Obit: Buttke, Lillian I. (1919 – 2009)
Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Buttke, Bratberg, Anklam, Lasker, Johnson, Michels, McRoberts, Wittbrot, Ortiz, Stork

----Source: Banner Journal (Black River Falls, Jackson Co., WI.) May 6, 2009

Buttke, Lillian I. (13 April 1919 – 3 May 2009)

Lillian I. Buttke, 90, of Alma Center died Sunday, May 23, 2009, under the care of the Black River Hospice.

Lillian was born April 13, 1919, in rural Eleva, Trempealeau County to parents Albert and Inga (Bratberg) Anklam. She was employed in Eau Claire as a nanny for the Lasker family but returned home to help on the family farm during World War II. She met her future husband, Lester H. Buttke, at the Silver Dome in Neillsville, and they were married April 8, 1944, in Neillsville. They farmed for many years in the Garden Valley area. Lillian did a large share of the work on the farm, enabling her husband’s employment as a truck driver for Janesville Auto Transport. Lester preceded her in death Oct. 16, 1986. Following his death, Lillian moved to Alma Center in 1995.

Lillian was a longtime member of Grace Lutheran Church in Alma Center, and she was an active member of the Women of Grace Lutheran Church. She particularly enjoyed doing quilting for missions and made many beautiful quilts over the years. As a result of her interest in quilting, she enjoyed many friendships with other quilters she met at local quilt shops.

Family was always of the utmost importance to Lillian, and when her sister, Mildred, became ill, Lillian took special care of her.

In her spare time, Lillian enjoyed many hobbies and interests. She enjoyed knitting and crocheting and kept her family and friends supplied with homemade dishcloths. She could frequently be found reading books and newspapers, and she was an avid gardener, tending a vegetable garden while on the farm and flower garden most recently. Gardening was one of Lillian’s special talents that she passed on to her daughters and grandchildren. She was also an avid Brewers fan and liked to get to know the various players. Prince Fielder and Cory Hart were two of her favorite players on the current team, and each season she would keep a journal of the final scores of all the fames played during the season. Another favorite activity of Lillian’s was playing cards on Sunday afternoons.

Lillian was a wonderful example of aging gracefully, and she was very proud to have attained her 90th birthday in April.

Lillian is survived by two daughters, Barbara (Charles) Johnson of Waukesha and Kathryn (Paul) Michels of Chippewa Falls; five grandchildren, Andrew Johnson, Kenneth Johnson, Richard (Barbara0 Johnson, Melissa (Joel) McRoberts and Meghan (Darrin) Wittbrot, and five great-grandchildren, Zoe Johnson, Ireland McRoberts, Layne McRoberts, Keanu Ortiz and Ashton Wittbrot; besides many other relatives and friends.

Besides her husband, Lester, Lillian was preceded in death by twin sons, Richard and Robert, who died in infancy; by her sister, Mildred Anklam; and by brothers; Clarence, Walter and Lawrence Anklam.

Funeral services for Lillian I. Buttke will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 7, 2009, at Grace Lutheran Church, Alma Center, with Reverend Steven Stork officiating. Burial will take place in East Lawn Cemetery, Alma Center.

Friends may call at the Jensen-Modjeski Funeral Home, Hixton Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and at the church one hour prior to services.

Casketbearers will be Richard Anklam, Andrew Johnson, Rich Johnson, Joel McRoberts, Melissa McRoberts and Meghan Wittbrot.

Memorials are preferred to Grace Lutheran Church, Black River Hospice or Jackson County Interfaith Caregivers.