Esther M. Behrends, nee Roell, age 87, of West Bend, entered eternal life on Sunday, August 5, 2007 at the Cedar Lake Health Care Center.
She was born on November 28, 1919 in Granville to the late Alvin and Olga (nee Jobs) Roell, and was united in marriage to Richard E. Behrends on June 18, 1942 at Immanuel United Church of Christ in West Bend, where she had been a life-long member.
Esther worked at the Woolen Mills as a sewer and inspector until her marriage and later at the former Decorah Laundromat. She enjoyed gardening, baking, embroidery, word puzzles, and cards. Esther loved her family, especially spoiling her grandchildren with plenty of hugs and cookies.
Esther is survived by her four loving children, Carol (Greg) Vos of West Bend, Ruth (Ed) Poehlman of Horicon, Patricia (Dan) Harter of West Bend, and Douglas (Sue) Behrends of West Bend; nine grandchildren, Susan (Peter) Logan, Cathy (Gary) Fichtner, Mark Vos, Michelle (Troy) Schliesman, Penny (Tony) Soblewski, Amy (Paul) Johnson, Pam (Tim) Neumann, Andrea Mlejnek, and Nic Behrends; 18 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandson; a brother Milton Roell of West Bend; three sisters-in-law, Josephine Roell of West Bend, Wilma Hagg, and Loretta Brietbach, both of Iowa; a brother-in-law, Marlin Kocher of West Bend; other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard, in 1993; three sisters, Norma Michaels, Mabel Klumb, and Irene Kocher; and a brother, Alvin "Sonny" Roell.
Funeral services to remember Esther will be held on Wednesday, August 8th at 3:00 pm at the Myrhum ~ Patten Funeral Home, West Bend. Chaplain Susan Kolb from Cedar Community will officiate and burial will follow in Washington County Memorial Park. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Wednesday from 2:00 pm until the time of service at 3:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to the West Bend Quad Parish Youth Outreach or the West Bend Food Pantry are appreciated.