Obituaries

DeForest – Marie Josephine Lerum, age 89, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 18, 2025. Marie was born on October 24, 1935, the daughter of Alex and Viola (Miller) Moreth at the Columbus Hospital. She had been a lifetime member of St Joseph’s Catholic Church in East Bristol. She married LeRoy Lerum on April 15,1967 at St Joseph’s Catholic, East Bristol.

Marie was a daughter, wife and mom and was a true farmer at heart. Starting at a young age, growing up on her family farm she developed a deep love for the land and for the animals. She continued farming throughout her life. Her love of agriculture led her to genetic and seed development work at Asgrow and Pioneer research facilities. The interest and knowledge that she learned through her seed research, she took home to enhance her own beautiful flower beds and vegetable garden.

As a member of St Joesph’s Catholic Church, she was an active volunteer at the Fall Festival and the Christian Women organization, where she assisted with funeral luncheons and wedding dinners. In honor of our veterans, Marie took on the task of placing flags on our veteran’s gravesite for Memorial Day.

As her children got older, she became in involved in the Leeds School Parent Club, Leeds Prairie Pals 4-H Club and the DeForest FFA. She enjoyed chaperoning field trips, taking youth to judging contests and various local, district, state and national cattle shows. Marie was proud to serve as a 4-H Dairy Project Leader for over 40 years. She was part of the original committee that established the DeForest FFA Family Fun Night that continues to still be held annually. Volunteering and supporting youth was very important to Marie.

Marie was known for her homemade applesauce, cake with homemade chocolate frosting, German potato salad, scalloped potatoes, brown butter green beans and her homemade spaghetti.

In later years, Marie’s interest and love for vintage vehicles brought her out to local car shows including the Tuesday Cruise Day and Cruise to Keyeser where she enjoyed visiting with other car enthusiasts and listening to good local bands.

Marie recently attended and celebrated her 70th Sun Prairie High School Class Reunion.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents, Alex and Viola Moreth, husband, LeRoy, brother, Alexander (Sonny) Moreth, sister, Generose (Jean) Landphier and brother-in-law Phil Landphier. She is survived by her children, Ann Lerum of Poynette, Mike (Andrea) Lerum of DeForest and MaryEllen (Dan) Karls of Waunakee. Three grandsons, Trevor Lerum, Mathew and John Karls. She is further survived by sister-in-law Debbie Moreth and many much-loved nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in East Bristol on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 11:00 am. Father Fr. Joji Thirumalareddy will be the officiant. A visitation will take place at Ryan Funeral Home, 6924 Lake Road, DeForest on Friday, January 24, 2025, from 4:00 to 7:30 pm and also at the church on Saturday from 10:00am until the time of service. Burial will conclude at the St Joseph’s Catholic Church Cemetery.

To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com.

Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services

Windsor/DeForest Chapel

6924 Lake Road

608-846-4250