lou) Pernsteiner, Joseph Pernsteiner, Chester Pernsteiner and James Pernsteiner, two sisters in infancy, Eileen and Dorothy Pernsteiner, paternal in-laws, Lillian (Harry) Allman, Ellen (Bert) Taylor, Keith McNeely and Donna Mae McNeely.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staff of St. Joseph's Hospital for their support, compassion and excellent care of mom, during her final days with us.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing to express their sympathies are encouraged to direct memorials in Erna's name to St. Anthony's Catholic School, Loyal, WI.