Florence Marie “Flossy” Seyfert, 87, formerly of South Byron, passed away on February 25, 2011, at the Trillium Rehabilitation Hospital in Mesa, Arizona.
Flossy was born on August 9, 1923, in Campbellsport. She was one of seven children born to the late Fred and Hilda (Backhaus) Hammen. Florence lost her mother when she was just seven years old, and devoted her early years to helping her dad raise her siblings on the family farm.
At the age of 17 she met Herman William “Dutch” Seyfert. They married on February 21, 1941. They had seven children and raised them on a dairy farm in rural Lomira. During that time they also managed the popular “Club 49” Supper Club. In addition, they lived in Plymouth, Elkhart Lake, Crystal Lake, Glenbeulah and South Byron. Dutch preceded Flossy in death on August 1, 1967, at the young age of 50.
Outside of being a loving wife and devoted mother, Flossy was employed at Sharpe’s Resort and Arndt’s Supper Club, both in the Elkhart area, at Ben Franklin in Fond du Lac and Regal Ware in Kewaskum.
On November 6, 1970, Flossy was united in marriage to Edward “Eddie” Seyfert in Anchorage, Alaska. They spent 13 wonderful years in the remote Eskimo village of Unalakleet, AK. While living there, she embraced the native culture with enthusiasm. They taught her to can salmon, crochet and knit, and how to garden the “Eskimo” way. Flossy and Eddie enjoyed singing together while Ed played his guitar, spending time with friends, flying small planes, fishing, camping, playing cribbage, pinocle and any card game they might be asked to join. Flossy completed her GED in Alaska. One of the events that she looked forward to every March was the arrival of the Iditarod Dog Mushers that would make a stopover in Unalakleet. Joe Reddington Sr. “Father of the Iditarod,” and Libby Riddles, the first woman ever to win the race, were two of their guests. Great stories were told by Flossy of cooking up food for the sled dogs in her kitchen.
When Eddie retired in 1983 they returned to Wisconsin and bought a home on Lake Winnebago, and a condo in Tempe, Arizona. For 10 years they spent their summers in Wisconsin and their winters in Arizona. While in Arizona Florence and Eddie enjoyed golf and travel. After Eddie passed away in 1993, Flossy continued to divide her time between Arizona and Wisconsin. When in Wisconsin she spent the majority of her time residing in Oakfield and Oshkosh.
Flossy loved hummingbirds, nature, dancing and playing cards, particularly sheephead, bridge, 500 and cribbage. She was a member of the Oakfield and Lomira Senior Centers, and often played cards at the North Fond du Lac Senior Center. She was also a member of the Dobson Ranch Bridge group in Mesa, Arizona. Flossy was an avid reader, writer, and enjoyed her daily walks and spending time with special friends and family in both Wisconsin and Arizona. She collected china teacups and German glass ornaments. Every year she would take great pride in picking out the “perfect ornament” for each of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Flossy will be fondly remembered for her great sense of humor, telling jokes, and her famous “one liners”. She was the one who would always try to cheer people up by telling them to look on the bright side, of any situation. We will miss her delicious cooking and baking, and her strawberry freezer jam. Most of all we will miss her beautiful smile.
Those Flossy leaves behind to cherish her memory include six children, Sandra (Jim) Kandler of New Holstein, Judy Westphal of Oshkosh, Gerald “Josh” Seyfert of Anchorage, AK, Katherine E. “Kaye” (Jim) Holz of Oakfield, Larry (Bobbie) Seyfert of South Byron, Susan “Susy” Seyfert and her husband Roger Goodwin of Madison; a sister, Elaine Werner of West Bend; a brother-in-law, Calvin (Delores) Seyfert of Pound; 11 grandchildren; Kristine (Scott) Bonlander, Kevin Kandler, Lisa (Michael) Reinke, Michelle (Joe) Ryan, Timothy A. (Lisa) Holz, Terrance J. (Trisha) Holz, Trisha (Phil) Zimmel, Troy (Shannha) Seyfert, Lawrence ”JR” Seyfert Jr., Roscoe and Josh Goodwin and a step-granddaughter Cassie (Nick Wiesmueller) Goodwin; 12 great-grandchildren, Kaleigh and Devon Bonlander, Tyler and Ashley Reinke, Taylor Ryan, Nicole K., Ashley M., Joshua H., and Justin T. Holz, Drew and Charles Zimmel and Ella Seyfert.
Florence was also the loving godmother of Dick (Louise) Johnson, and special person to many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends, in the states of Wisconsin, Alaska and Arizona.
In addition to her parents and her husbands, Florence was preceded in death by an infant son, Herman W. Seyfert Jr., three brothers, Harold, Lester and Edwin Hammen; two sisters, Dolores Luedtke and Edna Koenig and three grandchildren, Cynthia, Tim and Tom Kandler.
A Memorial Service for Flossy was held at noon on Monday, June 20, 2011, at the Covenant United Methodist Church, 20 N. Marr Street in Fond du Lac. Visitation was at the church from 11 a.m. until the time of service. Burial of her cremains was at the Union Cemetery in Campbellsport following a luncheon in the church fellowship hall.
The Kietzer-Miller Funeral Home in Lomira was entrusted with Flossy’s arrangements.
Flossy’s family would like to thank Dr. Orazio Amabile, Cardiac Thoracic Surgeon, for the care he provided to Flossy.
“Mother, you, as our life long teacher, have taught us the importance of family, love, a positive attitude, and compassion for others. May we all age with such grace and dignity, and face life’s adversity with such a positive attitude.”
