Viola E. "Vi" Bohlman

Viola E. Bohlman, age 95, passed away at her home on the morning of January 19, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. Our Mom was part of a large family, one of 14 children of John and Elizabeth Fox. “Vi” as she preferred to be called, was born on the Fox family farm in Dotyville on Sept 26, 1921. She never forgot the lessons of hard work and saving, learned in her formative years during the Great Depression. As part of the war effort in the early ‘40’s, Mom went to work at Rueping Leather Company, and it was there at the employee recreation center and bowling alley, that she met the love of her life, our Dad, Les Bohlman. They were married on October 3,1942, in Kansas City, MO, right before our Dad was shipped to the South Pacific. Thankfully, Dad made it through the war safely and returned home to Fond du Lac, where he and Mom created and raised their family. Mom had a few part time jobs along the way, but mostly focused on staying home and raising her family…. any one of us kids can tell you that was a full time job and then some! She prided herself on her skills as a cook, and she made the best pie you can imagine! Hers is the gold standard we compare all others to. Mom told us that from a youngster on, she loved reading and she loved cats; whenever she went “missing,” they knew to look for her in the barn and hayloft, surrounded by kitties and good books. She channeled her “frustrated writer” into being a voracious reader. Those loves continued throughout her life, along with working crossword puzzles. Mom always felt a little cheated by life that she had never been able to complete high school, but she showed us that it is never too late to achieve a goal: she and two of her sisters, Gen and Ginny, aged in their late 50’s and early 60’s, studied at MPTC and earned their GED’s. That accomplishment also earned them a picture and article in the local paper. After our Dad passed in 1988, Mom learned to drive – at age 69! -- so that she could retain her independence. Her outward manner belied the core of steel within.Mom is survived by her children: Linda Floyd Stuck (Richard Stuck) of Fond du Lac, and her children, stepsons Erik and Tracy Nelson of Portland OR; John (Mary) Bohlman of Ogdensburg and their children, Jenni (Shannon) Dalton, Daniel (Molly) and Tom; Ron (Mary) Bohlman of Fond du Lac and their children Christopher (Rachel) and Michael (Kimberly); Cheryl Bohlman of Fond du Lac; and Nancy Fox of Fond du Lac and her children Mark Klahn and Stephanie Klahn (Adam Rautenberg). Mom is further survived by 9 great-grandchildren, and too many nieces and nephews to count. She is also survived by her sisters, Bernice Evenson and Mary Wagner, and brothers Jerome Fox and Elmer Fox, and sisters-in-law, Laura Fox Thomas and Mary Zacherl Bohlman. Last, but not least, Mom is survived by Sammie, her beautiful gray cat who cuddled with her every day, and even as she was in transition, laid by her head and purred his love to her.Preceding Mom in death were her parents, her mother and father-in-law (Florence and Frank Bohlman) her husband, Lester Bohlman, and twin daughters born prematurely. Also preceding her in death were brothers: William (Helen) Fox, Lawrence (Catherine) Fox, Sylvester (Ellen) Fox, Gilbert (Roseanne) Fox, Benedict (Ernie) Fox, John “Jack” Fox; and sisters Frances (Paul) Gremminger, Genevieve (Frank) Junaitis, Virginia (Warren) Hess. Further preceding her were brothers and sisters-in-law: Dorothy Fox, Ruth Fox, Dave Wagner, Donald Evenson, Gordon (Marion) Bohlman, Robert “Hack” (Lois) Bohlman, Beatrice Rautenberg, and Rosemary Bohlman.VISITATION: Viola’s family will greet relatives and friends from 9-11a.m. on Saturday, January 28, 2017, at Sacred Heart Church, 232 South Peters Avenue, Fond du Lac.SERVICE: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11a.m. on Saturday at Sacred Heart Church. Cremation has taken place and inurnment will be in St. Charles Cemetery.The family suggests any memorial donations be made to Agnesian Hospice Home of Hope.

Viola E. "Vi" Bohlman

January 28, 1922 - January 28, 2017