Elsie G. Utke, age 81, of Marion passed away on Sunday, September 5, 2021, at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center, Appleton.
Elsie Gertrude Kobs was born on November 24, 1939, to August and Elsie (Brunke) Kobs in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the youngest of three siblings. At the age of seven she began taking piano lessons; growing to love music and other instruments throughout her life. She first started out working as a telephone operator. Then was united in marriage to Harold H. Utke on August 8, 1964, at the Assembly of God Church, Shawano.
The couple purchased their first home on old County Road A in Shawano. She worked beside Harold in their early days and was told by many that she could make the straightest rows of hay. From growing up in the big city, Elsie never dreamed that she would end up living on a rural farm or even in a small town. They also opened their home to several foster children before adopting Dale and two years later Sarah.
Elsie gardened and sold Tupperware to help the family make ends meet. She liked to garden and canned numerous jars from her harvest. Elsie’s gift of canning and baking won her many Blue Ribbons at the County Fair. Eventually she began working for H&R Block in Shawano. After a few years, she opened her own business. Elsie loved doing accounting work and tax preparation for 30 years for folks all around the area.
She is a former member of the Milwaukee Gospel Tabernacle; First United Methodist Church, Marion; and Bethany Evangelical Free Church, Clintonville. Currently she was an active member of Grace Family Church, Marion.
Elsie will be remembered most as a caring and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and aunt. She was passionate about reaching out and helping others, from entertaining hospital residents as “Bubbles the Clown”, teaching and demonstrating how to make whole grain breads via community events, running a tax accounting business for many years and at one point operating a dog kennel. Her husband Harold preceded her in death on December 12, 2015.
During the last years of her life, she had a piano music gospel ministry of encouragement on a Facebook page with the help of her care giver, Rae Lynn Mielke. Nothing was off limits…if there was a need, Elsie would be a part of it.
Elsie had another side to her for those who knew her “up close”. As a faithful servant of Christ, she would not want you to mourn her leaving, but to remain faithful and hopeful. She always continued to trust the Scripture which encouraged her and which she shared with others through cards, phone calls, and visits that would uplift people and make them smile and even laugh at times.
Survivors include two daughters, Sarah (Kelly) Loken and Katie (Brad) Doberstein; and one daughter-in-law, Ursula Utke. There are three grandsons, William Loken, Maik Ehlers, and Christopher Utke. She is further survived by a great granddaughter, Rosella Plaster; a sister, Margaret Parks; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Elsie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Harold; a son Dale; one brother Arthur Kobs; and two nephews, Timothy Utke and Dale Parks.
Visitation will be on Sunday, September 26th from 3:00 – 5:00 PM with a light meal starting at 5:00 and service will be held at 5:45 PM all at Beil-Didier Funeral Home, Clintonville. Rev. Phil Hohensee will officiate and inurnment will be for close family at a later date at Greenleaf Cemetery, Marion.
We would like to thank everyone who has loved and supported Mom over the years.
Beil-Didier Funeral & Cremation Service is assisting the family.
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