Betty W. Tierney

Betty W. Tierney, 92, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 16, 2018 at Hospice House in Wausau, WI surrounded by her children. Betty was born on July 23, 1925 in the town of Hamburg. She was the 18th of 20 children of Robert and Otillie (Zastrow) Gruling. On September 11, 1947, she met Robert Tierney and immediately decided he was her soul mate and the man she would marry. On April 3, 1948, Betty married Bob at the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, in Wausau, WI. During World War II, Betty served our country working in a defense plant and was hospitalized for two weeks to recuperate from burns she sustained to her foot from a molten metal spill. In addition to her work in a defense plant, as a fishing fly tier, and with her cousin, Caroline at the Bridal and Formal salon in Wausau, WI, her memories of the time she and Bob owned Tierney's Rib Mountain Restaurant always bought a smile to her face and laughs from the stories she told. Betty remained civically minded throughout her life, by always making time to vote and, in later years, serving her community as a poll worker. Betty enjoyed volunteering for many organizations throughout her life, including the Neighbors Place and Aspirus Wausau Hospital. Betty took great pride in her Pommeranian ancestry and was a charter member of the Pommerscher Verein - Central Wisconsin. She enjoyed playing cards, knitting, sewing and needlepoint. Her home was open to all and throughout the years Betty and Bob had countless family, friends and exchange students stay with them. Betty held a special place in her heart for an exchange student from Brazil, Bia Gomide Simao`, with whom she remained in contact and visited several times over the years. Above all, she loved her family and cherished her time spent with them. Betty was a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church for over 60 years where she was very active in the Ladies Guild, as well as singing in the choir. Betty is survived by and the loving mother of seven children, James (Vicki) Tierney, Wausau, WI, Gale Tierney, Wausau, WI, Gary (Janet) Tierney, Roseville, MN, Debbie (Mike) Diewald, Madison, WI, Michael (Susan) Tierney, McFarland, WI, Thomas (Kristine) Tierney, Wausau, WI and Tammy (Knox) Johnson, Kaukauna, WI; 17 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren; one brother, Bob (Eppie) Gruling, Merrill, WI; brother-in-law, Jerry (Jeannie) Tierney, Glen Ellen, CA,, sisters-in-law, Pat Kotke, Las Vegas, NV, Judy Tierney, Old Orchard Beach, ME and Jean Tierney, Appleton, WI; brother-in-law, Pat Duffy, Burke, VA, and many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Bob. In addition to her parents, Robert and Otillie, she was preceded in death by siblings, Irma Kriewald, Hattie Riemer, Elisa Sodke, Olga Kriehn, Viola Mohrland, Mary Ann Westphal, and Ted, Walter, Victor and Gerhart Gruling, as well as eight infant brothers and sisters. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 24, 2018 at St. Mark Lutheran Church, Wausau. Rev. Bruce Lamont will officiate. Entombment will be in Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau. Visitation will be Friday from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 3400 Stewart Avenue, Wausau and again on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services at St. Mark Lutheran Church, Wausau. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com