It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Josephine Ann Vetter, who will be sorely missed. Josephine was born on April 13, 1926, in Frances, Washington, to Pete and Emma Guggenbickler. She passed away in Chehalis, Washington, on Feb. 17, 2024, with her family at her side.
Josephine grew up in Frances with her nine siblings until she married Conrad Vetter on June 28, 1947. She and Conrad built their homestead in Onalaska where they raised their six children. They also raised their own beef and grew a luscious fruit and vegetable garden. Nothing went to waste. Any extra would be dropped off to friends or relatives on her way to town.
As a homemaker and mother, Josephine was very proud of her family and bragged about them every chance she got. The family will forever have fond memories of spending time at “Mom and Dad’s/Grandpa and Grandma’s” house and the huge and wonderful dinners on the holidays. She always had a full meal and/or dessert ready anytime someone happened by. Josephine was quite a cook and baker, and everything she made was made from scratch. She passed this ability on to her children, including how to can, garden and even make butter. She was proud of her flower gardens and hated any weed that poked its ugly head up wherever she went. You would often see her when she went to the doctor’s office, dentist office, church, someone’s yard or at the senior center pulling dandelions sometimes whistling or yodeling.
She was a longtime member of St Joseph Catholic Church where she made sure all her children got a good religious education and learned to love God as she did. She was also a member of St. Anthony Circle for many years.
Josephine had an easy smile and was loved by everyone. She was a member of Chehalis Eagles and Lewis-Pacific Swiss Society all her adult life. She was also a 4-H leader when her oldest children were young. In later years, she started going to the Twin Cities Senior Center and joined a bowling league. You would often find her name in the newspaper for having one of the highest scores for the week, which she was highly proud of. Josephine also loved to dance! She and Conrad spent many years dancing at the Chehalis Eagles. She could outdance everyone and wore out the best of them, even her own children! She was still dancing at the assisted living center right up until two weeks before her death!
Josephine was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Conrad, who died in 1992; her infant daughter, JoAnn; her daughter-in-law, Janet Vetter; her parents; and all her siblings. She is survived by her six children, Marilyn (Dale) Tracy, Jeanette (Daniel) Brewer, Marge (Merle) Wilcoxson, Jim Vetter, Rose (Jerry) Wright and Robert (Aren) Vetter; 11 grandchildren, Vicki Green, Jerod Jetton, Mike Tracy, Julie (Doug) Olsen, Barb Williams, Dave Tracy, Anne (Ryan) Vold, John (April) Santee, Jessica (Michael) Kinsey, Marc Vetter (Kandra Duffey) and Amy Paslay; 25 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandson.
A special thanks to all the wonderful and caring staff at Chehalis West Assisted Living Center, especially the last several months where “Jo Jo” was treated like a queen, even getting crowned queen for Valentine’s Day three days before her death. Thanks also to the kind staff at Woodland Village prior to Chehalis West.
There will be a funeral mass for Josephine Vetter at 11 a.m. with a rosary preceding at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 682 SW Cascade Ave., in Chehalis, on March 1, 2024. There will be a graveside service following the Mass at Claquato Cemetery and a reception following the graveside at the V.R. Lee Building, 221 SW 13th Street, in Chehalis. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church or St. Joseph School at 157 SW Sixth St., Chehalis, WA, 98532. Please visit Cattermole Funeral Home’s website at www.cattermolefh.com/listings to add your stories, condolences or photos.
