Elin Bernice Sanders

1929-2021

Elin Bernice (Emstrom) Sanders, 92, died, Dec. 30, 2021 at Abbotsford Care Center in Abbotsford, where she had been a resident since June 2012. A funeral service was held at 1 p.m., Monday, Jan. 3, 2022 at Hemer Funeral Home in Medford with Rev. David Clements officiating. Burial followed at Perkinstown Community Cemetery in Perkinstown. Friends called from 9 a.m. until time of service at 1 p.m., Monday at Hemer-Pickerign Funeral Home in Medford.

Elin was born June 10, 1929 at home in Perkinstown, to Edwin and Pearl (Andrews) Emstrom.

She graduated from Lincoln Grade School in Perkinstown, May 1943, Hannibal High School, May 15, 1946, County Normal School, June 1, 1951, Medford, Wisconsin State Teachers College, Eau Claire with a Bachelor of Science Degree, Aug. 2, 1963. During her years of teaching, she taught grades one through eight at Lakeview School in Withee and Roosevelt in Perkinstown and grades 4-5-6 at Gilman Grade School, Lublin Grade School and Withee Grade School. After teaching in the Gilman School District for 39 years, she retired in 1989.

She married Robert L. Sanders at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Aug. 14, 1965, Medford. He passed Apr. 26, 2004.

She enjoyed helping her son Robbie with his 4-H projects, going to watch him play basketball and really enjoyed all of his wrestling tournaments. Robby passed Aug. 15, 1982.

After she retired, she enjoyed socializing with friends and family, especially going to family reunions in Merrillan, Wis. She loved watching the Packers and the Brewers, playing cards, crocheting, baking, reading westerns, watching the Gilman Wrestling matches as well as the Gilman Basketball games, both boys & girls and enjoyed mowing her lawn in the sunshine.

She is survived by her sister, Ella Fischer of Sheboygan; her niece, Nancy (Bill) Sarring and families of Port Washington; nephews, Fred (Kelly) Emstrom and families of Perkinstown, Ted (Dawn) Fischer and families of Port Washington, Ned (Janet) Fischer and families of Chippewa Falls; God-daughter, Robin (Joshua) Pocock and family of Plover; and many other nieces and nephews from her marriage to Bob Sanders.

Others preceding her in death were her parents, Edwin and Pearl (Andrews) Emstrom; brothers, Fred Emstrom and Edwin Emstrom Jr.; brothers-in-law, Ted Fischer, Lester Zielinski and Vincent Tomczak; sisters-in-law, Clara (Leuthy-Armstrong) Emstrom, Lorraine (Zielinski) Tomczak and Viola (Smith) Zielinski; father-in-law and mother in-law, Robert (Zielinski) and Helen (Wiekinkski) Zielinski.

A special thank you to Carissa and Pastor Randy from St. Croix Hospice and all the nurses, caretakers and doctors at Abbotsford Care Center who have lovingly cared for her.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent for the Gilman School Wrestling Scholarships with checks made out to “The Gilman School District” at 325 N. Fifth Ave. Gilman, WI 54433 or “Perkinstown Schoolhouse Restoration Project” in care of Julie Gaunt, N5129 Brush Creek Rd., Medford, WI 54451 or “Gilman Area Historical Society” P.O. Box 222, Gilman, WI 54433. Hemer-Pickerign Funeral & Cremation Services of Medford and Rib Lake is serving the family. Online condolences can be left at www.hemerfuneralservice.com.

Paid Obituary 115162