Bio: Schiefer, Johanna “Emma” (100th Birthday – 15 Jan 1967)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Schiefer, Haavisto, Peters, Miller, Lipke, Schultz, Gregg, Bertz

---------Source: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 19 Jan 1967

Few are there that are privileged to enjoy a day such as that observed Sunday by Mrs. Emma Schiefer, city (Owen, Clark Co., Wis.).

Sunday, January 15, 1967 was her 100th birthday anniversary.

And she, unlike many others who might have attained such an advanced age, was able to be actively up and about to receive the many well-wishers that called on her during the two hour ‘open house’ held at St. Katherine’s Parish Hall.

One of the brightest moments of the day came when Sheriff David Bertz and his wife of Neillsville visited her. Mrs. Schiefer makes her home with her daughter and son-in-law, Owen’s Chief of Police, Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Haavisto. Day in and ay out she accepts telephone calls that come in while both the Chief and his wife, Marion, may be out of the house, and accurately relays the messages to them. On several occasions she has given messages from Sheriff Bertz to Haavisto, so Sunday Bertz presented her with a certificate making her a deputy sheriff, and sealed his sincerity with a kiss on her cheek.

Her daughter Marion said, “She was thrilled to death.”

Mrs. Emma Schiefer, nee Johanna Peters, was born January 15, 1867, the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Herman Peters at New Holstein, Wisconsin. In addition there were four brothers and four sisters in the family. One brother, Nick, was in the Civil War.

She taught school in 1891 at High Bridge, Wisconsin, and then moved to Holstein, Iowa, where she taught school for nine years prior to her marriage on July 9, 1901 to Wm. Schiefer, which took place in Milwaukee.

Mrs. Schiefer says her formula for an extended life is being active and doing a lot of walking. Despite her years, her hearing is goo, eyesight is beginning to fail somewhat, so that she doesn’t read as much as she would like to, and worst of all, is unable to enjoy one of her favorite past times – playing cards. She still enjoys spending time in her garden and with her pet dogs and cats.

Sharing in the joy of Sunday’s anniversary are two daughters, Mrs. Adolph (Marion) Haavisto, Owen; and Mrs. Gust (Wilma) Miller, San Jose, California, and a grandson, Wm. Miller of Minneapolis.

Other relatives that came here for the celebration were nephews and nieces, including Melvin Lipke, Jim Lipke and Mr. and Mrs. Norman Belmont, Sask. Canada; Ella Schultz, Nipswim, Sask., Canada; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lipke, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, and Mr. and Mrs. George Gregg, Sask., Canada.