Albert Benedict Theisen

Albert Benedict Theisen, husband of Phyllis and father of Peter and Mary, passed away Monday morning, February 18, 2013, at Sacred Heart Hospital, Eau Claire, Wis., where he had spent much of the past year battling COPD and Congestive Heart Failure. Albert was born on January 21, 1927 at home on Montana Ridge to Peter and Agnes (Lisowski) Theisen. He learned to work hard on the family farms alongside his father, mother, brothers, and sisters. In 1952 he enlisted in the Army and was trained as a Construction Engineer at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. During the Korean War he was stationed in Okinawa and assigned to anti-aircraft weaponry. After he returned home from the war, he purchased one of the Theisen family farms and established Theisen Ridge Farm in 1954. On October 20, 1962, he married Phyllis Bautch at S.S. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Independence, Wis., with Father (now Monsignor) Klimek officiating. They were blessed to celebrate 50 years of marriage this past fall. Monsignor Klimek was with Albert in his last days and administered the Sacrament of the Sick to him before his death. Albert's life was devoted to providing for his family. During the day Albert worked for the Town of Dover. After spending the day assuring the roads of the township were safe he worked on his farm raising polled Herefords and crops while always finding time for his wife and children. Albert always enjoyed visiting with anyone he encountered, whether he knew them or not. He enjoyed auctions and there would find many people to visit with. In the past several years he was proud to coordinate Badger Boys State representation for his American Legion post. He was a member of the Forrest-Gunderson-Klevgard American Legion Post 264 in Gilmanton, Wis., for the past 35 years. Albert is survived by his wife, Phyllis; daughter, Mary (Daniel) Bragger of Independence, and son, Peter, who now works the family farm on Theisen Ridge, rural Mondovi. Also surviving Albert are his oldest brother, Roman, on the original Theisen homestead, and sister, Rose (Herman) Wiench of Pigeon Falls. He has two grandchildren, Gavin and Morgan Becker, and step-granddaughter, Anna Bragger, Independence, and special nephew, Jonathon. He was proceeded in death by an infant daughter, Katherine Elizabeth (who passed away in 1977), his parents, two infant brothers, Ralph and Ray; brother, John, and sister, Genevieve (Mathias) Rotering. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, February 25, 2013 at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Independence, with Very Rev. Woodrow H. Pace officiating. Burial, with military rites, will be in the church cemetery. Visitation with family will be held from 4-8 p.m. Sunday, with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. followed by a rosary, at Edison Funeral Home, Independence, and one hour prior to services at the church on Monday. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Albert Benedict Theisen, please visit our flower store.