Anthony J Testolin

Sun Prairie- Anthony ""Tony"" J. Testolin, age 79, passed away at his home surrounded by his family on July 2, 2008. He was born on March 21, 1929 in Dodge County the son of Albert & Marcella (Binnotto) Testolin.  Tony graduated from Mayville High School in 1946. He served in the U.S. Army from 1946 through 1948 with the elite U.S. Constabulary in Germany policing the U.S. Occupation Zone and was later recalled to active duty during the Korean War where he served as an Operations Sergeant from 1950 to 1951 with the !st Cavalry Division.  Among his decorations he was awarded the Bronze Star. Tony married the love of his life, Marlayne Heimerl, in 1952.  He was employed with the State of Wisconsin for over 30 years, first with the Wisconsin State Patrol and his last duty was as a Field Sergeant. He then worked with the Wisconsin Emergency Management Agency where he was the Bureau Director responsible for all disaster preparedness planning and response actions until his retirement in 1989.  He was an alumnus of the 9 month Police Administration course at Northwestern University, attended various management courses at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Federal Colleges at Battle Creek, MI and Emmetsburg, MD.  Tony was instrumental in assisting in reorganizing the Wisconsin Bureau of Civil Defense after the 1965 Mississippi River flood, which was a nuclear war planning agency into becoming an all disaster response agency. He took part in the state™s emergency response in every Wisconsin disaster or incident from 1965-1989 which included the 1965 Mississippi flood, 1976 ice storm, 1977 Wisconsin drought, 1977 Wisconsin State Employee™s Strike, 1978 Kickapoo River flood, 1979 truckers strike, 1980™s spear fishing disturbances and 1984 Barneveld tornado. Mr. Testolin along with many state, county and local officials lobbied congress to help form FEMA in 1978. It went from a number of federal agencies to one coordinated federal disaster response agency.   From 1990-2002, he served as a FEMA reservist being called to assist at various disaster declarations as they occurred throughout the U.S.A.  Also during this time period, he was a tour manager and guide for Holiday Vacations of Eau Claire escorting groups on trips in the continental U.S.A., Alaska, and Western Europe. Mr. Testolin especially enjoyed watching his sons and grandsons play baseball, football and hockey.  He attended every event he possibly could.  He was a loyal Packer and Badger fan holding season tickets to Badger football from 1970 to 2004.  With his wife, he enjoyed traveling and wintering in Florida and Arizona.  They also travelled in Europe and especially enjoyed Northern Italy where his father and mother were born.  They were dedicated walkers and enjoyed going to new and different places.  Tony was a member of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Catholic Church, Sun Prairie, V.F.W. Post # 7591, Madison, and DOT Retirees™ Club, Madison.  Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Marlayne of Sun Prairie; sons, Terrance of Richland Center and Tim (Judy) of Madison; grandsons, Tony (Laura) of Madison and Sam of Madison; great granddaughter, Hailey Anne; sisters, Mary Goodman of Fond du Lac, Emma Vollmer of Las Vegas, NV, Lidia Berghammer of Madison and Elly (Gerard) Klinzing of Monona; brothers-in-law, Marvin (Gladys) Heimerl of Brownsville and Milton (Shirley) Heimerl of Fond du Lac; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 5, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the CRESS FUNERAL HOME CHAPEL, 1310 Emerald Terrace, Sun Prairie with Father Brian Dulli presiding.  Friends are invited to call on Saturday at the funeral home from 4:00 p.m. until the time of service.  A reception with food and beverage will be provided throughout the visitation in the Cress Funeral Home Community Room.  Tony was grateful for all his wonderful health providers and the family wishes to express their thanks to the Dean Clinics, St. Mary™s Hospital, UW Hospital and HospiceCare for their compassionate care.  Memorials would be appreciated to HospiceCare, St. Mary™s Hospital or UW Carbone Cancer Center.