Doris Esther Ristow Stellner

Doris Esther Ristow Stellner - Doris Esther Ristow Stellner, 95, passed away Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at Bethany Riverside in LaCrosse. She was born on September 20, 1917 in La Crosse, Wisconsin to Will and Dora (Kahle) Ristow.Doris attended and graduated La Crosse Central High School. Following graduation she worked for Doerflinger's Department store in downtown La Crosse. Doris' family grew up in the La Crosse neighborhood known as Goose Town. Doris made many lifelong friends from that area. They called themselves The Goose Town Bunch and they met for lunch and other social events for many years.Doris married Carl Stellner on May 15, 1948 and they moved to Stoddard, Wisconsin. There she became an active member of St. Luke's Church and the La Crosse Hill and Valley Garden Club. She made her own delicious pickles, canned tomatoes and was known in the family for her homemade German kuchen and potato pancakes and her Christmas cookie baking. Doris crocheted many afghans and did some quilting as well as different needlework and craft projects.



Soon she and Carl were blessed with two children, Jim and Jean. Doris and Carl enjoyed traveling and went on several cruises and many bus tours throughout the country and in the Caribbean. They had several regular groups with whom they played cards, sometimes quite wildly.In the early 80's they had two grandsons, Matt and Joe. When their grandsons visited Stoddard there were fun days spent exploring the Mississippi River parks and taking rides up on the various bluffs or going for a river boat brunch cruise with the whole family. Doris made quilts and crocheted blankets for her grandsons at this time.Doris and Carl moved to La Crosse in 1989. Apartment living enabled them to enjoy life without snow shoveling and grass mowing; allowing more time for card games and travel. Doris continued her Christmas cookie baking with Jean up until a few years ago, passing down family recipes.

Doris is survived by her husband of 65 years, Carl; her son, James (Michelle Crean Stellner) of Madison, WI; daughter, Jean (Terry) Glanzman of Mondovi, WI; grandsons Matthew Stellner (Erica Esser) of Stevens Point WI and Joseph Stellner (Stacie Jansen) of Des Plaines IL.The family wishes to thank our cousin, Pat Lyga and family friend, Nancy Jones for their continued support of Doris and Carl as well as the staff at Bethany Willows and Bethany Riverside for the compassionate care given to Doris and for the support given to the family.Funeral services will be at 11:00 AM Saturday May 18 at the SchumacherKish Funeral Home, 200 West Avenue South, La Crosse. Family and friends may call from 10:00AM until time of service. A private internment service will be held prior to the funeral. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 219 North Oak Street, Stoddard, WI 54658 or to New Horizons Shelter & Women's Center, P.O. Box 2031, La Crosse, WI 54602-2031.

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