Theresa Furman

Theresa Anna Furman, age 96yrs 4 months and 2 days of Montello passed away Thursday, November 23, 2023 at her daughter’s home in Green Bay.  Theresa was born at home in the Town of Harris, Marquette County to Alexius and Irene (Smith) Willegal.  She graduated from Montello High School in 1947.  She moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan where she worked in an office for nearly ten years. She then moved to Fond du Lac and worked in the office of a salvage company for a few years. Her brother Bernard introduced her to Thomas Furman and they were united in marriage on November 9, 1963 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Montello.  Together they were blessed with two daughters: Betty and Karen. Tom preceded Theresa in death on October 21, 2011.

Theresa and Tom raised their two daughters while farming on his family farm outside of Montello.  She spent a couple of summers working as a cook at Vi’s Drive-In. In 1976, they purchased the Fox River Feed Mill in Montello and moved into town.  Theresa was a lifelong member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and a proud member of the VFW Auxiliary.

When she was young, she enjoyed bowling and playing the accordion. As she got older, she enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, reading and watching the wildlife from her windows: songbirds, ducks, geese, sandhill cranes, eagles and especially the deer (unless they were eating her flowers).

Theresa is survived by two daughters: Betty Furman of Omro and Karen Furman of Green Bay as well as siblings: Lucille Fenlon and Joseph (Theresa) Willegal.  She also survived by in-laws: John (special friend, Marie) Furman, Slyvester “Mark” Furman, Agnes Abraham and Patricia Leidy along with other extended family members.

Theresa is preceded in death by her parents, husband, siblings: Anthony (Ileen) Willegal, Bernard (Cathy) Willegal, Margaret (Raymond) Elbe and in-laws: Bob Fenlon, James Abraham, Bernice (Howard) Nelson, Mary Catherine Furman, Fay (Teresa) Gabriel, Ruth Furman, Carol Furman, James Leidy as well as her father and mother-in-law, John and Mary Furman.

We want to thank Dave Anderson and his sons Davin and Maxwell for looking out for our mom and always making sure she was safe.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Theresa Furman will be held on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 11:00 AM at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Montello.  Visitation will be held from 9:30 AM until the hour of service.  Father Savio Yerasani will preside and burial will follow the service at the parish cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the soup and sandwich program at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 277 E. Montello Street, Montello, WI 53949.