Obit: Duerr, Eleanore M. (1927 - 2013)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Babler, Duerr, Kuse, Liesenberg, Nath, Neustadter

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 10/03/2013

Duerr, Eleanore M. (Liesenberg) (12 NOV 1927 - 28 SEP 2013)

Eleanore M. Duerr, age 85, died on Saturday, Sept. 28. She was born on November 12, 1927 to Paula (Nath) and Herman Liesenberg in Chicago, Ill.

The family moved to a farm east of Little Black when she was four. She received her grade school education at Spruce Grove School and graduated from Medford High School in 1945. She attended Taylor County Normal School, graduating in 1947 whereupon she taught all eight grades at Fairfield School.

The following year, she was married to Frederick J. Duerr. She then taught sixth grade at Jefferson Elementary in Medford for six years, and later served as teacher and principal at Liberty School for two years. After teaching fourth grade at Abbotsford, she was semi-retired for nine years to raise her daughter, Kristen, but was actively engaged as a substitute teacher during this time.

In 1970, she completed her degree in education at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, graduating summa cum laude. She then taught third grade at Brookside, later moving to Medford Area Elementary School. She retired in 1990 after 40 years of teaching.

Eleanore was a member of Zion Lutheran Church of Stetsonville, serving as a Sunday school teacher and as a member of the church choir. She was a former member of the Medford Teachers' Association in which she served as an officer for five consecutive years. She was also a member of the Wisconsin and National Education Association.

Eleanore enjoyed traveling extensively with her family throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada. After the death of her husband, she moved to the Manitowoc area to be near her daughter and family.

Her life was enhanced by the beautiful flowers her husband planted year after year, and by the inspiring music performed by her daughter, son-in-law, and grandson, Garth.

She is survived by her daughter, Kristen (Duerr) Neustadter and son-in-law, Gary Neustadter of Manitowoc; one grandson, Garth Neustadter of Los Angeles, Calif.; three nieces; two nephews; a brother-in-law by marriage; several cousins; and lifelong friends, Hildegard and Loretta Kuse.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Frederick J. Duerr, on June 25, 1999.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 2 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Hemer Funeral Home in Medford. A private service with officiant Pastor Babler of Zion Lutheran, Stetsonville, will be held at a later time for the immediate family. Interment will be at Mt. Olive Cemetery in Westboro.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Zion Lutheran Church.

Hemer Funeral Homes of Medford and Rib Lake assisted the family with arrangements.

The family would like to thank Heartland Hospice and Brillion West Haven Assisted Living for their loving care.

Gone From My Sight
I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side, spreads her white sales to the moving breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
Then someone at my side says, "There, she is gone."
Gone where?
Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast, hull and spar as she was when she left my side. And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port. And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone," there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!" - H. VanDyke

We rest assured that Mom is enjoying a blessed reunion with her Savior, her beloved husband, Frederick, and her parents, Paula and Herman, free forever from pain