Obituary | Arlene F. Fechter (nee Theisen), 90, of West Bend

January 20, 2020 – West Bend, WI – Arlene F. Fechter (nee Theisen) passed away Sunday January 19, 2020, at Cedar Community Rehab Center, at the age of 90. She was born June 10, 1929 in Campbellsport to John and Bernadine (Meise) Theisen. She married the love of her life, Raymond Fechter on June 18, 1949 at St. Mathews Catholic Church in Campbellsport, WI.

Arlene was born and raised on the family farm in Campbellsport. At a young age, she was a nanny for neighbors. Then she and two other women operated the Mermac Hotel Dining Room in the current Washington House in downtown West Bend. She left the restaurant business and found a new career of raising her three sons.

She used her cooking skills to feed not only her family but also multitudes of friends both in West Bend and at their cottage near Crivitz, WI. She was also a great seamstress making jackets for her boys and patching lots of knees. As her husband had his own business, Fechter Flooring, Arlene also became his secretary.

They enjoyed many later years in Brooksville, FL, fishing, rummaging, gardening and playing bingo. Shortly after Raymond’s death, she returned to West Bend in 2016, making Cedar Ridge her home. She made many friends at the Ridge and promoted the facility to others. Some of her activities include exercise, weight training, Wii bowling, Mah Jongg and especially a nightly sheep’s head game.

Survivors include her 3 sons: Michael (Linda) of Florida, Mark (Diane) of West Bend, WI, and Larry (Rhonda) of Iola, WI. Her 6 grandchildren: Connie (Steve) Kannenberg of West Bend, WI, Aaron (Jennifer) of West Bend, WI, Timothy (Laura) of Hartland, WI, David (Sarah) of Palmer, NE, Jessica (Corey) Landers of Kewaskum, WI, and Nathan (Lisa) of Ironwood, MI. Her 12 great-grandchildren: Katelyn & Kallie Kannenberg, Autumn, Amy & Ally, Anna, and Dakota Landers, Isaac, Emily & Samuel, and Elise Fechter and Jack Fechter. She is survived by sister, Delores Wollner of Newburg, WI. She is further survived by her sisters-in-law Clara Neu of Newburg, WI, Irene Fechter of New Port Richey, FL Dorothy Griesmer of Hartford; Mary Jane Fechter of Random Lake, WI; brother-in- law and sister-in-law Richard (Martha) Fechter of Newburg, WI. She will also be missed by nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Arlene is preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Raymond; infant daughter Ann Fechter; parents; brothers Henry, Norbert and John Theisen, and brothers-in-law Jim Griesmer, August Fechter, brothers-in-law: Leo, Ralph, LeRoy Neu, George Meyer, LeRoy Wollner; sisters-in-law: Martha Meyer, Sylvia Fechter, Viola Theisen and Jeanne Theisen.

A Funeral Service will at 11:00AM on Friday, January 24th, 2020 at the Phillip Funeral Home Chapel (1420 W Paradise Dr. West Bend, WI 53095). Visitation will be at the funeral home on Friday, January 24th from 10:00AM until 10:45AM. Interment will be the same day at 2:00PM at Washington County Memorial Park.

The family would like to extend a sincere and heartfelt Thank You to the staff and nurses at Cedar Community for the kind and compassionate care given to Arlene. A special thank you to Annie, Hailey and Pam at Cedar Rehab