Gola Mae Finkelmeyer

Mineral Point - Gola Mae (Clayton) Finkelmeyer, 90, of Mineral Point passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 20, 2021, at Sienna Crest in Mineral Point. She was born on April 22, 1931, the third of six children, to Cecil C. Clayton, Sr., and Cora M. (Waggett) Clayton, in rural Belmont. Gola attended Strawberry Country School, a one-room schoolhouse at the edge of her family’s farm property, and she graduated from Belmont High School in 1949. After attending beauty school in Madison, Gola worked as a beautician at Ruth Ann’s Beauty Shop in Cuba City. During this time, she also worked for her father in the Clayton family business as a clerk at the Belmont Livestock Market. It was here that she caught the eye of her future husband, Paul. On June 7, 1952, Gola married Paul G. Finkelmeyer at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Mineral Point. Soon after, they settled on the Finkelmeyer Family Farm southwest of Mineral Point, where they raised seven children and enjoyed 47 years of marriage before Paul’s passing on January 28, 2000. Their marriage centered on their family, faith, hard work and supporting their community. Gola enjoyed attending dances with Paul where they would dance together for hours. She relished preparing home-cooked meals for her family and haying crews. She also spent countless hours visiting and comforting residents in nursing homes. Her cutout Christmas cookies and delicious pies were special favorites to many over the years. She was a farm girl at heart who loved the small, everyday pleasures that country life provided. She also had a keen sense of style. Gola will be remembered for her maternal tenderness, graceful beauty, devout faith, boundless energy, quiet strength, unselfishness, and natural warmth. Gola is survived by her four sons, Randall, Mineral Point; Stephen, Chicago; and Michael (Deb) and Mark (Debi) both of Mineral Point; three daughters, Mary Alice (Todd) Argall, New Glarus; Joyce (Kim) Argall, Neenah, and Jean Finkelmeyer, Madison; 12 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; her sister Joyce (Hubert) Mester, Belmont; her brothers, Cecil Clayton, Jr. and Roger Clayton, both of Belmont; her sisters-in-law, Dorothy Finkelmeyer, Oconomowoc, Pauline and Jackie Clayton, both of Platteville; her cousin, Judith (Larry) Amenda, Belmont; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Paul; her parents, Cecil and Cora Clayton; her parents-in-law, George and Mary Finkelmeyer; her brothers, Gordon and Donald Clayton; her brothers-in-law, Francis and Harry Finkelmeyer, Richard Figge, and Wayne Carey; her sisters-in-law, Jean Figge, Norma Finkelmeyer, Alice Carey, Anna Mae Finkelmeyer, and Pat Clayton; and several nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, October 25, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at ST. PHILOMENA CATHOLIC CHURCH in Belmont. Fr. Michael Tarigopula will officiate. Burial will be in St. Paul’s Cemetery in Mineral Point. A visitation will be held on Sunday, October 24, 2021 from 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. at the GORGEN FUNERAL HOME in Mineral Point and on Monday from 9:30 - 10:50 a.m. at ST. PHILOMENA CATHOLIC CHURCH. In Lieu of flowers, memorials given to the family will go toward supporting the Mineral Point community in Gola’s name. Gola was the best mother and grandmother anyone could ask for and, while she will be deeply missed by everyone who loved her, her kind and giving spirit will live on in all of us.

Gola Mae Finkelmeyer

April 22, 1931 - October 20, 2021