LOVITA LANSER

Lovita Mae WEGNER LANSER age 81 died suddenly of a stroke on Monday February 21, 2011 at Appletons St. Elizabeths Hospital. Vita was geboren Aug 19, 1929 in Whitewater the 2nd of 7 children of Oscar WEGNER and Marie EITING. The growing family moved from place to place -- Rochester, Ladysmith, Delavan, Palmyra struggling to survive the Great Depression. Her later childhood was shaped by life on the family farm on County G near Rhinelander and by tiny Pine Grove School. As a teenager she joined the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother as Sister Mary Bonita, became degreed as a Registered Nurse, and headed a neonatal unit for premature infants. These little ones as she called them would be her passion and expertise in a career that spanned three decades. She left the Order in 1968 to begin a new life--a major highlight of which was her marriage to Nicholas (Nic) LANSER February 28, 1981 at St. Thomas More Church. She worked as a nurse at Theda-Clark and Appleton Medical Center, and later kept the books for a commercial cleaning business she and Nic founded and grew. Family was everything to her, and she became mom, gramma, and great gramma to Nics children and the generations that followed. Their love for her was obvious as we gathered around her bed that fateful day as she slowly slipped from this world. Still living are her husband; his 3 children: Daniel LANSER of New Holstein [children: Josh and Nicholas]; Gary (Sheri) LANSER of Tampa [children: Jesse (Tamara), Jason, Gary Jr. (Danielle), and John (Emily) STUCKART]; and Wendy (Lee) SAMP of Appleton [children: Heather, Joe (Michelle), Jared (Danielle) and Nicole]; a sister, Trudy (Wilfred) JENKINS of Pelican Lake; three brothers: Philip of Morristown, Minnesota, Donald (Judy) of Rhinelander, and Andrew (Mary) of Winneconne. Vita is survived by 21 great grandchildren and scads of nieces and nephews. Those who died before her include: her parents, brothers Richard and Thomas, and sisters-in-law, June CLEVELAND WEGNER and Mary Ann DAVISON WEGNER. Vita cultivated interests and activities in which she found meaning and pleasure: RVing around the continent with family and friends, decorating wedding cakes (there was never a doubt where the cake was coming from at family weddings), exercise classes, their up north home on the Wolf at Post Lake, home canning, doting on pet cats and dogs, keeping up with world events and, did we mention their home on Post Lake? Surpassed only by care for her family and her little ones , two things were of great importance to Vita: her devotion to the church, and her drive to document family history. On the first, for those who knew her, no more needs to be said. On the second, she became the family historian, traversing the state, interviewing elders, searching courthouses, tracking down possible relatives, and most importantly: managing to pass on the genealogy spark. Her work continues. She would insist we mention a few of our ancestors for whom she searched so hard " so here goes Fifteen of her gggrandparents came from Germany"the 16th from 2 kilometers across the Dutch border. Paternal gf: Herman WEGNER (1850-1929) born Schlnwitz, Schivelbein, Pomerania, son of Wilhelm and Caroline nee ROMIG (1819-1889). Paternal gm: Lena RIESS (1862-1929), daughter of Johann (1834-1901) born Grafenreuth, Wunsiedel, Bavaria [son of Georg (1811-1895) and Anna Margarethe nee JAHN (1815-1896), both born Grafenreuth], and Elizabeth nee RAUSCH (1840-1906) born Thierstein, Wunsiedel [daughter of Johan Georg (1800-1875) born Thierstein and Magdalena nee MEICHNER (1806 " before 1875) born Schirnding, Wunsiedel]. Maternal gf: William EITING (1864-1926) son of Anton (1824-1898) born Barlo, Borken, Westfalen [son of Wilhelm (1767-1845) born Barlo and Theodora nee VOS (1787-after 1846) born Zieuwent, Gelderland, Netherlands], and Gertrude MICKE (1838-1876) [daughter of Henry (abt 1786-1857) and Catherina nee ARDES (1799-1837] all born Ldinghausen, Ldinghausen, Westfalen. Maternal gm: Sibilla KELLERMANN (1869-1942) born Straelen, Geldern, North Rhein, daughter of Johann Hermann (1829-1901) born Oedt, Kempen, North Rhein [ son of Peter Heinrich (abt 1800-1854), born Oedt, and Anna Catharina nee BUTZEN], and Anna Margaretha nee WELTER (1825- 1903) born Straelen [daughter of Peter Johann (1800-1849) and Anna Catherina nee VAN MELIS (1799- 1866) both born Straelen]. Visitation will be held 4 to 8PM, Thursday February 24 at the Westgor Funeral Home, 1140 Appleton Rd, Menasha and 10 to 11AM, Friday February 25 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Appleton. The funeral Mass will follow at 11AM. Grave-side service and burial will occur at Enterprise Cemetery, Hwy G near Pelican Lake at 1PM Saturday, February 26. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established. Please join us in celebrating Vitas life!