MAE RELIEN

Mae N. Relien died peacefully at Theda Clark Hospital after a short illness and went to her Eternal Home on January 13, 2012, at the age of 98. Mae, the oldest of four children, was born in Milwaukee on March 19, 1913, to Charles and Anna (Elkert) Schroeder. In 1917 the family moved to the town of Greenville where Mae attended a one room rural school for eight years. After graduating from Appleton High School and Outagamie Rural Normal School, she taught for seven years in several one room Outagamie County schools. On June 23, 1937, she married Fred M. Relien who preceded her in death on July 22, 1976. She and Fred lived in Menasha since 1941 and traveled by car to many places in the United States. The highlight of their travel was a tour of four islands in Hawaii and later her cruise to Alaska. Mae was a charter member of Bethel Lutheran Church where she taught for three years. She was also an active member of Bethel Ladies Guild and a long-time member of Menasha Homemakers where she made and donated hundreds of quilts as well as belonging to the quilting group at the Menasha Senior Center and Advocap. She worked on the quilting projects until she was 97 and a half years old, despite becoming legally blind in 1997 when failing hearing and eyesight made it impossible to continue. Mae moved to Villa St. Clare Assisted Living in Neenah in 2009. Mae was a caring wife, mother, grandma and great grandma and is survived by her daughter Joan (Jack) Radtke of Oshkosh; sons, Frederic (Patricia) Relien and Richard (Susan) Relien, both of Neenah; six grandchildren, Scott, Roscoe, Illinois, Jill (Steve) Voissem, Ryan (Nancy) Relien, Eric (Kristy) Relien, Robert (Michelle) Radtke, all of Neenah, and Michael (Amy) Radtke Oak Creek. She was Grandma Great to Tyler and Troy Voissem, Eric, Evan, Madison, Jakob and Mackenzie Relien, and Andrew, Molly, Miles, Kendall and Cayla Radtke. She is also survived by sisters-in-law Myrtle Schroeder, Appleton, Venice Relien, Little Chute, and many wonderful nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Fred, brothers Robert (Alice), and Gordon Schroeder, and her sister Hazel Jochman (James and Norbert). The family appreciates the help and kindness shown to Mae by her good Frederick Street neighbors, Arnie and Darlene Reis whose help made it possible for Mae to live in her own home for many years; to Candy and the members of Bethel Church who took Mother to church when she could no longer drive and who visited her at Villa St Clare; the caring and helpful staff at Villa St. Clare; and to Pastor Samuel Degner for his spiritual guidance and loving concern. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 12:00 p.m., at Bethel Lutheran Church, 829 Appleton Road, Menasha, with Rev. Samuel Degner officiating. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. Wednesday until the hour of the service at the church. Burial will be at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Greenville. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established. We mourn her earthly death but rejoice in her eternal life in Heaven.