Elfrieda Buettner left this earth on the morning of August 29, 2023, to join her daughter, Julie, in heaven. Elfrieda Elsie Gertrude Gueths was born October 2, 1932, in the Town of Richmond at the home of her parents, Arthur and Caroline “Lena” (Sommers) Gueths. She was baptized (October 23, 1932) and confirmed (April 14, 1946) at St. Jakobi Lutheran Church. She attended Forest School and then lived with her sister, Nora, to attend Shawano High School. She graduated in 1950 and went to work at Farmers Implement. On September 19, 1953, she married Marvin Buettner at St Jakobi–a marriage that lasted twenty days shy of seventy years. In 1955, Marv and Frieda moved to the family farm where she worked to raise her children and helped to run the farm. She continued to help milk until retiring from the farm in 2008 when her and Marv moved to their Madison Way apartment where she resided until her death. She was a lifelong member of St. Jakobi and a faithful member of the Ladies Aid. As her children got older, she became the general leader of the Wolf River 4-H Club and served on the Executive Board of the Shawano County Leaders Association. Although forgetful at the end, she recalled the effort of preparing vegetables for the Shawano County Fair. For many years at the fair, she could be found helping in the kitchen at the Fireman’s Stand. Although her only sport was afternoon bowling at the R & R, she enjoyed watching her grandchildren play sports. Marv and Frieda were named the 2008 Fans of the Year by the Shawano Athletic Booster Club. During basketball season, they would often venture to Houghton to see Josh play Michigan Tech basketball.
Elfrieda is survived by her husband, Marvin, and their five children: Joel (Vicki) Buettner; Joan (Chuck) Stoehr; Jennifer (Gary) Hoffman; and Jeffrey (Kathy) Buettner. She was preceded in death by her oldest daughter, Julie, and her son-in-law, Michael Timm.
Her “favorite job” started in 1979 when she became a grandmother, and she was later blessed with becoming a great grandmother. Her thirteen grandchildren are Joshua Buettner (Jenna Tillman); Katie (Troy) Kirgan; Kelsie (Michael) Perez; Kylee (Justin) Richter; Rodney (Nancy) Stoehr; Melissa (Andrew) Stumbras; Bradley (Christa) Hoffman; Mindy Hoffman; Brock (Hannah) Hoffman; Brady Hoffman (fiancee Anastasia Krueger); Beau Hoffman; Krystal Buettner and Brandon Buettner. Her great grandchildren are Rayce Bosnich; Trenton Kirgan; Kali and Mason Perez; Caroline and Griffin Richter; Elaina, Esmae and Avner Stoehr; Bronson and Garen Stumbras; and Archer and Allie Hoffman. She was preceded in death by a great granddaughter, Abigail Hoffman.
She is further survived by a sister, Betty (Sam) Cartwright; three sisters-in-law, Norma Martzke, Betty Booras and Marcia Buettner; and one brother-in-law, Willard (Virginia) Buettner. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings Reinhold Gueths, Lawrence Gueths, Nora Engel, August “Butch” Gueths, Carl “Chubby” Gueths, Alfred Gueths, Fred Gueths, and Chester Gueths; and brothers-in-law, John Buettner, Roger “Rip” Buettner and Daniel Buettner.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 2, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Jakobi Lutheran Church with Rev. Travis Kleinschmidt officiating. Visitation will be held at the church on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be in St. Jakobi Lutheran Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to St. Jakobi Lutheran Church.
Grandmas hold our hands a little while, but our hearts forever.
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