Louise M. Braatz
Louise M. Braatz, 87, formerly of North Fond du Lac, passed away at the Hospice Home of Hope on November 5, 2013. Louise was born in Plymouth, WI on September 2, 1926, a daughter of Edwin Frederick and Verona Anne (Holtzmann) Gessert.
On April 26, 1947 she married Harold G. Braatz Sr. at St. Peter’s UCC in the Town of Rhine.
Louise is a graduate of Plymouth High School. She worked twenty-five years with the Fond du Lac County Highway Commission. Louise was also a homemaker who lovingly raised nine children.
She was an active member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, North Fond du Lac, for over sixty years. Louise was a member of the church ladies group, WINGS. She was also a member of the We Love to Dance Club.
Survivors include eight children, Harold (Barbara) Braatz Jr. of Fond du Lac, Judith (Ronald) Preissner of Oakfield, Dennis Braatz (special friend, Cheryl Zwicky) of Sheboygan, Diane LaCroix of Fond du Lac, Donald (Pamela) Braatz of Howards Grove, Peter (Mary) Braatz of Neshkoro, Louise (Daniel) DeRusseau of Cedar Creek, TX and Jerold (Ping) Braatz of Elm Grove; 15 grandchildren, Richard (Theresa), Brian (Lisa) and Christopher (Molly) Braatz, Erin Maravilla and Ronald (Sheryl) Preissner, Shari (Christopher) Van Straten, Cedric (Anita) and Nathan Braatz, David and Margaret LaCroix, Amanda (Jason) Flores, Anna Braatz and Donald Braatz, Nick Ross, Larry Ma; 17 great grandchildren; 7 step great grandchildren; two sisters, Helen (Robert) Abhold and Verona (James) Keller; one brother, Edwin (Nancy) Gessert; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Preceding Louise in death are Harold Sr., her husband; daughter, Betty Jane Melger; granddaughter, Stacy Braatz; great grandson, Tyler Johnson; siblings, George Gessert, Margaret Smith, Jerome Gessert, Fred Gessert, Lucille Rosenthal and Marjorie Bruggink; son-in-law, David L. LaCroix; grandson-in-law Victor Maravilla..
Visitation: The family will receive relatives and friends on Saturday, November 9, 2013 from 9:30 until 11:15 AM at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1010 Adams Street, North Fond du Lac.
Services: At 11:30 AM on Saturday, November 9, a funeral service will be celebrated in St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. Pastor Thomas Behnke will officiate. Entombment will be in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum, Ledgeview Memorial Park, Fond du Lac.
Memorials are preferred and may be directed to St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Zacherl Funeral Home and Crematory, Fond du Lac, is serving the family. www.zacherlfuneralhome.com