Esther Hulda Louise Schwertfeger Luckhardt

June 18, 1913 - January 14, 2011

Esther Doughty Luckhardt died peacefully in her sleep last Friday, January 14, 2011. She was 97 years old.

Visitation for Esther will be at St. Stephen Evangelical Lutheran Church in Horicon on Wednesday, January 19, 2011 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Funeral services will follow at church on Wednesday beginning at 11:00 am. Rev. Daniel Seehafer will officiate.

She is survived by her son Tom and Shirley Doughty of Kewaskum, by her daughters Mary Doughty of Horicon and Patricia Shabaz and Judge John Cyrus Shabaz of Madison, and by her grandchildren, Emily and John Doughty Shabaz, and by Drew Mei Yun and Sarah Chun Jiao Doughty, and by her sisters, Selma Williams and Dorothy Schwertfeger. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lyle Edward Doughty, and by her two brothers, Frederick Robert Schwertfeger and Harold Alfred Schwertfeger.

Esther was the second of five children of The Rev. Frederick A. Schwertfeger and Selma Schwertfeger. Rev. Schwertfeger was the pastor of St. Stephen”s Lutheran Church in Horicon for 35 years, and Esther was throughout her life a member of this church.

Esther Doughty Luckhardt was the Republican representative in the Wisconsin Assembly for 22 years where she held the record for length of service for women when she retired in 1984. She was first elected to the Assembly in 1962 and was at that time the only woman in the Legislature; there she virtually pioneered the women”s political movement in the State of Wisconsin.

Esther owned and operated an insurance and real estate business in Horicon for more than 22 years. She and her husband, Lyle, also developed the Park Meadows subdivision of Horicon.

Since 1961 she was a member of the Board of Directors of Capitol Transamerica Corporation, a publicly traded insurance company. Esther took her husband”s, Lyle Doughty”s, place on the Board when he died in 1961. She served for 32 years until retiring from the Board in 1993. Esther was one of the first women in Wisconsin to be on the Board of Directors of a publicly traded company. Capitol Transamerica was noted by “Money” magazine as one of the most consistently profitable and fastest-growing small-cap companies in the U.S.

When the State Legislature in the 1950s decreed that every county should have a Park Commission, Esther was appointed to the Dodge County Park Commission where she served as Secretary for many years. The Commission”s first official act was to purchase the Horicon Ledge and declare it Dodge County”s first County Park. At that time the Commission members themselves, along with Tom and Mary Doughty, planted the pine trees in the lower park; these were tiny seedlings donated by the Wisconsin Conservation Commission.

On December 21, 1987, Gov. Tommy Thompson appointed Esther to the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents. In 1995 he also appointed her to the National Committee on Aging held in Washington, D.C.

Esther Doughty and her husband, Lyle, were very active in what was then known as “Lutheran Deaconess Hospital.” In 1952 the Ladies Auxiliary sponsored the first “auction” or Country Fair, and Esther, whose idea this fair was, became its first Chairman, and it grew to become the well-known “Bethesda Fair.”

Esther was a long-time member of the St. Stephen Ladies Aid, the VFW Ladies Auxiliary and the American Legion Auxiliary. She was long an active member of St. Stephen Lutheran Church and a graduate of St. Stephen Christian Day School.

Esther asked that in lieu of flowers memorials should be directed to the St. Stephen School Tuition Endowment Fund, or to Bethesda.

The Murray Funeral Home, 716 Clinton Street in Horicon, is caring for the family. To leave condolences, for directions, or for other information, please visit our website at www.MurrayFH.com.

Visitation Details

Wednesday, January 19th, 2011, 9:00am – 11:00am

Service Details

Wednesday, January 19th, 2011, 11:00am

Esther Doughty Luckhardt died peacefully in her sleep last Friday, January 14, 2011. She was 97 years old. Visitation for Esther will be at St. Stephen Evangelical Lutheran Church in Horicon on Wednesday, January 19, 2011 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Funeral services will follow at church on Wednesday beginning at 11:00 am. Rev.Continue Reading

See Condolences

Esther was a model for me as a young woman. She had vision, style, intellect, and grit. We were fortunate to have had her talent and generosity at work in our community and state. My condolences to Tom, Mary, and Pat. Nina Macheel

Esther was not only an amazing woman, she was the best of friends to the Fait Family. I will remember her and Dorothy in Florida at the condo. Her deepest love was for her family, in particular her wonderful grandchildren. She never stopped talking about them! I know my Mom is happy to have her company up in Heaven. She was such a good friend to her when she and my dad divorced. Thank you for sharing her with us! Heartfelt condolences to you all on your loss. Leslie Fait Farmer

I am a Lutheran Chaplain in the US Army. Long ago when I was a seminary student at Concordia Seminary, St Louis. My wife and I and our growing family would go to visit Wisconsin during the few breaks here and there. We would always get to visit Aunt Esther. I always enjoyed her friendship and encouragement. She was quite the Classy Lady. Even though its been years since I have seen her. I already Miss her. God Bless those who Mourn her.

Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.

Esther was truly a "trail-blazing" and amazing woman. She will be greatly missed as our long time faithful member. May the Lord give you peace at this time. Sincerely, Laura Welch

Wow! I can only now wish to have known Esther. A magnificent woman, to whom I say THANK YOU. A great pioneer for women. When I think of the name Esther, I am always reminded of Queen Esther from the Old Testament. I am humbled and then empowered by the example both of these Esthers. God bless you and keep you in this time.

Esther was truly a "trail-blazing" and amazing woman. She will be greatly missed as our long time faithful member. May the Lord give you peace at this time. Sincerely, Laura Welch

please accept my heartfelt sympathy on the passing of esther. it was a pleasure serving as a co-director with her on the board of CATA. requiescant in pace!

I always enjoyed my time at the Doughty home as a friend of Mary''s. We remain friends to this day and I will remember the times when your mom made it possible for us to continue our adventures in music, band, cheerleading, working at Green Giant, Brownies and Girl Scouts,school plays...I''m sure she also knew about many of our shenanigans (pizza dough on the ceiling?)but never let on if she did. Your family was blessed to have such a foward thinking female leader and she did so very much to improve the lives of all the citizen''s of Wisconsin as a representative and friend. Sending you blessings and comforting thoughts. Jo

please accept my heartfelt sympathy on the passing of esther. it was a pleasure serving as a co-director with her on the board of CATA. requiescant in pace!

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.