Obit: Meissner, Arlene E (1915 - 2007)
Contact:  Shari Hahn
Email: steppinwest@elknet.net

Surnames: Meissner, Bock, Ott, Bersell, Haack, Pitt, Rogers, Will, Stone, Crowe, Stegge, Rosen, Miles, Larson, Dix

----Sources: Marshfield News-Herald, March 5, 2007

Meissner, Arlene E (27 Jan. 1915 - 2 March 2007)

Arlene E. Meissner

Arlene E. Meissner, 92, of Neillsville died March 2, 2007, at the Memorial Medical Center in Neillsville, Wis.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Grace Lutheran Church. Pastor Daniel Behnke will officiate. Gary Bersell will provide music for congregational hymns. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Mrs. Meissner's grandchildren will serve as pallbearers; Kurt and Dale Rogers, Todd and Steven Bersell, Brian, Bradley and Jeffrey Haack, Nathaniel and Timothy Miles. Honorary pallbearers will be; Russell Crowe, Greg Stegge, Brian Kaye and Rob Rosen.

Friends may call from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Hansen Funeral Home and from 9:30 a.m. until service time Friday at the church.

Mrs. Meissner was born Jan. 27, 1915, in the town of Lincoln to Reinhold and Elizabeth (Bock) Ott. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Johns Church, now Grace Lutheran. She attended Lone Elm, Purdy Junior High and McKinley High School. On June 17, 1939, the former Arlene Ott was united in holy marriage to Earl J. Meissner at St. Johns Church. Earl preceded Arlene in death Nov. 10, 1982. The couple lived in Milwaukee for a short time before returning to the Chili area. They owned and operated a dairy farm from 1940 until 1964, when they moved into their home on Highway 10, where Arlene resided until moving to Country View Apartments in 2000.

Mrs. Meissner did domestic work in Milwaukee; she also served as the nanny for the Gordon Davidson family. She was lovingly known as "Grandma Arlene" to area children who she baby-sat. Her pride and joy was being the organist for Grace Lutheran Church for more than 40 years.

Arlene was a member of Grace Lutheran Church and the Women of Grace, a former member of Chili Senior Citizens and Forestside Neighbors Club.

She was known as the "Quilt Lady" at Grace Lutheran Church, having sewn on thousands of quilts for Lutheran World Relief. After moving to the Country View apartment in Neillsville, she was active in showing videos, helping at birthday parties and started a sing-a-long, using her musical talents in playing the piano.

Arlene is lovingly survived by her daughters: Audrey (Gary) Bersell of Janesville, Cheryl (Theodore) Haack of Wausau, Donna (David) Pitt, of Woodinville, Wash.; her son-in-law: Harold Rogers of Gold Canyon, Ariz.; one sister: Joan (Neland) Will of Spencer; 15 grandchildren: Lynn Stone, Kurt (Kristen) Rogers, Dale (Barbara) Rogers, Sara (Russell) Crowe, Todd (Shawn) Bersell, Steven (Michelle) Bersell, Tari (Greg) Stegge, Stephanie (Brian Kaye) Bersell, Amy (Rob) Rosen, Brian Haack, Bradley Haack, Jeffrey Haack, Jennifer Haack, Nathaniel (Imelda) Miles and Timothy Miles; three step-grandchildren: Christina (Manning) Larson, Melissa (Neil) Pitt and David (Katie) Pitt; 23 great-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Beside her husband Earl, one daughter: Rogene Rogers; one grandchild; two great-grandchildren; one sister: Helen Dix and a brother: Alvin Ott, preceded Arlene in death.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make an expression of sympathy in Arlene's name may consider the Grace Lutheran Church Memorial Funds, the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association.

The family wishes to extent heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Funk, Dr. Sheikh and to the dedicated staff at Neillsville Memorial Hospital for their professional and compassionate care, and to Pastor Daniel Behnke for his support and prayers.

Mom, Grandma and Nanny M, we love you and we will miss you.