Surnames: Babler, Brecke, Carmichael, Fogleson, Hanson, Jari, Lewis, Paur, Sackmann, Stahnke, Thomas, Thut, Turner

----Source: The Star News (Medford, Taylor Co., Wisconsin) Thursday, February 9, 2012, online edition

Brecke, Elizabeth "Betty" J. (Jari) (August 11, 1917 - February 6, 2012)

Elizabeth "Betty" J. Brecke, 94, Stetsonville, died on Monday, Feb. 6 at Ministry St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, Feb. 10 at 11 a.m. at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Stetsonville, with Rev. James Babler officiating. Burial will be at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery in Stetsonville. Pallbearers are her grandsons, Paul and Bruce Sackmann, Dan and Andrew Carmichael and Travis and Ryan Brecke.

Visitation will be held at Hemer Funeral Home on Thursday, Feb. 9 from 4 to 7 p.m., and at the church on Friday from 9 a.m. until the time of service.

The former Elizabeth Jari was born on August 11, 1917 at home in the Town of Browning to the late Anton and Jennie (Paur) Jari. She attended Cloverdale Grade School.

On July 29, 1944 at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, she married Vernon W. Brecke, who preceded her in death on August 12, 2006. They moved near the family farm and she was a housewife, mother and assisted her sisters-in-law on the farm. In 1960, they moved to Appleton where they owned and operated the Dreamland Motel, and she helped her husband with his milk route. In 1963 they moved back to Stetsonville where she helped her husband clean at Dorchester Memorial Hall, where she also worked in the kitchen, and she also worked in the kitchen at Centennial Community Center in Stetsonville. She worked in the kitchen for over 35 years until her retirement in 2006.

She was a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church and Zion's Ladies Aid, past member of the Homemaker's Club, and past leader of the Pleasant Valley 4-H Club. She enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening, canning, crocheting, crossword puzzles and crafts.

Survivors include two daughters, Dianne (Jim) Sackmann of Onalaska and Sandra (Steve) Carmichael of Oconomowoc; one son, Duane (Linda) of Marshfield; 11 grandchildren, Dawn (Jon) Fogleson, Paul and Bruce Sackmann, Dan (Becki) Carmichael, Andrew (Jessica Turner) Carmichael, Constance Thomas, Charlotte and Angelic Lewis, and Travis, Ryan and Sarah Brecke; and 20 great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Cheryl Lewis in December 2008, and four sisters, Eleanor Stahnke, Alice Hanson, Julia Jari and Lucille Thut.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in her name to Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church or the Taylor County Humane Society.

Online condolences may be made at www.hemerfuneralservice.com.