William R. Eichenberger, 94
Wilma R. Eichenberger, age 94 of New Hampton, died Monday, July 1, 2019, at Linn Haven Rehab & Healthcare in New Hampton.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 9, 2019, at Holy Family Parish, New Hampton, with the Rev. Brian Dellaert celebrating the Mass.Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, New Hampton.
Friends greeted the family from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, July 8, 2019, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in New Hampton where there was a 6:30 p.m. Parish Scripture Service. Visitation continues an hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.
Online condolences for Wilma’s family may be left at hugebackfuneralhome.com In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations made to St. Croix Hospice.
On July 1, 2019, our loving earth mother rose to the heavens, joining her husband, Henry, of 52 years.
Wilma began her journey on June 19, 1925, when she was born in a farmhouse in Chickasaw County to Henry and Hulda Wolfgram,
She attended Dresden school.
In October 1947, she married her army soldier hero, Henry Eichenberger.
The couple remained on their farm on Highway 18, west of Fredericksburg. Together they managed the farm, where Wilma planted a very large garden every spring. Her pride was to keep it weed free, not an easy task with all the other chores that needed to be accomplished on a farm. Wilma only bought staples at the store, as her garden provided foods to can and freeze every fall. She did it all from meats to desserts.
Wilma always had chocolate chip cookies waiting for her visitors and the smell of fresh bread filled the air. She loved music and was a very happy person who hummed music all day long.
Wilma’s children went to school in handmade clothes that she hand sewn. She made everyday dresses to bridesmaid’s dresses, nothing was too challenging.
Wilma was always on the move. Along with working on the farm, she was an aid for many years in the New Hampton Hospital on the OB ward. This was a job she thoroughly loved.
She also worked at Fredericka Bar, Roger’s Pinicon Supper Club, and then Heritage Residence. After moving to New Hampton, she started working at Casey’s. She loved visiting, meeting and helping people.
Working on the farm didn’t leave much time for vacation, however, in the 1990s, they did manage to make a few trips to Florida, for six weeks at a time. They were visiting their daughter and son-in-law, who had moved to Cape Canaveral, Florida. They were lucky enough to have the memorable experience of watching the NASA shuttle launch more than once.
The union of Henry and Wilma were blessed with seven children, Patricia O’Hollearn (Robert) Butters of Coca, Florida, Beverly (Marvin) Steege of New Hampton, Frances (Mark) Kuennen of Fredericksburg, David (Patty) Eichenberger of Fredericksburg, Duane (Patsy) Eichenberger of Fredericksburg, Darwin Eichenberger ( Carmen Kelley) of Cedar Rapids, and Daryl (Peggy) Eichenberger of Montezuma; 21 grandchildren and 51 great-grandchildren, all with loving memories of their grandparents.
Wilma is preceded in death by her husband, Henry Eichenberger; her parents, Henry and Hulda Wolfgram; brother and purple heart recipient, Elmer Wolfgram; brother, Paul Wolfgram; sister, LaVera Oltrogge; daughter-in-law, Leona Eichenberger; one grandson and two great-granddaughters.
