October 16, 2019 – West Bend, WI –Arlene Anne Elsner of West Bend, passed away on Saturday, October 12, 2019 at the Cedar Lake Health and Rehabilitation Center at the age of 87. She was born on February 19, 1932 in Milwaukee to the late Elmar and Lydia (nee Mahr) Schmidt.
On October 16, 1954, she was united in marriage to Walter J. Elsner at St. Sebastian’s Catholic Church in Milwaukee. Walter predeceased February 1, 2012.
Arlene received her nursing degree at Sacred Heart/Alverno School of Nursing in Milwaukee. She last worked for 18 years at the Notre Dame Health Care Center in Elm Grove. Arlene and Wally retired to Florida and spent 17 years there. She was known for her baking and would treat us all with special cookies around the holidays. She was an avid knitter, having made special blankets for her three daughters and 6 grandchildren as well as countless other creations over the years.
Arlene lived the last few years at Cedar Community Independent Living in West Bend, was an active volunteer and made many friends while doing a wide variety of activities. She attended Holy Angels Catholic Church in West Bend and was an usher at the 4 p.m. Saturday Mass every week. Arlene was also a breast cancer survivor.
Survivors include 3 daughters: Kathleen (Ed) Norris of Horicon, Mary Ann (Arwin Karow) Johnson of Menomonee Falls and Jean (Arlyn) Johnson of Jackson; 6 grandchildren: Ben Arthur, Kristen (Justin) Meagher, Laura Johnson (special friend Jesse), Marina Johnson (special friend Ryan), Kira (Jake) Baumann and Trevor Johnson; 1 brother Robert (the late Carol) Schmidt; 1 sister-in-law Kay (the late Richard) Schmidt; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a brother Richard Schmidt, parents-in-law Arthur and Theresa Elsner, brother-in-law Arthur Elsner and sister-in-law Dorothy Elsner.
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, November 8 at 2 p.m. at Holy Angels Catholic Church. Inurnment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Milwaukee. The family will greet relatives and friends at church on Friday from 12:30 until 1:45 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to The Eye Institute of the Medical College of Wisconsin or Holy Angels Catholic Church appreciated.
Arlene’s family would like to extend a sincere Thank You to Dr. Herdrich and his caring staff, Jessica and Christine, to all of the wonderful friends that were with her at Cedar Community and Holy Angels. We thank them all for their friendship and love to our mom. We also wish to thank Cedar Community Hospice, especially Debbie and Casey for their care of our mom.
The Schmidt Funeral Home of West Bend is serving the family.
