Surnames: Collins, Williams, Gessert, Luepke, Camden, Cooper, Walter, Truchot, Brewer

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood County, Wis.) Sat., 05 June 2004

Ester M. Collins (27 Jan. 1919 - 3 June 2004)

Esther Collins

LOYAL - Esther M. Collins, 85, of Loyal, died Thursday, June 3, 2004, at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday at Loyal United Methodist Church. Rev. Wendell Williams will officiate and burial will follow in Loyal City Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Randy Gessert, Roger Gessert, Mark Gessert, Jason Gessert, Duane Gessert and Bob Luepke.

Visitation will be from noon until service time Monday at the church.

Cuddie Funeral Home of Loyal is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Esther Marie Camden was born Jan. 27, 1919, in Bunker, Mo., the daughter of Elmer and Bessie (Medley) Camden. Esther's father died when she was 5-years-old and her mother then moved to Choteau, Mont., where Esther was raised and educated. After completing her education, Esther did domestic work for neighboring families. On Oct. 9, 1937, Esther was united in marriage to Sidney A. Collins in Great Falls, Mont. Shortly after their marriage, they moved to the Greenwood area, where they worked at Keller's Silverdome Ballroom in Neillsville and on Keller's farm in Greenwood. They moved to Loyal in 1947 where Esther was a homemaker. Her husband, Sidney, died on Jan. 10, 1989. She continued to reside in Loyal until entering the Marshfield Living Center in Nov. 2003.

Esther had many interests but especially enjoyed spending time with her family, helping others, crocheting, sewing, reading, cooking, baking, bingo and all-star wrestling. She was a member of Loyal United Methodist Church and Clark County Homemakers.

She will be sadly missed by her three daughters, Helen (Randy) Cooper of Schofield, Mary (Larry) Gessert of Marshfield and Donna Collins (special friend, Ron Walter) of Greenwood; 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter; two sisters, Rose Truchot and Elma Camden, both of Choteau, Mont.; and her brother, William Brewer of Choteau, Mont.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Sidney; two sons, Thomas on Sept. 11, 1998, and Gene in infancy; one great-grandson, Kyle Gessert; and one brother, Earl Camden.