RYAN J. REETZ
(Licensed Funeral Director / Owner)
Hello and thank you for taking time to look at our web site. My name is Ryan, I was raised in the Waupaca area most of my life and graduated from Waupaca High School in 1990. After that I joined the WI Army National Guard as a Combat Medic. I completed basic training at Ft. Leonardwood, MO and then the Combat Medic Course at Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX. Upon completion, I was activated for the Gulf War (Desert Shield/Storm). At the time I was with the 13th Evac. Hospital but was assigned to the 134th Ambulance Company out of Washington, Iowa. After returning home my unit sent me to Licensed Practical Nursing School, it was there that I decided to become a Funeral Director. Upon graduation, I entered Milwaukee Area Technical College, West Allis Campus in the Funeral Service Program. While in college I worked for Church & Chapel Funeral Service, New Berlin, where I received excellent hands-on training. After graduation, I went to work for Pfeffer Funeral Home in Manitowoc and Klein & Stangel Funeral Home, Two Rivers, WI. I worked there for 5 1/2 years, again, receiving more great training and work experience until moving to Viroqua in 2004. In the fall of 2009 I completed 20 years of military service and have since retired. I have two boys, Kaden, born in 2002 and Chase, born in 2004.
Kaden, Chase and I enjoy the area and the people of this area have welcomed us with open arms and we are truly grateful for that.
E-mail: ryan@thorson-reetz.net
Thor J. Thorson
(Licensed Funeral Director /Social Worker)
Thor J. Thorson was born on April 11, 1937. Graduated from Viroqua High School in 1955, University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse in 1963, and received a Master of Social Work Degree from the University of Michigan in 1967. Worked in Vernon County as a Child Welfare Worker from 1963-66. Worked in Lincoln County from 1967-68 and Wausau School System as School Social Worker from 1968-72. In January, 1973 opened Arneson-Thorson Funeral Home in Viroqua. Graduated from Worsham School of Mortuary Science in 1974 and in 1975 bought the business from Richard Arneson and since that time has operated at Thorson Funeral Home. Served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS WISCONSIN (BB-64) and served in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps retiring as a Lt. Col. In January,2004 Ryan J. Reetz joined me and in January, 2008 is buying into the firm. We are now known as Thorson-Reetz Funeral Home. My wife is the former Joan Phillips. Currently have three daughters, Elizabeth "Beth" Swift, Christine Roth, and Paula Smith, and nine grandchildren.
Valdo "Pete" Gilman
(Non-Liscenced Associate)
Valdo "Pete" Gilman was born on September 15, 1936 on the home farm in rural LaFarge. He attended country school and graduated from LaFarge High School in 1954. In 1960 he married Shirley Drake and they have three children, one girl and two boys. Pete worked in the grocery buisness until retiring in 1998. He then worked at Thorson Funeral Home and now Thorson-Reetz Funeral Home from 1999 to present time. Pete is not a licensed funeral director but assists in many aspects of the funeral buisiness and is a valuable associate to the the firm.