Elizabeth “Liz” Allen Edgarton
Elizabeth “Liz” Allen Edgarton
Born on May 15, 1934 in Milwaukee, WI to Don T Allen and Helen Marie Freeman Allen, Liz joined the family as the baby sister to three older brothers Donald, Robert, and Jerre. The family moved from Milwaukee to Grosse Pointe, MI for several years and returned to Milwaukee when Liz was a teenager. She graduated from Milwaukee-Downer Seminary (later Milwaukee Country Day and University School) in 1951.
She then attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison where she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and met her future husband, Allan “Dan” Edgarton, during her freshman year. The two completed their bachelor’s degrees in the spring of 1956 and, two weeks following graduation, Dan and Liz were married in Milwaukee.
Upon graduation, Dan had been commissioned as a Marine Corps officer and after their wedding the two set off to their first duty station at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. It was there that Dan and Liz welcomed their first-born, Lynne, to the family. The family returned to Madison in 1958 while Dan attended University of Wisconsin Law School. Following graduation, the family moved to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin where Dan joined the family’s law firm. More children arrived with Kit in 1961, Gard in 1963, and David in 1969.
Liz entered the real estate profession and worked alongside her sister-in-law, Sheryl Edgarton, at the firm of Adashun Jones for several years until she retired. Liz was an active member of several charitable and social organizations including PEO International, Service League, and Charity Club. She was a founding board member of The ARC of Fond du Lac and served on the boards of Marian University and the Fond du Lac Humane Society and was a fundraiser for the YMCA and other worthwhile causes. She was a volunteer for many years within the Fond du Lac school system and was a tennis coach at St Mary Springs Academy. As a ferocious reader herself, she was passionate about helping others learn to read, young and old.
Liz had a lifelong love for sports, excelling as a competitive tennis player and embracing activities like downhill and cross-country skiing, golfing, boating, hiking, yoga, and traveling. A devoted fan of both the Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badgers, her enthusiasm for watching games rivaled her love for participating in them. Above all, Liz cherished the moments spent with her family and friends, often sharing a bottle of wine while watching the sunsets over Lake Winnebago.
Always a loving mother and grandmother, Liz is survived by her daughter Lynne (Kurt) Schwartau of Fond du Lac, WI and sons Gardner (Carolyn) Edgarton of Oshkosh, WI and David Edgarton of Missoula, MT; grandchildren Eric Schwartau, Jennifer Schwartau, Grace Edgarton, Jack Edgarton, Nathan Edgarton, Lara Edgarton, and Caden Edgarton; in-laws Rob and Sheryl Edgarton; and many nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, Helen and Don Allen, husband Allan D Edgarton, her daughter Katherine Edgarton, and her brothers and their wives, Donald (Betty), Bob (Betsy), and Jerre (Carole).
A visitation will be held on Friday, April 11th at Pilgrim United Church of Christ, 535 Stow Street in Fond du Lac beginning at 9:00 am followed by the funeral service at 10:30 am. Inurnment will be at Rienzi Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations be made in memory of Liz to the charity of your choice.
Online condolences can be shared at www.zacherlfuneralhome.com.