Elsie A. Koopmann
Elsie A. Koopmann, 86, has gone to Heaven to join her husband,
Larry, and infant son at 5:30 Saturday afternoon, November 1, 2014. They will celebrate 68 years of marriage in
the arms of the Lord. Elsie had been a
resident at the Fond du Lac Lutheran Home for the past four years. She adored
the nurses and staff who so passionately cared for her. They became her friends and extended family.
Our mother was born in Milwaukee on July 21, 1928, the
daughter of William and Anna Sandvoss. She graduated from Girl’s Technical High
School in Milwaukee, WI. On Nov. 4, 1946
she married Lawrence C. Koopmann. They
met when her father, a butcher in Milwaukee, brought his family to Mequon to
buy pigs, geese, ducks and chickens from Emily Koopmann. Grandma Koopmann’s dairy farm became her
second home. Mom talked often of the
fun she and her sisters-in-law had cooking and baking in grandma’s big farm
kitchen. She became a Stanley Home
Products demonstrator and when mom, dad and two daughters moved to Cedarburg in
1955 she became the office assistant for the Stanley Home Products district
manager. In 1958 she began working at Alston’s Dept.
store in Cedarburg which spanned 25 years.
These were our mother’s most memorable years ever. Her coworkers and their spouses became mom
and dad’s very good friends. She enjoyed
their card clubs, golfing, bowling and dancing, especially Polkas. Many trips were made to Las Vegas. Sometimes with her sisters and others with
the “Alston girls”. My dad’s job in
Cedarburg at Kiekhaefer’s Mercury Marine moved to Fond du Lac. In 1983 they shopped for a house in Fond du
Lac. They settled in St. Peter but a few
years later they built a home on the Mallard Lane channel. Our family also loved fishing and now our
parents could have their boat and the water right in their backyard.
Our mother
was an amazing seamstress, cook, baker, quilter and Halloween costume
designer. We will always cherish our Christmas cookie
baking, especially the Candy Cane cookies.
At Thanksgiving time our Ping-Pong table became a dinner table for many,
many family members to enjoy our mother’s wonderful cooking.
Those left
to cherish all the beautiful memories: Two
daughters Judy Koopmann of Fond du Lac and Diane Farvour of Menasha. Diane’s children Michael (Mary) and Jennifer
and their children Caslin, Colin and Maiah.
Also survived by her sisters, Betty, Lucille and Ann (Harvey). Sisters-in-law, Doreen and Joanne and many
nieces, nephews and many dear friends, especially Betty Marx who visited often
and never forgot our mother’s birthday.
Preceded in
death by her husband, infant son, her parents, mother-in-law, six
brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law.
Visitation
for Elsie will be held on Saturday, November 8. 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00
at Zacherl Funeral Home, 875 E. Division Street, Fond du Lac, WI. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 at the
funeral home. Private family interment will be held at Settler’s Rest Cemetery
in the Town of Mequon.
Memorials in
our mother’s name may be directed to the family.
A special thank you to the Second
Floor staff at The Lutheran Home for their kindness and Pete Zacherl for his compassion
and support at this very difficult time.
Zacherl
Funeral Home is serving the family. www.zacherlfuneralhome.com