Obituary of Jane Runnels

Jane Runnels, of Wisconsin Rapids, died on Wednesday February 8th at Wellington Place in Biron WI. The daughter of Melvin and Martha (Gumz) Getlinger, Jane was born on June 25, 1931 in New London, Wisconsin. They lived on the original Getlinger farm in Readfield for the first year of her life then moved to Marshfield where her father was a cheese maker and where she attended kindergarten. The family moved to Rudolph in 1937 where they lived on the original homestead of her maternal great grandfather August Kath, Sr. Jane attended eight grades at Hill View School located on the southeast corner of County Road O and Gumz Road. She attended Rudolph High School graduating as valedictorian in 1949, then attended Central State College, (now UW-SP) and in 1951 received a Rural Certificate with emphasis on music. She taught seventh grade and music and band for two years at Hancock, (WI) Grade School. The mixed chorus received an A rating in Class C at Madison in 1953. From the autumn of 1953 until the winter of 1956 she attended UW-Whitewater graduating with a BE degree in Business Education. She taught business subjects at Preble High School, Green Bay, as a substitute for several weeks, and for the balance of that year worked in the secret department of a Milwaukee government defense plant taking dictation and typing formulas for the White Sands Project, which developed into the first space flight. She then taught business subjects for two years at newly opened Arrowhead High School, Hartland, Wisconsin. On May 25, 1957 she married Brice Runnels of Hancock, Wisconsin and in May 1958 moved to Milwaukee where Brice was employed at Evinrude Motors. Jane was secretary to the Marketing Director at the home office of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co., then secretary to the Purchasing Agent at Square D for two years, which manufactured electrical switch boxes. She also taught secretarial evening courses at Spencerian College, which closed its doors several years later. Their son, Glenn, was born in Milwaukee in 1961.The family moved to Rudolph in 1963 where her husband started Paper Cities Marina on the Wisconsin River near CERA Park. They lived for five years on the original August Kath, Sr. homestead. Jane taught business subjects at Nekoosa High School for two years, and in May 1965 was diagnosed with acute multiple sclerosis. The marina was sold and Brice worked at Consoweld Plastics. He died of cancer on October 1, 1994. Jane greatly recovered over the years through therapy, diet, homeopathic treatment and with the help of her cousin Vilas Gumz, continued to live for 13 years in the home Brice and she built in 1969 at 6299 County Road O. In June 2007, having sold the property, she moved to River Cities Senior Village in Wisconsin Rapids. In May 2011 she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Jane was volunteer secretary for the board of directors of The Family Center from 1986 until January 1994 when she resigned due to health issues. In 1995 she became a member of the board of directors of Historic Point Basse (Wakely) Inc., Nekoosa, and also served as volunteer recording secretary for six years. She was greatly responsible, with the encouragement of Point Basse grounds manager, Ken Rahn, for doing the research and paper work necessary to get the Wakely Bridge on both the Wisconsin and National Registers of Historic Places, which was done in January 2001. In July 2001 she resigned from that post, again due to health issues. Jane enjoyed writing poetry and had more than 20 country poems published in the National Library of Poetry anthologies. Her poem Haiku Winter was chosen as part of the Wisconsin Poet?s 2012 calendar. HI-coo is a Japanese type verse having 5 syllables in line one; seven syllables in line two and five syllables in line three. She kept a daily journal since age nine and enjoyed researching genealogies. Most of all she enjoyed listening to Glenn?s musical improvisations. She was a former member of St. James Lutheran Church, Rudolph twp; presently of Immanuel Lutheran Church, American Legion Auxiliary, Rudolph; Retired Educators; AARP; The Family Center; South Wood County Historical Society; Historic Point Basse, Inc. and was a Hill View 4-H Club member for 11 years and assistant leader for over 30 years. In 2001 she joined the newly formed Wisconsin Rapids MS Support Group begun by Wisconsin Rapids MS patient, Mike Arndt. Jane is survived by one son, Glenn (Donna Roberts) Wisconsin Rapids; one sister, Melda Graves (Dr. Steve, MD) of Cleveland, Ohio and their two children, Jean Graves of Cincinnati, OH and Raymond Graves and wife, Angela, of Chicago. Also older brother Gilbert Getlinger of Rudolph; and younger brother Vernon and Mary Jane (Schiller) Getlinger of Fitchburg, Wisconsin, their two daughters, Marilyn Getlinger, and Karen Getlinger (Peter) Kritsch, and their two sons, Kenneth and Charles; all of Oregon, WI. Also, sister-in-law Phyllis Runnels and son Jeffrey, and daughter Lora Runnels (Marshall) Lokken and their children Ashley and Austin; also nephew Gary Nelson (son of Brice?s sister Carmen) and wife Linda and their three children, Mary, Tamara, and Christopher, all of Wisconsin Rapids. Jane was preceded in death by her parents, a two-year old brother, Raymond in 1941 and brother-in-law Wayne Runnels in 2009. Also, two nieces Cynthia Runnels Gadsky and Vicky Runnels in the early 1980?s. Friends may call at Taylor, Vollert and Jennings Funeral Home from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on February, 16th. Interment will be in a St. John?s Lutheran Cemetery, Town of Rudolph. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Immanuel Lutheran Ladies Guild c/o Immanuel Lutheran Church, 180 8th St. N, Wis. Rapids, WI 54494 or the Wisconsin MS Society, 1120 James Drive, Hartland, WI 53029. Jane would like to thank her son, her immediate family, cousins, other relatives and friends, and especially alternative doctor, Dr. James Bowman and staff of Stevens Point, for the help and support given her throughout the years as she lived with the afflictions of MS and cancer. Also, the entire Home Hospice staff for their fine care. Jane's son, Glenn Runnels, may be reached at 715-423-2100.