Eileen H. Devore

Eileen Devore, age 100, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 25th, 2023, at Soldiers Grove Health Services.

She was born on January 9th, 1923, in the town of Woodland in Sauk County to her parents Jasper and Mamie (Henderson) Shore. She attended elementary school in Valton and Reedsburg and graduated from Reedsburg High School in 1941. She graduated from Sauk County Normal in 1943, and La Crosse State Teachers College in 1962. She taught school for 40 years before retiring in 1983, including teaching at Jackson School, Mirror Lake School, and for most of her career at Kickapoo Area Schools after moving to Viola. She also was an early pioneer in teaching Title 1, with a focus on developing reading and writing skills.

Eileen was married to Donald Devore on June 20th, 1947, in a double wedding with her sister, Shirley (Robert) Vogel. Eileen and Donny were married for 43 years before Donny’s passing in 1991, and were long-time residents of Viola, WI, including owning a bakery soon after they first arrived. Eileen and Don were generous hosts of family holidays, including joyful Thanksgiving dinners (with Eileen’s calligraphy place settings and hand-made table decorations) and Easter celebrations, as well as gracious hosts for the Horse & Colt Show.

An avid traveler, Eileen visited almost all 50 states, and especially enjoyed trips to Hawaii, Branson and the Ozarks, Texas, Gettysburg, New York City, Indianapolis, Washington D.C., Disney World, The Grand Tetons, Mackinac Island, and New Orleans. She also loved her visit to the Holland Tulip Festival, Switzerland, and Austria.

She enjoyed crossword and other puzzles, calligraphy, crafts, and macramé. She was an excellent baker, and family and friends were always excited to receive her Christmas cut-out and assorted cookies as well as cakes and cookies throughout the year. She got many requests for her skill in embroidering dish towels as well as making her salad dressing, and also had an extensive white milk glass collection.

She survived the Viola tornado with the help of many friends and neighbors. Eileen and Donny had many good friends in Viola, and special on that list were Leona Schneider, Thereasa Alexander, and Doris and Ray Sime. Eileen was a member of the Viola United Methodist Church as well as the United Methodist Women, where she often contributed with her baking skills.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her stepfather, Wert Potter; her husband, Donald Devore; and her brothers-in-law: Robert Vogel, Clyde Devore, Robert Devore, and Ralph Devore.

She is survived by her sister, Shirley Vogel of Reedsburg; nephews: Rick (Debbie) Vogel of Harlingen, TX, Mark Vogel of Waukesha, WI, and Scott (Reen) Vogel of Coto de Caza, CA; as well as her niece, Darcy (Gerry) Berlin of Reedsburg. She was also the beloved great aunt of Rick (Peg) Vogel Jr., Bill Vogel, Bob (Kris) Vogel, Tom (Emily) Vogel, Kate Vogel, and Molly Vogel, as well as another generation of great-great nephews and nieces (Ben, Alex, Isabel, Sam, Donovan, Cole, Collin, Savanah, and Reed) and other family and friends.

The family would also like to thank everyone at Maplewood Terrace Assisted Living, Bethel Oaks Memory Care, Soldiers Grove Health Services, and Annette Koeller from St. Croix Hospice for their excellent care and kindness for Eileen. We would also like to thank Tamsen Morgan, PA-C, for caring for Eileen for many years.

In lieu of flowers, memorials would be welcome for the United Methodist Women.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 8th, 2023, at the Viola United Methodist Church, with Pastor Lorri McGranahan officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Eileen will be laid to rest at the Viola Cemetery. A lunch will then be served at the church.

Vosseteig Larson Funeral Home & Crematory in Viroqua is serving Eileen's family.

123 W. Decker Street

Viroqua, WI 54665

(608) 637-2100