Erna E. Welke, 103, of Chippewa Falls, died peacefully Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017, surrounded by her family at the Chippewa Manor.
She was born Oct. 8, 1913, in Fall Creek, to Amanda (Rosentrader) and Ernest Zich. She was raised in Fall Creek, where she also attended school.
On June 6, 1937, Erna married Edwin G. Welke at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Fall Creek. The couple farmed in Fall Creek and in 1944, bought a farm in Cadott. In 1947, they moved to Chippewa Falls where they raised their family. She had been a resident of the Chippewa Manor since 2004, and was a longtime member of Zion Lutheran Church, Chippewa Falls.
Erna had a love for horses, and enjoyed when her granddaughter brought them for visits…they even brought the surrey with the fringe on top to the Chippewa Manor! Erna also enjoyed embroidery, puzzles, gardening, and baking homemade bread.
She is survived by daughters, Dianne Schroeder, Marlene (Jim) Paulson, all of Chippewa Falls; son, Eugene (Linda Darlene) Welke of Reading, Mich.; daughter-in-law, RoseAnn Welke of Chippewa Falls; a sister, Evelyn Mueller of Eau Claire; 11 grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Edwin, June 15, 2005; brothers, Marvin, Elgart, Ewald and Edward Zich; sisters, Margaret Nelson, Mabel Bertzer, Selma Welke, and Olga Bates; a son-in-law, Howard Schroeder, in 2003; and her son, Earl Welke, in 2008.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 28, at Zion Lutheran Church, Chippewa Falls with the Rev. Charles Yunghans officiating. Following the service, Erna’s granddaughter, Linda Johnson, and her husband Tim’s horse-drawn hearse will lead the funeral procession to Forest Hill Cemetery, Chippewa Falls, where Erna will be laid to rest.
A visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until the time of service at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Lutheran Womens Missionary League, (LWML), c/o Zion Lutheran Church, 110 Grand Ave., Chippewa Falls, WI 54729.
Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel and Cremation Services, Chippewa Falls, is serving the family.
Visit pedersonvolker.com to express online condolences.