Martha Elizabeth Peek, 88, of Onalaska, Wis.

Martha Elizabeth Peek, 88, of Onalaska, Wis., died Thursday at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center Hospice. Born Oct. 5, 1919, to William and Elizabeth (Passon) Andre, she grew up in Independence, Wis. She went to college at the State Normal School of La Crosse, Wis., where she received a teaching degree. She was a teacher at Decorah Prairie where she taught all eight grades to nine students and was later a substitute teacher and a cook at St. Patrick's Catholic Grade School. She married Joseph Peek on June 28, 1941, at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Independence. After their family was started, she quit teaching and was a stay-at-home wife and mom. The couple lived at Pettibone Island after World War II and then moved to Colfax, Iowa, for a few years before moving to Onalaska in 1953. He died in January 1986.

Survivors include sons Paul (Dixie) of Onalaska, Jim (Gerry) of Melbourne, Fla., and Tom (Carol) of Onalaska; daughters Mary Turner (Greg) of Red Wing, and Kathy McInerney (John) of Onalaska; 12 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren and sisters Delphine Thompson of Waukesha, Wis., and Carol Bundy of Apache Junction, Ariz. Martha was proceeded in death by her husband Joe, her oldest son, John, her brother William and sisters Mary, Lucy and Tracy.

Funeral will be 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Onalaska, the Rev. Patrick Umberger officiating. Burial will be in the Onalaska City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of Onalaska with a 6:30 p.m. rosary.

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