Lovella J. "Val" Poler, 81, entered eternal joy on June 21, 2006 at her home, after gracefully and elegantly battling cancer. She had a life filled with the joy of family and friends, travel, and talent.
Mabel (nee Johnson) and Fred Ferguson were blessed with Val on June 2, 1925. Her mother quickly nicknamed her Dolly due to her delicate stature.
She was the second child of five and is survived by all of her siblings: Russell (Louise) Ferguson of North Carolina, Wanda (Robert) Poler of Neillsville, Shirley (Peter) Bragg of Arkansas, Katherine (Leonard) Tostensen of Minnesota.
Val married Charles Poler of Neillsville on June 12, 1943. Together they enjoyed the company of seven children: Naydene (Harold) Porter of Oklahoma, MaryBeth (Ron) Fairbanks of Green Bay, Charlotte (Andy) Beck of Hilbert, Charles (Judy) Poler, Jr. of California, Shelly (Jay) Johnson of Plover, Melissa (Gary) Stoffel of West Bend, and Jennifer (Tom) Beck of West Bend. With their children, Val and Charles moved to West Bend in 1963. Val was adored by all of her sons-in-law and her daughter-in-law.
Val managed kitchens for various restaurants and created many fans of her prime rib, Friday night fish fry and onion rings. Each of her children were blessed with learning the art of cooking from the best cook in town.
After successfully raising seven children, Val and Chuck set off to explore the United States. They traveled from coast to coast and experienced the joys of long drives when visiting their children. They flew to Hawaii on their 50th wedding anniversary as a gift from their children.
In their explorations, they discovered a small town in Arizona that became home during Wisconsin winters. While snowbirding, Val met with many crafters to create quilts, studied at a local church, read to the local school children, and golfed with reckless abandon. Locally, she especially enjoyed Camelot Wednesday morning ladies golf and the Tuesday Samaritan Quilters.
Nineteen grandchildren surrounded Val with love, pleas for cookies and Mickey Mouse shaped pancakes. They have many fond memories of their grandma. She was blessed with many great-grandchildren and most recently a great-great granddaughter.
Val was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and a son-in-law, Daniel Smits.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 24 at 4:00 p.m. at the Myrhum - Patten Funeral Home, West Bend, with Rev. Victor Hackbarth officiating. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Saturday from 2:00 p.m. until the time of service.
Memorials to the Agnesian Hospice in Fond du Lac would be appreciated.
We were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, Our tongues with songs of joy. (Psalm 126:1-2)