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Flossy was born on August 9, 1923, in Campbellsport. She was one of seven children born to the late Fred and Hilda (Backhaus) Hammen. Florence lost her mother when she was just seven years old, and devoted her early years to helping her dad raise her siblings on the family farm.
At the age of 17 she met Herman William “Dutch” Seyfert. They married on February 21, 1941. They had seven children and raised them on a dairy farm in rural Lomira. During that time they also managed the popular “Club 49” Supper Club. In addition, they lived in Plymouth, Elkhart Lake, Crystal Lake, Glenbeulah and South Byron. Dutch preceded Flossy in death on August 1, 1967, at the young age of 50.
Outside of being a loving wife and devoted mother, Flossy was employed at Sharpe’s Resort and Arndt’s Supper Club, both in the Elkhart area, at Ben Franklin in Fond du Lac and Regal Ware in Kewaskum.
On November 6, 1970, Flossy was united in marriage to Edward “Eddie” Seyfert in Anchorage, Alaska. They spent 13 wonderful years in the remote Eskimo village of Unalakleet, AK. While living there, she embraced the native culture with enthusiasm. They taught her to can salmon, crochet and knit, and how to garden the “Eskimo” way. Flossy and Eddie enjoyed singing together while Ed played his guitar, spending time with friends, flying small planes, fishing, camping, playing cribbage, pinocle and any card game they might be asked to join. Flossy completed her GED in Alaska. One of the events that she looked forward to every March was the arrival of the Iditarod Dog Mushers that would make a stopover in Unalakleet. Joe Reddington Sr. “Father of the Iditarod,” and Libby Riddles, the first woman ever to win the race, were two of their guests. Great stories were told by Flossy of cooking up food for the sled dogs in her kitchen.
When Eddie retired in 1983 they returned to Wisconsin and bought a home on Lake Winnebago, and a condo in Tempe, Arizona. For 10 years they spent their summers in Wisconsin and their winters in Arizona. While in Arizona Florence and Eddie enjoyed golf and travel. After Eddie passed away in 1993, Flossy continued to divide her time between Arizona and Wisconsin. When in Wisconsin she spent the majority of her time residing in Oakfield and Oshkosh.
Flossy loved hummingbirds, nature, dancing and playing cards, particularly sheephead, bridge, 500 and cribbage. She was a member of the Oakfield and Lomira Senior Centers, and often played cards at the North Fond du Lac Senior Center. She was also a member of the Dobson Ranch Bridge group in Mesa, Arizona. Flossy was an avid reader, writer, and enjoyed her daily walks and spending time with special friends and family in both Wisconsin and Arizona. She collected china teacups and German glass ornaments. Every year she would take great pride in picking out the “perfect ornament” for each of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Flossy will be fondly remembered for her great sense of humor, telling jokes, and her famous “one liners”. She was the one who would always try to cheer people up by telling them to look on the bright side, of any situation. We will miss her delicious cooking and baking, and her strawberry freezer jam. Most of all we will miss her beautiful smile.
Those Flossy leaves behind to cherish her memory include six children, Sandra (Jim) Kandler of New Holstein, Judy Westphal of Oshkosh, Gerald “Josh” Seyfert of Anchorage, AK, Katherine E. “Kaye” (Jim) Holz of Oakfield, Larry (Bobbie) Seyfert of South Byron, Susan “Susy” Seyfert and her husband Roger Goodwin of Madison; a sister, Elaine Werner of West Bend; a brother-in-law, Calvin (Delores) Seyfert of Pound; 11 grandchildren; Kristine (Scott) Bonlander, Kevin Kandler, Lisa (Michael) Reinke, Michelle (Joe) Ryan, Timothy A. (Lisa) Holz, Terrance J. (Trisha) Holz, Trisha (Phil) Zimmel, Troy (Shannha) Seyfert, Lawrence ”JR” Seyfert Jr., Roscoe and Josh Goodwin and a step-granddaughter Cassie (Nick Wiesmueller) Goodwin; 12 great-grandchildren, Kaleigh and Devon Bonlander, Tyler and Ashley Reinke, Taylor Ryan, Nicole K., Ashley M., Joshua H., and Justin T. Holz, Drew and Charles Zimmel and Ella Seyfert.
Florence was also the loving godmother of Dick (Louise) Johnson, and special person to many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends, in the states of Wisconsin, Alaska and Arizona.
In addition to her parents and her husbands, Florence was preceded in death by an infant son, Herman W. Seyfert Jr., three brothers, Harold, Lester and Edwin Hammen; two sisters, Dolores Luedtke and Edna Koenig and three grandchildren, Cynthia, Tim and Tom Kandler.
A Memorial Service for Flossy was held at noon on Monday, June 20, 2011, at the Covenant United Methodist Church, 20 N. Marr Street in Fond du Lac. Visitation was at the church from 11 a.m. until the time of service. Burial of her cremains was at the Union Cemetery in Campbellsport following a luncheon in the church fellowship hall.
The Kietzer-Miller Funeral Home in Lomira was entrusted with Flossy’s arrangements.
Flossy’s family would like to thank Dr. Orazio Amabile, Cardiac Thoracic Surgeon, for the care he provided to Flossy.
“Mother, you, as our life long teacher, have taught us the importance of family, love, a positive attitude, and compassion for others. May we all age with such grace and dignity, and face life’s adversity with such a positive attitude.”