Marie E. Yogerst, age 89 passed away peacefully, holding the hand of her daughter, on August 14, 2016 at the farm she resided at with her daughter and son-in-law. She was born October 7, 1926 on the side of highway 41 while her parents, Alex and Mary (Gutschenritter) Fickert of Theresa, Wisconsin were on their way to St Agnes Hospital. Not thinking Marie would make it, she was immediately baptized. The attending physician and nurse remained her Godparents throughout her life. On October 5, 1944 Marie was united in marriage to Hilbert Yogerst in Nenno, Wisconsin.
As a young girl, music surrounded her. Her mother played the piano and her father the violin. At age 4 she was dancing where her father was a bouncer with people throwing pennies for her efforts. The depression was hard and she learned how do with what she had and how to work. She and her siblings each had 5 cows to milk twice a day, and with a mother who was a teacher, had to do well in school as well.
In 1942 Marie sustained a life threatening head injury while sitting in the back of a farm truck, helping her newly married sister, Nadeane, move her belongings from the family farm to her new home in Milwaukee, when the cover of the refrigerators motor flew off striking her in the head giving her a concussion, skull fracture and nerve damage. She was hospitalized for one year and still managed to graduate from Hartford Union High School in 1944 at the age of 17 taking the gray hound bus as transportation to and from school.
For a brief while, Marie worked in the office at Allis Chalmers in West Allis. After marriage she moved in with her in laws at the Yogerst homestead and had her first four children in the first four years of marriage. The last two trickled in 5 and 10 years later. When her youngest was 3 she got her driver’s license and worked in the office at Kasten Manufacturing in Allenton, Wisconsin as a computer programmer until it closed its doors in 1985. She was then employed at BC Ziegler working in the customer service department until her retirement in 1992.
Marie was a member of the Moraine Chorus, a life time member of Hartford Senior Friends where she enjoyed seeing her long-time friends, school mates and neighbors every Tuesday, helping out in the kitchen, singing, dancing, participating in the many activities, and playing sheepshead. She was treasurer of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Allenton, CCD teacher, helped out in the kitchen for the Kohlsville Volunteer Fire Department when her husband was a volunteer, cooked many meals for relatives who visited weekly at the homestead and babysat when needed. She enjoyed her monthly dinner outings with other retiree friends of BC Ziegler, traveling, music, dancing, flowers, farm life, her little dog: Sweetie and all the family and friends that loved and visited her.
She is survived by her children:
Carol (Gerold) Staehler of Eden, Wisconsin
Anton (Charlotte’ Bingen) of Brookfield, Wisconsin
Linda (Gerold) Meuller of West Bend, Wisconsin
Helen Bonlender of St, Kilian, Wisconsin
Robert (Lois Marquardt) of Kewaskum, Wisconsin
Jane (Paul) Groth of Hartford, Wisconsin
19 grandchildren, 1 step grandchild, 36 great grandchildren, 1-step great grandchild, and 2 great, great grandchildren.
One Sister: Fay (Bruno) Landini of Milford, MA, One sister-in-law: Anna Schiferl of Sparks, NV, 9 Nieces 10 Nephews, other relatives and friends.
Marie was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers: Alex and George(infant twins), and Wesley Fickert, sisters: Nadeane Yogerst and Sylvia Gerner, brothers-in law: Willard Gerner, Harold Yogerst, Norman Yogerst, Ted Strojek, Ralph Schiferl, sister-in-law: Marie Stojek, Agnes Yogerst, son-in-law John Bonlender, nieces: Rita and Karen Yogerst and nephew: John Yogerst
Thank you to all of you who showed love, kindness and support through her “forgetful” years.
Visitation Friday, August 26, 2016 from 4-7pm at Berndt- Ledesma Funeral Home, 226 S. Main Street Hartford. Saturday, August 27, 2016 at St. Kilian Catholic Church 264 W. State Street Hartford from 9:00-10:00 a.m. Mass of Resurrection Saturday, August 27, at 10:00 a.m. at the church.
Burial to follow at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Cemetery in town of St. Anthony, Wisconsin.
Following the burial the family welcomes fellowship and luncheon at Addison Town Hall (Veteran’s Memorial Park) 127 First Street, Allenton, Wisconsin.