Margaret Pethan
Margaret “Eileen” Pethan, aged 78, of New Holstein, died on Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at Willowdale Health and Rehabilitation Center in New Holstein where she had been a resident for the past five years.
Eileen was born in Richmond, Virginia on April 15, 1939, daughter of the late Edgar H. & Lena P. (Baltz) Longest.
She attended local schools and graduated from Manchester High School in 1957. She worked at the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company, now known as Verizon for a few years following her graduation.
On December 26, 1959, she was united in marriage to Bernard Pethan at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Richmond; he preceded her in death on September 1, 2011. The couple resided in Plymouth, Wisconsin for a number of years before moving to the Roman Pethan Homestead in Chilton, Wisconsin. It was on this homestead that they farmed for 20 years and raised their family while tending to crops and their prized vegetable garden.
Eileen enjoyed canning fruits and vegetables while on the farm and made delectable jams and preserves from the garden she tended to. In 1995, they sold the farm and retired to a home on Shady Lane Drive in New Holstein.
In later years, she enjoyed sewing quilts, needlework and spending time with her grandchildren. She was a member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church, formerly St. Charles Parish in Charlesburg where she had also been an active member of the Christian Women’s Society.
She is survived by her children: William (Paula Bauer) Pethan of New Holstein, Jim Pethan of Brandenton, Florida, Ed (Linda) Pethan of Spring Lake, North Carolina and Sandy Pethan of Woodside, California; her grandchildren: Lindsay (Adam) Schultz, Alyssa (Isaiah) Freis, Brittany (Chris) Pryby & Eric Roberts and his special friend Victoria Anderson; great grandchildren: Samantha Schultz & Derek Schultz; her brothers: Jim Longest, John (Gloria) Longest of Virginia; and her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Andrew (Valeria) Pethan, Arlene Kraus, Clara Hilt, Marion Olson, & George (JoAnn) Pethan. She is further survived by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; an infant daughter and brothers-in-law: Donald Kraus and Greg Hilt.
Funeral service will be at 6:30 pm on Saturday, January 13, 2018 at the Wieting Family Funeral Home (411 W. Main St.) in Chilton. Burial will be in the St. Charles Catholic Cemetery. Friends may call at the Wieting Family Funeral Home from 5:00 pm until 6:30 pm on Saturday, January 13, 2018.
Eileen’s family would like to thank the entire staff of Willowdale for all of the care provided over the years and to everyone at the Calumet County Hospice Agency for their attentive care during her last days.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in the name of Margaret Eileen Pethan to benefit Alheimer’s research and care.