Violet Loeser Kalscheur
Middleton–She worked hard all her life and in the later years it was her way (getting her hair done, playing bridge, eating out, and going to Mass on Sundays) or the highway. Cancer came knocking on her door this last March and Vi hit the highway. Vi was born in Roxbury on October 6, 1916 to Albert and Johanna (Reuter) Loeser. They moved to Middleton when Vi was four and learned English from the neighborhood kids so they could go to school in the fall. Her family built and ran Loeser’s Log Cabin, aka The Chicken Shack.
Vi worked hard and played hard. After graduating from Middleton High School she went to Madison Business College and then worked for the State of Wisconsin’s newly established Unemployment Compensation Program. After working there all day, she came home and fried chicken at the restaurant before going out with her sisters.
She met George Kalscheur in 1947 and they married on April 3, 1948. After their second child was born, Vi quit her state job and started an even harder job of raising 6 kids. She took in ironing until the youngest was in seventh grade. Then she went to work at the Ben Franklin store until she was let go at age 65 because the store wanted a younger look. So she went and worked for Bergmann’s Pharmacy until she retired at the age of 87.
The only luxury she allowed herself while raising a family was a weekly hair appointment, and nothing, but nothing came between her and that appointment. During Dad’s final days we reminded him of Mom’s hair appointment on Thursday and sure enough, he scheduled his leaving this earth so it wouldn’t conflict with her appointment. Even Mom managed to have one more perm with Gerry just in time for her funeral.
Vi is survived by her children, Jackie (Charlie) Reynolds, Dianne (Jack) Rothwell, Linda (Mike) Juno, Ken (Joanne) Kalscheur, and Kathy (Roger) Schultz; her son-in-law Tim Laufenberg; her grandchildren, Zachariah (Amber Lynn), Jacob, Tanya (Dennis), George, Greg (Kari), Andy, Brad (Maureen) and Raychel; her great grandchildren, Broedy, Adison, Easton, Layla, and Paisley; her sisters, Albie Hildebrandt and Rita Springman; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband George, daughter Janet Laufenberg, sisters Lorraine (child) and Sister Albert Marie; brothers Peter (infant), Melvin, and Russell, and numerous in-laws.
A visitation will be held at GUNDERSON WEST FUNERAL HOME, 7435 University Ave., Middleton, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 3, 2012. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at ST. BERNARD’S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 7450 University Avenue, Middleton, WI 53562. A visitation will be held prior to service beginning at 10:00 a.m.on Wednesday at the church.
A special thanks to Agrace Hospice for helping us care for Mom at home.
Mom, now who is going to tell us what to do?
