Wilma Esther Howe, 92, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died May 6, 2014, at River Hills West Health & Rehabilitation Center.
She was born on Jan. 16, 1922, in Burlington, to the late Martha and Otto Yahnke.
She graduated from Burlington High School and attended Adele Ballou Beauty School, where she was the “teacher’s pet.”
She became a beautician when she was 19 years old and worked at Leone’s Beauty Shop which then became Eugene’s Beauty Shop.
She met her future husband, Harley Howe, at the Burlington Civic Chorus on Christmas Eve 1946. They were married on July 12, 1947, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Burlington. They lived in an apartment in Rochester and then built their house on North Front Street on the Fox River in 1949.
They had two children, Ron and Suzanne. Harley died in 1952; he was the love of her life and she never wanted to remarry. She raised her children on her own and in 1960 she opened Wilma’s Beauty Shop, Inc., which was located in the basement of her house. She was a beautician for 73 years and was adored and respected by all her clients.
She had been a lifetime member at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Burlington, where she was a long time choir member, served on the new member committee and mission society, and attended many Bible classes. Her strong Christian faith was apparent to every life she touched. Her favorite trip was her visit to Jerusalem and the Holy Lands, which she loved to talk about and share her stories.
Survivors include her son-in-law, Gerhardt Fregien, Madison; daughter-in-law, Debra Howe, Plover; her grandchildren, Todd (Christy) Fregien, Waukesha, Bradley (Rachel) Fregien, Madison, Kevin (Rachel) Fregien, Windsor, Brian Howe, Plover, Dana (Sonny) Hampton, Eugene, Ore., Scott Howe, Plover; great-grandchildren, Riley, Olivia, Abby, Simon, Gracie, Evalynn and Claira; her sister, Ruth Schuttenhelm, Rochester; nieces; nephews; and extended family.
She was further preceded in death by her son, Ron in 2002; daughter, Suzanne in 2008; and sister, Lolita in 2009.
Funeral services are Monday, May 19, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 198 Westridge Ave., Burlington, at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Daniel Waldschmidt presiding. Visitation is at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. A luncheon will immediately follow at the church. Burial will follow the luncheon in Rochester Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church. Schuette-Daniels Funeral Home & Crematory, Burlington, is serving the family.
Well-wishers can visit www.danielsfamilyfuneral.com.
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