KEY, Theresa (Walleser) 1950-2003

KEY, WALLESER, HAMMELL, LUND, DELANEY, BATTEEN, OTTAWAY, ANDERSON, THOM, SCHAUER, NIEDERT

Posted By: SGF
Date: 8/6/2003 at 06:26:27

MARSHALL - Theresa Rose (Walleser) Key of Marshall died in an automobile accident Thursday, May 1, 2003, near Kankakee, Illinois. Theresa was born September 1, 1950, to Lawrence and Esther (Hammell) Walleser at Veterans Memorial Hospital, Waukon, Iowa. Theresa started her life on a farm near Waukon, Iowa, and began school at a small country schoolhouse. At age eight, she moved with her family to another farm near Harpers Ferry, Iowa. There she attended Allamakee Community Grade School. She attended St. George High School in Lansing Iowa, graduating in 1968. In 1972, Theresa graduated from Viterbo College in LaCrosse with a B.S. in Home Economics. Theresa met her husband, Alton Key while working summers at Browns Lake Resort, Burlington. They married November 27, 1970, in LaCrosse. Theresa and Alton resided in Colorado where Alton was stationed at Fort Carson. There, Lisa and Scott were welcomed into their family. In 1974 Theresa, Alton, and children moved to Cambridge. In 1982, they settled on a small acreage near Marshall. Theresa started a 15 year career with the Fotomat Corp. while in Colorado and transferred to Madison and Milwaukee where she became a Regional Manager. While in Colorado, Theresa and Alton began raising beagles and coon dogs. This began a lifelong passion of raising, hunting, and showing Redbone dogs in the American, United States, and National Redbone Associations. Theresa was the only woman that was ever elected President of the American Coon Hound Association. With her husband Alton, she was instrumental in bringing worldwide fame to Key's Outlaw Redbone Kennels. Theresa began a reupholstery business at her home, called the Barn Shop. She worked with many clients and interior designers in the Madison and Milwaukee area. She also taught reupholstery classes at Madison area Technical College. Most of her family has a couch, chair, or quilt in their home that came from her. Theresa became a tri-state distributor and sales person for Charlotte Fabrics of Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2002. Theresa had a great love for God and Gods gifts to her. She loved everything in nature, flowers, animals, trees, the wind, sun, moon, and skies. She loved the changing seasons. She loved her family, her husband Alton, her children, Lisa and Scott, her Dad and Mom, brothers and sisters, and all of her other relatives. Her grandchildren, Mason, and Mollie were the highlight of her life. Her love of family began another hobby that she loved, researching of the family tree. She enjoyed meeting relatives and researching her ancestry. Survivors include her husband, Alton Key; a daughter, Lisa Lund (Jamie Kuhls) of Marshall; and a son Scott Key and fianc Shelly Northey of Madison; grandchildren, Mason and Mollie Lund of Marshall, and their father Randi Lund of Deerfield; her parents, Lawrence and Esther (Hammell) Walleser; sisters, Mary (Dan) Delaney of Lansing Iowa, Karen (Bob) Batteen of Urbana Iowa, Jean (Francis) Ottaway of McGregor Iowa, Bess (Phillip) Anderson of Arlington Texas, Rita (Steve) Thom of Waukesha, Anita (Andy) Schauer of Roscoe Illinois, Esther Niedert of Lansing Iowa; brothers, Allen (Diane) Walleser of Houston Minnesota, Melvin (Christine) Walleser of Farmersburg Iowa, Fred (Dora) Walleser of Lansing Iowa, Carl (Joan) Walleser of Senoia Ga., Byron (Betty) Walleser of Pickett, and Ted (Stacy) Walleser of Lansing Iowa; sisters-in-law, Ann (Key) Shepherd of Winston Salem N.C., Nancy Walleser of Harpers Ferry Iowa, Mary (Doug) Dommie of LaCrosse; 22 nieces; and 22 nephews; 13 great-nephews and great nieces. She was preceded in death by her grandparents; two brothers, Joe Walleser, and Larry Walleser; her father-in-law, Weldon Key; mother-in-law, Nellie Robertson; sister-in-law, Linda Key; two nephews, William Delaney, and Michael Walleser. Visitation will be held at OLSON-HOLZHUTER-CRESS FUNERAL HOME, Deerfield, Wis. from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 6, 2003. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 7, 2003, at ST. MARY OF THE NATIVITY CATHOLIC CHURCH, Marshall, Wis. Father Tom Gillespie will be officiating. Theresa will always be remembered for the love, guidance, hospitality, generosity, friendship, and smiles she offered to all who knew her.

©Wisconsin State Journal 2003
-source: Wisconsin State Journal; Madison, WI; May 4, 2003