Inez E. Pilsner

Hello everyone, this is Inez. I died this past Saturday, May 9, 2026, not far from the place I always called home. When I passed on, it was with love in my heart, grace to everyone who touched me, and faith in the Lord. The cause of death? Well, to be honest … with a smile … it was just my time. The medical report will in addition to cancer, contain a wide assortment of ailments, but hopefully “lack of common sense” was not one of them. When a friend asked if I was writing my obituary before or after I passed away, I told her, “Sue, I know my limitations.”

I was born in rural Wisconsin in 1932 on a small dairy farm on Highway 33 in Dodge County. I was the last to come along. My parents, Regina and Raymond Luedtke, already had to deal with my older brothers and sisters, Lloyd, Floyd, Verona, Laverne, and Harvey. Growing up on a family farm meant that everyone chipped in on chores and duties, especially in the early years during the Great Depression. We had to make ends meet, and we didn’t have a lot, but we made it work.

I graduated from high school in 1950 and met this really cute guy. His name was Howard Pilsner, an automobile mechanic. I fell in love, and he did too—but I think I was first. About the time I was dating Howard, my father passed. He took his own life, back before the world understood that depression and alcoholism were diseases that needed treatment like any other.

Howard and I married on the 19th of July in 1952, on a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon. It was one of happiest days of my life. We had a traditional wedding of that time, with a banquet and ballroom dancing to celebrate. Howard was an amazing dancer, and to this day I still remember the wonderful times I had dancing with him to our favorite polkas and waltzes.

In 1955, we were blessed with our first child, Terry. When he joined us, we still lived on the family farm with Mom and Harvey, my brother. I remember when Terry was just three, I looked into the playroom and he wasn’t there. But, I always knew to look outside, and sure enough, there he was, moving his little legs and making his way to the barn to help Uncle Harvey milk the cows. Unfortunately, Harvey would be the first of the Luedtke children to pass on, as he succumbed to cancer in 1961.

In 1958, we moved to Mayville and bought our first home, on Janssen Avenue. It was a simple one-story house with three bedrooms and it was our pride and joy. Our second son Brian was born in late 1958. He gave us a bit of a scare as he developed pneumonia just after birth and had to go back in the hospital and spend time in an oxygen tent. But all turned out well and he recovered. Our beautiful daughter Karen was born in 1961; she was adorable and has always been my special little girl. She was born with the most beautiful head of hair. Doc Parish was so excited when she was born that he drove his Karmann Ghia sports car right onto the lawn and told Terry and Brian, who were playing in the sandbox with Grandma Pilsner, that they had a new baby sister.

In the 1960s, Howard and I worked together at the shop, his auto repair business. He did all the manual labor and I was the bookkeeper, and we enjoyed raising our three children. Howard loved football, and as all of you know, the 1960s were great years for the Packers. I didn’t know a lot about football at the time, but always felt a little left out when everyone gathered around the TV on Sundays. So, one day, I went to Howard and said, “Teach me more about this crazy game.” That started a new love affair with the Packers, which I shared with Howard, the children, and later, my grandchildren.

In the 1970s we watched our children graduate from high school, and they began to leave the nest to become the wonderful adults they are today. Howard and I were so proud of them as they all went to college. Education was important to us both, and we loved watching them learn and grow. It was also a time when Howard and I spent special time together shooting trap, golfing, traveling, and going to Packers games.

In 1983 we welcomed our first grandchild, Jonathan. It was a joyous time as we loved becoming grandparents, but it was just the beginning. Christopher came in 1986, three days after Christmas, and Nicholas was born just five months later. Brian married in 1987—the day before Howard’s 59th birthday, a wonderful daughter-in-law, Jennifer. It was a very happy time for us.

In the summer of 1987, we were shocked to learn that Howard had cancer, and there wasn’t much they could do for him. It was the most difficult of times for us and for me. Our family was close, and it was a time when all three kids and their families were there to support us. As Howard’s fight with cancer moved into the spring of 1988, we both knew our time together time was running out quickly. Before he passed away, I promised him that I would be there “double” for the kids and the grandkids and would love them all twice as much. I like to think I lived up to that promise.

