Alice Ford

Alice Ford, age 96, of Downing, Wisconsin, passed away on Monday, July 22, 2024, at Park View Home, Woodville.

Visitation is Monday, July 29, 2024, from 10:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church, Baldwin.

Funeral service will be Monday, July 29, at 11:30 a.m. at Peace Lutheran. A luncheon will be served immediately following the service.

Burial will be in Mound Cemetery, Downing, Wisconsin.

Alice was born in Glenwood City on May 15, 1928, to Roy and Bernice Ward.  For the first 7 years, she attended school at Glenwood City.  At age 7, they moved to her grandfather’s farm, three miles southeast of Glenwood.  She attended Sunday School in Downing. Alice became a member of the ladies aid at age 10.  Much of her life was spent working in the Downing Church.

In the year she turned 13, her family moved into Downing where they lived in the back of the Hardware Store.  From there, she attended Downing High School until it consolidated with Glenwood City School.  Alice gleaned most of her education during this time. She said she learned to count bolts, paint, and read people.

Alice started working as soon as they moved to Downing.  She got a paper route of 24 customers, babysat for the principal’s two little girls, and did housework on Saturdays for the Dougherty and the Plottner homes. At age 15, she obtained a work permit and worked at the Doughboy Mills in New Richmond where she made pea soup for the soldiers.

She graduated from Glenwood City High School among the top ten and from there went on to a short sprint of education in Eau Claire. She later worked for Ed Philips and Sons.

On May 25, 1946, Alice married Charles Ford on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at United Methodist Church in Downing.  They lived lots of places, but finally settled in Downing in 1957.  She spent much of her time in her father’s store in Downing, worked in 4-H, helped get the band mothers get started in Glenwood school and babysat for 14 years.

In 1987, their dream of retirement finally came true.  They spent their winters in Arizona and summers in Wisconsin. She and Charles had lots of fun square dancing, traveling around, and spending time at the cabin with their good friends, Eleanor and Pete.

When the cabin became too much for them, they moved to a house in the country outside of Frederic.  Here Alice had the opportunity to work on her writing.  She joined the writers club and wrote her first book called ‘Life Along the Beaver.’ She also compiled a book of stories about her life called ‘Time With Charles and Alice.’

She had many stories published in The Country Today.  She also enjoyed being a part of the Lewis Church while living in Frederic and was truly blessed by so many wonderful people that came into her life because of their attendance there.

Alice is thankful for her father who taught her how important reading is.  She is thankful for her mother who taught her how to be useful, setting high standards and morals; for her husband who taught her about loving, caring, and family.  She is most thankful that God came into her life early and for her children that taught her endurance and patience.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Charles Ford; niece Sally Hanson; nephew Steven Stang; brother Fred Ward; sister Charlotte Ellen; granddaughter Jessica Ford; and brother-in-law Melvin.

She is survived by her sister Sylvia Stang; her children: Skip (Gloria) Ford; Kathy (Terry) Bogenrief; Chuck (Joan) Ford; Mary (Paul) Joles; and Lisa (Craig) Dotseth; 16 grandchildren and their spouses; Eli Ford (Tammy), Brian Ford, Joe Ford, SueAnn Marshall (Mike); Lina Langesley (Tim), Andy Bogenrief (Dawn); Michael Ford (Nue), Monica Polk (John), Amy Kurrelmeyer; Chad Joles, Sara Kuhfuss (Daniel), Joshua Joles (Meta), Ian Joles (Amber), Kimberly Joles; Alycia Hall (Scott), Emily Brady (Kevin); 40 great grandchildren: Great Grandchildren: Faith Ford, Hope Ford, Ruby Ford, Eve Alice Ford, Max Ford, Cameron Meskill, Alexandra Meskill, Alaina Meskill, Carter Meskill, Caden Meskill; Christopher Bogenrief, Alex Bogenrief; JoDean Ford, Austin Ford, Bella Ford, Brandon Lee, Aaron Lee, Jeffery Lee, Jewel Lee, Claire Lee, Benson Ford, Logan Ford, Kale Polk, Myla Polk, Eva Polk; Cullen Rogers, Caleb Rogers, Braden Rogers; Hazel Kuhfuss, Lily Kuhfuss, Asa Kuhfuss, Henry Kuhfuss; Keiran Joles, Calliope Joles; Ashton Joles; Henry Hall, Theodore Hall, Lucy Hall; Natalie Brady, and Ava Brady; many other relatives and friends.

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