Ellen Wolfrath

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” Ps. 28:7.

Ellen, a child of God, was called home on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at the age of 86. She was born in Columbus, Wisconsin, on July 2, 1938, the daughter of the late Reinhold and Alison (Olrick) Bobholz. She attended elementary school in Friesland and graduated from Randolph High School. Continuing her education, she graduated from Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota, certified to teach the truths of God’s Word to the children enrolled in Lutheran grade schools. She was assigned to St. Paul Lutheran School in Appleton where she loved teaching her fourth grade.

A few years later, a young man with a shiny ring came calling, and on August 5, 1961, Ellen married Dalton “Del” Wolfrath who was serving at Bethlehem Lutheran School in Hortonville. They were blessed to have celebrated sixty-three years of marriage earlier this month. 

When their children were old enough, Ellen went back to work, being hired as an executive secretary by Presto Products - retiring after 25 years of dedicated service. 

Ellen enjoyed being a special mom - helping transport their three children to their many activities, doing whatever was necessary to make things happen for their family. Along life's way, Ellen enjoyed traveling, bowling in couples league, visiting Alaska, and traveling with Del to many Barbershop Chorus competitions. 

Her loving children remember her for being extremely kind, considerate, always having a smile on her face, and never saying a mean word about anyone. She was a genuinely kind and happy person. She loved playing games with her family and didn’t mind not winning but strongly disliked finishing last. Ellen also coined the phrase "beep beep topic change" as her way to change the topic in a conversation. For some of the family, it is still in use on a regular basis to this day! Ellen always cleaned her plate and those who knew her best know that at a family meal she needed to “come out even,” which often meant adding a few more veggies or a little more potato to her plate so she would “come out even.”

In her retirement, Ellen joyfully served as secretary to Pastor Robert Balza, at Eternal Love Lutheran Church in Appleton.

Ellen leaves behind her loving husband of sixty-three years, Del; three children: Terryl (Linda) Wolfrath, Lana (Tom) Bruss, and Stephen (Christine) Wolfrath; her grandchildren: Rebekah Wolfrath, Leah (Nathan) Schuh, Kailah Wolfrath, Matthew (fiancée Kell) Bruss, Jenna Bruss, Joel (Katie) Wolfrath, Jonathan Wolfrath, Nathan (Amber) Wolfrath, and Lauren Wolfrath; a great-granddaughter, Raya; a sister Lois Vogt; brothers-in-law Robert (Darlene) Wolfrath and Richard Wolfrath; and a dear family friend of her deceased brother Jerry, Chris Williams. Ellen is further survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings Wayne (Elizabeth) Bobholz, Marion (Dennis) Radichel, Jerry Bobholz; and a brother-in-law Michael Vogt.

The Christian Funeral Service for Ellen will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 31, 2024, at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, located at 930 E. Florida Avenue in Appleton. Rev. Robert Raasch will officiate. Ellen will be placed at rest in Community Lutheran Cemetery, in Freedom - just a short distance from Appleton.

Ellen will lie in state at the altar of Mount Olive Lutheran Church on Saturday morning, August 31, from 9:00 AM until the time of the service.

A final burial prayer, recited at the cemetery, written by Del:

Lord, it is you who has gently laid me down to await that final trumpet. It will surely come! The leaves fall softly on my bed, and the snows cover the ground. The summers go and the winters come, but you, Lord, you know where you have laid me. For while my soul lives with you, my bones await that 'certain' (to come) day. For your promises are true, my God and my Father. In your salvation have I trusted! In Jesus' name. Amen.