On June 22, 1988, I lost the love of my life, Howard. I loved and cherished him to my final days. After Howard passed, we welcomed five more grandchildren: Michael, Amy, Elizabeth, Jessica, and Matt. They helped fill the void Howard’s passing left behind and became a new source of joy in my life. I now have eight wonderful grandchildren, and I hope that each of them takes a little piece of Howard and me with them as they go off into the world.

In 1990, I got a curious letter from the Green Bay Packers, addressed to Howard. After being on the waiting list for 25 years, his name had finally come up for coveted Packer Season Tickets. With my children’s encouragement, I signed up for two tickets. It was one of the best decisions I ever made, because for 36 years, going to the games with friends and family has brought me unbridled joy. I’ve been to games with all of my children and grandchildren, and most recently a game with Terry, his wife Jenny, and her daughter, Arcata. Games at Lambeau have been a special place for us to continue Howard’s tradition of watching football and cheering for the Packers.

As I entered the 2000s, I was blessed with many trips and visits to see my grandchildren grow. As I promised Howard, I tried to be there “double” for them. I made it a point to go to as many of their special events, birthdays, and graduations that I could so they knew that I loved them to pieces. Even as they grew up and the world changed around us, we stayed close.

As most of you know, I like my “Old Fashioneds” and over the years I’ve enjoyed celebrating all my grandchildren’s wonderful events. In fact, during a nine-way Zoom meeting during COVID, we all got together and each one of them told “drinking stories” they had with their grandmother. Pretty special that even in my later days they all loved being with me and enjoying life together.

The past few years have been extra special. I’ve been blessed with four great-grandchildren: Ryder, Delanie, Lilliana, and Finnlee. I just love them to pieces, and I also know that Jessica and Skye are expecting. I’m so sorry I’m not around to meet them, but I will be smiling down from above when they arrive.

Having never moved away from Dodge County, I also was fortunate to stay close to so many members of my extended Luedtke family. I have so many special nephews and nieces. A few that I will mention are Allen, Dennis, Sandra, Jimmy, and Pam who were always there to visit and take me along for the ride. I loved taking a motorcycle ride with Allen, and being a “biker chick” at the age of 85 was a lot of fun. My brothers Lloyd, Floyd and Harvey are gone before me, along with my sister Laverne. Fortunately, my older sister and best friend Verona is still with us at the age of 100. I will miss her dearly as I know she will miss me too.

It wasn’t just a wonderful family that kept me going. I’ve been blessed in so many ways and have been graced with friendships that have lasted a lifetime. I would love to mention all my friends here, but this obituary would be twice as long. Thank you to all of you for the love, friendship, help and support you gave me along the way. We have enjoyed life and shared our pains together. But through it all, I am so grateful for the warmth you all extended to me.

Throughout my life, I strived to live on a foundation of faith, family, love and grace. Those values are hopefully what everyone I met saw in me as I lived my life.

I’d like to invite you to meet my wonderful family to commemorate my life at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Mayville, Wisconsin, on Saturday, May 16, 2026. Viewing will be held from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. At 12:00 noon, Rev. Dr. Mark G. Cutler will lead my funeral service, filled with Bible passages and hymns I have selected. Burial will be at Union Cemetery in Theresa, where my earthly remains will be laid to rest next to Howard, and near my brother Harvey, my Mother Regina and my father Raymond. Those who wish to make memorial donations in my memory can send them to the American Cancer Society or St. John’s Lutheran Church in Mayville.

Since I’m writing this, I get to have the last word. I always strived to be the best I could be to whoever I was with or to whoever needed help. My legacy is not one of notoriety or fame. I hope you will remember me as a woman of faith who loved her family and all the people she met, was always willing to help, and tried to leave things better in the moments that we spent together. I have been blessed to have enjoyed a wonderful life. The Good Lord saw fit that I would have the chance to fulfill my promise to Howard: to be there “double” for my family, my grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I know I am with Howard again; to share his love and review all the joys I experienced with our family and friends over the years since he left. With Love, Grace and God’s Blessing, I now share with you my last words: Love, Peace, Grace and Faith, and as we always end each prayer, “May God Bless You, and Amen.”

I love you all and please know that now I’m in a good place, with my lifelong love Howard and with my Lord.

Inez