Esther Marie Retzlaff

ESTHER RETZLAFF
Esther Marie Retzlaff, 85. Catawba, died in the Aspirus Pleasant View Nursing Home in Phillips while under the care of Flambeau Home Health and Hospice on Tuesday, March 28, 2017. She was born on March 25, 1932, in Phillips, to Theodore and Anna Kuchera. She was married to Herbert “Bert” Retzlaff on May 18, 1949. They moved to Slinger, Wisconsin, lived there for two years, and then returned to Catawba where they lived on their dairy farm on county Road I. Esther operated the dairy farm with her sons until she and Bert moved into the Village of Catawba. She worked for the Green Thumb DNR in Prentice, the Normal Building in Phillips, and then the Nutrition Site in Catawba. She also worked as a sub at the Catawba School and later did road construction for Fox Valley Construction of Fox Valley with her husband. She was a member of Saint Paul the apostle Catholic Church of Catawba. In her free time she enjoyed spending time with her family, gardening, quilting, sewing, and working outside.
She is survived by five children, Diane (Angelo) Alteri, Kimberling City, MO, Jerry (Pam), Catawba, Anna (Rick) Lukes, Catawba, Margaret (David) Lasee, Catawba, and Ted (Mell), Catawba; by one daughter-in-law, Marge, Catawba; by 15 grandchildren, Cori, Christopher, Angie, Don, Jesica, Meg, Brandi, Beth, Nathan, Zach, Mindy, Blaine, Amanda, Valaree, and George; and by 18 great grandchildren, Jerad, Mackenzie, Madelyn, Oliver, Ashley, Skylar, Noah, Eva, Brynn, Kacen, Jace, Finn, Serena, Claryssa, Anthony, Abby, Daymen, and Arahbella. She was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert, on August 4, 2005; and is also preceded in death by one son, Donnie; by one daughter-in-law, Jodee Retzlaff; by one brother, Jerry Kucera; and by one sister, Josephine Kornuth.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, April 1, at Saint Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Catawba with Father Gerald Hagen celebrating the Funeral Mass. Friends may call at the church on Saturday from 10:00 A.M. until the time of services. Inurnment will be in the Catawba Cemetery in Catawba.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.heindlfuneralhome.com
The Heindl Funeral Home in Phillips is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.