Violet Mae Gomez

Violet “Vi” Mae (Everson) Gomez, 92, of Sparta passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at Eagle Crest South in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She has rejoined Thomas “Tommy”, her eternal love.  Vi was born on April 22, 1925.  Her mother Alice Everson died when Vi was 11 weeks old and she was raised by her Grandparents John and Lenna (Kirkeby) Everson near Fish Creek Ridge, Wisconsin.  She graduated from Sparta High School in 1942.  She attended the Vernon County Normal School in Viroqua graduating in 1946.  She met Tommy Gomez, the love of her life and her future husband while going to school in La Crosse.  They were married on November 3, 1945 when Tommy returned from Europe at the end of World War II. They were happily married for 55 years.

After graduating from the Normal School, Vi taught at the Cannon Valley one room school.  She then continued helping young people but changed careers, working at the State Child Care Center in Sparta until her retirement.  She made a lasting impression on the youth she worked with, receiving phone calls from many of them at Christmas time for many years after her retirement.

Vi grew up in a loving Norwegian household where she learned many of the holiday traditions such as making Lefse and many other treats that her family thoroughly enjoyed during the holiday seasons.  In her younger years, she would sing at the Cashton Town Hall at weekend concerts.  Tommy and Vi started the Midway Service Company in Sparta and were very active in the Sparta community and also with both the American Legion and VFW. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sparta. She enjoyed taking rides through Ft. McCoy in the evenings and an occasional trip to the casino. She loved playing cards and a good cup of coffee. She never complained about what life dealt her, rather she was always optimistic, generous and grateful for all that she had. She enjoyed meeting people and always saw the best in everyone.  The most important thing to Vi was her family. She enjoyed trips to Door County and she loved the time spent with her children and grandchildren.  She was a wonderful mother and grandmother. Vi was the family matriarch and she will be sadly missed by everyone who knew her.

Vi is survived by her son John (Candace) of Sparta;  daughter Patricia (Thomas) Johnson of La Crosse; grandchildren Brent (Kristen) Gomez of Waunakee, Jennifer (James) Laszewski of La Crosse, Eric Johnson of La Crosse; great-grandchildren Lauren and Garrison Gomez, and Jade Laszewski; along with many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mother Alice; her husband Tommy; twin grandsons, Matthew and Mark Gomez; four brothers, Hjelmer, Leonard, Walter and Lawrence; 5 sisters, Cora in infancy, Clara, Edna, Helen and Charlene.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 22, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Sparta, with Rev. Mark Kvale officiating. Burial will be at a later date in Woodlawn Cemetery, Sparta.

Family and friends are invited to call at the church on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of services. Online condolences may be offered to Vi’s family at www.schanhoferfh.com

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church, 612 N. Water Street, Sparta, WI 54656.

The Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting the family with arrangements.

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