Arleen Schaffenberger

VISITATION:

1-2 p.m., Sunday, April 9 at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel

SERVICE:

2 p.m., Sunday, April 9 at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel

Arleen E. (Gildenzoph) Schaffenberger passed away peacefully Wednesday, April 5, 2017, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, Wisconsin surrounded by her immediate and extended family. She was born on Oct. 1, 1930, in Nekoosa, Wisconsin to Robert and Avis (Salter) Gildenzoph. She graduated from Alexander High School on May 23, 1948, in Nekoosa. She married Walter Schaffenberger on Oct. 9, 1948-just nine days after her 18th birthday. She often told the story of seeing that handsome, blonde sailor driving in his family's car, then later of their first date sledding down snowy Nekoosa hills. He was known to serenade her on their date nights.

She spent many happy years raising their three children in Nekoosa, while enjoying the closeness of her parents, sister, aunts, uncles, a very special niece, cousins and numerous friends-many of those who still remain close to her heart. Memories of them and those times sustained her throughout her life. She thought and spoke with fondness of the many years she worked at Riverview Hospital in Wisconsin Rapids and of the people she met and cared for-those were special and fulfilling times for her that extended beyond work into a genuine passion as she cared for others. Her work there continued until the summer of 1966, when she entered a new chapter of her life, as she, Walt and their children moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Eau Claire wasn't Nekoosa, but it was a lot closer to home than Lander, Wyoming. She quickly set about making it home for her family.

She continued her career in healthcare, working numerous years at Midelfort Clinic, Luther Hospital and a local nursing home. All had one thing in common-she could dedicate herself to caring for people, both the people she worked with and the patients she served.

Her happiness was marred by the loss of her two beloved sons, first Michael in 1974, and then Wally in 1999. With those losses she found even greater levels of care and compassion within herself and continued to give selflessly to those around her. In 2003, she lost her beloved sweetheart--her sailor boy, Walter. He continued singing to her all the years of their life together.

In 2007, she finally took one of those life time vacations-the kind she always dreamt of and no, it wasn't to look over deer country or duck country. Instead she travelled with her daughter, Beth, and son-in-law, Steve, to Seattle, Washington to visit her grandson Josh. From there they flew on for a visit to Kauai, where she enjoyed the warm sands and ocean breezes while being treated to slack string guitars, a luau, acrobatic whales, monk seals and sea turtles. She said she could often feel Walt near her.

Even with the challenges she faced, she always sought out those shiny spots of joy to brighten her life. She had so many of those. She loved spending time with her family and friends. They were her greatest joy. She always wanted to hear of their adventures and their day to day lives-they were the most important pieces of her world and she never failed to let them know how much they meant to her.

Among her blessings are her daughter-in-law, Julie (John) Wollenburg of Motley, MN and her daughter, Beth (Steve) Roach of Chippewa Falls, WI. She had four loving grandchildren, Wally and Julie's son, Josh Schaffenberger (Athena Funk) of Horace, ND and daughter, Jenna (Seth) Lien of Little Falls, MN; Mike's daughter Nikki (Jason) Edmunds of Chippewa Falls, WI and Beth and Steve's daughter, Adrienne (Matthew) Roach Wisnefske of Madison, WI. Her blessings continued to include numerous great-grandchildren, Katara, Kaden and Colton Schaffenberger, Cambria Lien of Little Falls, MN, Gavin and Ava Grace of Horace ND; and great grand-pup, Buster Roach Wisnefske in Madison, WI.

Her life was blessed as well with those special extended family members that round out her life as an integral part of the circle she loved, Bonita Roach, Steve and Sharon Olson, Norma Duax, as well as Lori, Don, Jason, Katie, Ava Jolie and Meghan Kaveney.

She is further survived by her special niece, Ava Elwort of Nekoosa, WI and many very special cousins.

Those that have passed before her include her husband, Walter; sons, Wally and Michael; her parents, Robert and Avis Gildenzoph; sister, June Elwort; brother-in-law, Fred Elwort; maternal grandparents, Fred and Emma Salter; paternal grandparents, Robert and Marie Guildenzoph; and many dear aunts, uncles and cousins.

A Celebration of Life will be held in her memory at 2 p.m., Sunday, April 9 at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel, Chippewa Falls. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

A private burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Nekoosa, Wisconsin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 11.