Estella Genevieve Kathryn Rauch

Stella, at age 93, passed from this life to eternal life at St. Francis Home on Friday, September 14, 2007. Prior to moving to St. Francis Home on July 13, 2007, Stella lived on Butler Street in Fond du Lac, The Fond du Lac Lutheran Home and Kingswood Place/Harbor Suites.Stella was born on October 28, 1913 in Fond du Lac, the daughter of Margaret (nee Bernard) and Leonard Starr. She was raised in Farmersville and graduated from Dodge County High School in 1928. After graduation Stella moved to Fond du Lac and worked at City Bakery and later at the Infant Sox.On September 28, 1940 Stella married Elmer A. Rauch at Wayne Evangelical Reform Church. In 1942 Stella and Elmer joined Redeemer Lutheran Church. They were very active church members. Stella taught Vacation Bible School, volunteered in the school lunch program at Winnebago Lutheran Academy and was active in the Ladies Society. Stella and Elmer enjoyed bowling for over 30 years and were members of the Lutheran Bowler Association of Wisconsin. They held numerous offices in the association and organized many city and state tournaments. They also enjoyed boating and fishing, including ice fishing, played on baseballs teams, took several cruises, went out to eat daily at either Schreiner's or Petrie's Restaurant, often sharing a dessert and always enjoying each other's company. Throughout her life Stella was an avid walker who always used those daily stroll to pick up and properly dispose of the litter she found along the way. When she was younger she played the organ. She enjoyed dancing and, right up to the end, entertained people with her German songs. Stella enjoyed life and was blessed with a sunny disposition that endeared her to everyone who knew her.Stella is survived by her nephews, Ralph (Sandy) Starr from Stevens Point and Hudson Steier from Ripon; her nieces, Gloria Sims from Albuquerque, New Mexico and Elaine Spezzano from Las Vegas, Nevada; her sister-in-law, Evelyn Rauch of Fond du Lac; her niece-in-law, Sharon Hilbert, who cared for Stella for the past 11 years; nieces- and nephews-in-laws: Vernon (Jeanne) Rauch, Sherri (Ron) Brooks, Bernice (Karl) Manowske, Robert (Rita) Hilbert, Mary Froehlich, Kathy Franke, Curt (Cathy) Rauch, Joanne (Ron) Amerling, Kelly (Sharon) Rauch, Ron (Pam) Shantos; and her cherished neighbor, Bonnie Grahl.Preceding Stella in death were her parents; her stepfather, Charles Gendrich; her siblings: Gertrude (Lawrence) Steier, Cecilia (Leo) Accord, Lucille (Patrick) Brennan, and Joseph (Ingaborg) Starr; sisters- and brothers-in law: Ewald (Ruth) Rauch, Mildred (August) Hilbert, Calvin Rauch and Bernice (Alex) Shantos; lifelong friends, Elva and Otto Maki and her "better" half, Elmer, on June 11, 1997.



Visitation: Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 18, 2007 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 606 Forest Ave., Fond du Lac, Wis.Service: Funeral service will be held at 11:00a.m., Tuesday on September 18, 2007 at Redeemer Lutheran Church. Pastor Fred Toppe will officiate. Burial will follow at Ledgeview Memorial Park Cemetery.Uecker-Witt Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Additional information and guestbook may be found at www.ueckerwitt.com