Anna Ehlis, 107, Dickinson, died Monday, December 12, 2011 at her home. Anna’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2 p.m., Friday, December 16, 2011 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Dickinson with Fr. Patrick Schumacher as the celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Pius Cemetery, Schefield. Visitation will be from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Friday at Ladbury Funeral Service. There will be a St. Pius Verein Rosary and a Vigil at 5 p.m., Thursday at Ladbury Funeral Service with Deacon Bob Zent presiding.
Anna Schumacher was born on Friday, March 18, 1904 at Strasburg, the daughter of John and Stephina (Bauman) Schumacher. Following the death of her father when she was a little girl, her mother moved them to Dodge. Her mother remarried, Philip Erker, and their lives began in a sod house near Dodge. Anna was raised and educated in the Dodge area, attending a country school close to home. She and her sisters worked hard on the farm with field work and chores.
She was united in marriage on July 4, 1932 at St. Martin’s Church, to George Ehlis, a tall, dark handsome man she had met at a local dance. They made their home on his farm eight miles west of Schefield. In 1971 they moved into Dickinson, and George died on May 7, 1972. Anna belonged to the St. Pius Verein, and St. Ann’s Altar Society at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. She enjoyed reading, cooking and working on the farm.
Anna is survived by six children, Leone (Loyd) Kirk, North Carolina, Angeline Wandler, Wisconsin, Karolyn Koppinger, Dickinson, George (Patricia) Ehlis, Dickinson, Anne (Joe) Anderson, Minnesota, and Ron (Janet) Ehlis, New England; son-in-law, Harold Olheiser, Dickinson; and one brother-in-law, Edward Ziman, Dickinson.
Her 35 grandchildren, Krista (Steve) Patterson, Michaela (Steve) Allen, Michael (Cyndi) Kirk, Dan Wandler, Jamie (Brian) Speldrich, Sheri (Pete) Hallenberg, David (Elaine) Wandler, Carol Rosploch, Doug (Stephanie) Wandler, Kelly (Judy) Koppinger, Kolleen (Darrell) Schafer, Kari (James) Jahner, Kathy (Mike) Beaudoin, Dakota (Brad) Braunberger, Patricia Urwiller, Thomas (Kari) Olheiser, John Olheiser, Beth Strube, David (Karla) Ehlis, Sharon (Chris) Kubick, Lisa (Gordon) Kessel, John (Kristina) Ehlis, Frank (Laura) Ehlis, Anne (Marc) Wolf, Andrea (Don) Ehlis-Chang, Denise (Quintin) Enders, Mona (Scot) Hodkiewicz, Carla (Scott) Fields, Teresa (Jeremy) Utke, Gregory (Kelli Jo) Anderson, Dan (Rhonda) Ehlis, Eric (Cheri) Ehlis, Apryl (Shawn) Pierce, Elliott (Tara) Ehlis and Emerson (Katie) Ehlis.
Her 84 great-grandchildren, John, Julian, Matthew, Benjamin, John, Amy, Eric, Amanda, Josephine, Paris, Grant, Conrad, London, Vladimir, Silverius, Rachel, Ben, Kate, Maria, Kyler, Alec, Blaine, Jessy, Stephena, Nicole, Robyn, Kohl, Jack, Kristine, Rachael, William, Brandon, Chivas, Taylor, Jake, Sabrina, Sheyanne, Samuel, Elizabeth, Christopher, Austin, Megan, Hannah, Sarah, Taylor, Elizabeth, Nicole, Christina, Katherine, George, Anna, Olivia, Erin, Emily, Kayla, Leah, Julia, John, Jake, Molly, Eddie, Diana, Nathan, Stephanie, John, Alexa, Victoria, Chase, Tyler, Mason, Archer, Eliza, Celia, Lillian, Lauren, Taylor, Morgan, Carter, Kaylee, Hudson, Blake, Jenna, Paige and Brock.
One great-great-grandson, Bryson Wandler.
Anna was preceded in death by her husband, George; her parents; step-father, Philip Erker; daughter, Jane Olheiser; sons-in-law, Donald Wandler and Donald “Red” Koppinger; and her siblings and their spouses, Martha (Valentine) Senger, Theresa (Leo) Klein, Barbara (Jacob) Schweitzer, Nick Erker, Julia (Anton) Leintz, Mary Ziman, and Joe (Teresa) Erker.
In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials to the Dickinson Catholic Schools or to St. Joseph’s Hospital.
