Obit: Mittermiller, Alice (1927 - 2006)

Contact:  Shari Hahn

Surnames: Mittermiller, Froeba

----Sources: Marshfield News-Herald (Marshfield, Wood County, Wis.) August 20, 2006

Mittermiller, Alice (11 Jan. 1927 - 8 Aug. 2006)

Alice Mittermiller

Our mom and grammy, Alice Mittermiller, passed away Aug. 8, 2006, at her home in San Diego, Calif.

A funeral mass will held at 11 a.m. Aug. 29, 2006, at Our Mother of Confidence Catholic Church. A celebration of our mother's life will be held at her home immediately following the Mass.

Mom was born Jan. 11, 1927, in Worthington, Minn., to Irene and Albert Froeba. She was raised on a dairy farm in Loyal and attended Mack Elementary School, a one room schoolhouse. Mom attended the University of Wisconsin at Stout and earned her BS degree in home economics. From there she earned her first teaching position at Lake Chelan, Wash. On a trip back to Wisconsin, she met her future husband, Jack Mittermiller. They married in 1952, and moved to Los Angeles in 1953. In 1962, the family, which now included five kids, moved to San Diego.

Our mom was the best in so many ways. She was a single mom since 1968 and guided us on the most wonderful path of life. Alice was also mom to so many others. Her door was always open and all her friends knew they were welcome anytime in mom's home. Many of our friends called her "Mom."

Mom taught for 30 years including Clairemont High School for four years and then La Jolla High School for 20 years, from 1968 to 1988. While teaching full time, mom went back to school at San Diego State University and became the first person to graduate with a Masters Degree in Home Economics Education on Aug. 8, 1969. She also taught several university extension classes at UCSD and SDSU. Mom taught a generation of students at La Jolla High School how to cook and sew in preparation for adulthood.

Mom had a love for cooking, sewing, people, adventure and celebrations. Never one to waste a minute of the day, mom was always on the move. She bought a motorhome, "Lil Mama," after retiring and logged over 130,000 miles, crossing the country three times over the next 10 years. She was proud to have navigated all 48 lower states, Canada and Alaska in Lil Mama, sometimes alone if she didn't have a traveling partner. She cried the day she sold Lil Mama.

Alice was an incredible mother, grandmother and friend. She is survived by her five children, Jim, Mark, Karen, Jerry and Jack; and eight grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Alice's name can be made to Children of the Americas, which helps orphan and needy children (americaschildren.org) and to the Alice and Jerry's Memorial Fund, that supports African Catholic nuns studying for medical and graduate degrees, c/o Father David Brusky, 7979 W. Greenbrook Rd., Milwaukee WI 53223.

Responses

Contact:  Liza Fiorenza-Rogers
Email: Lizasurfs@hotmail.com
 

I have just received the La Jolla Alumni newsletter and within that news was the sad announcement of Mrs. Mittermiller passing. She was my favorite teacher at La Jolla High. I had her for cooking (as did my brother, Frank) and also for sewing. She was really the only class I loved attending and did not ditch. I lived in University City during those years and frequently got a ride to school from Mrs. Mittermiller. Mrs.Mittermiller was always so positive, funny and just comfortable being around. A year after high school, I began racing bicycles, and met up with her son, Mark, from Santa Barbara. He was also really special partially because he was her son. My family and I also attended "Our Mother of Confidence" Catholic Church in University City. A couple years ago, I was running with my sister through the old neighborhood in University City, where I grew up and stopped by Mrs.Mittermiller's house just to say hello and give her an update on my life and also introduce her as my favorite teacher, to my sister. I asked about Mark and we chatted briefly, although she invited me in, I was so hot and sweaty I said "No Thank you" and said I would stop by another time, and we would chat longer. I never did get to stop by and do regret not making the time to do so...as she was an important figure while growing up. I really respected her and admired her. She will always be in my heart! Thanks for letting me write, pass this on to her children. Say hi to Mark! Liza Fiorenza-Rogers La Jolla High Class of 1980