Elaine E. Pitel, 83, of Tomah and formerly of Kendall died Monday, Nov. 2, 2015.
She was born Nov. 26, 1931, to Arthur C. and Esther M. Rueckheim (Bredlow) in rural Ontario. Elaine was baptized into the Christian faith on Dec. 27, 1931, and confirmed on July 8, 1945, at St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. She attended the Glendale Country School and was a member of the Kendall High School graduating class of 1950.
After attending beauty school, Elaine worked several years as a beautician in Camp Douglas. She was a faithful and devoted member of St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and was a past member of St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, Indian Creek, and had served on the ladies circle.
She also was a member of the Clifton Homemakers and had served as the secretary-treasurer for Aid Association for Lutherans. Elaine was a gentle and kind caring person. In her spare time, she enjoyed bird watching, embroidering, her flower garden, and her vegetable garden. She was known for making candy-mold mints. Her family was most important to her, and she always had an attentive ear. She was a devoted wife and a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister.
She is survived by her husband, Roger of Tomah; three children, Mark (Becky) of Tomah, Richard (Mary) of Sparta, and Linda Ridlehoover of Myrtle Beach, S.C., six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and an expected great-grandchild; two sisters, Fern Stern of Alameda, Calif., and Joyce (Lyle) Witt of Ontario; a sister-in-law, Gail Rueckheim of Vesper, Wis.; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Ivan Rueckheim; and a brother-in-law, Richard Stern.
A funeral service was at 12 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, South Ridge, rural Ontario. Pastor Steven W. Neuman officiated. Burial was in South Ridge Lutheran Cemetery. The Smith-Nelson Funeral Home in Wilton assisted the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be given at www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com.
