Niebuhr, Elsie

Elsie Niebuhr, of Highland, WI, passed away on Monday, December 9, 2024, at Upland Hills Care Center surrounded by her friends and family. She was born to Karl and Emma (Berger) Frick in Tomah, WI. She lived on a farm with her family and attended Tomah public school until her family moved to Glenwood City, WI. She completed her schooling there, and after graduating from high school moved to Chicago spending a year working at Methodist Publishing House. She moved back to Wisconsin and held various short-term job before working at Madison Drug Co. for a year. She then took a job at Montgomery Wards in the invoice records department until October 1954.

She was united in marriage to Elmer "Red" Niebuhr on October 9, 1954, and they settled in Highland, WI. Red and Elsie owned and operated Red's Supper Club until 1975 when the business was sold. Elsie began working at Highland High School as a secretary in April 1960. She later took the position of bookkeeper until her retirement in 2000.

Elsie was a member of the Otter Creek Lutheran Church and the Highland Women's Club. After retirement, she enjoyed working in her vegetable and flower gardens and loved working  outside in her yard. She kept busy painting in oil and acrylic pictures, making birdhouses with her gourds and painting them along with several other wooden materials. She did all types of sewing, knitting, quilting, and other crafts. This past year, she made 40 quilts for her church to give to people in need.

She is survived by many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Red; six sisters and brothers-in-law; three brothers and sisters-in-law; and special friend, Lauren Smelzer.

Per Elsie's wishes, she will be laid to rest next to Red at the Verona Cemetery, Verona, WI in a private service at a later date. The McGuire-Peterson-Houck Funeral Home is assisting the family. Online condolences may be made at www.houckfuneralhomes.com.

A special thank you to Elsie's family, friends, and neighbors who helped her through the years, and who were there for her.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Otter Creek Church, Highland, or to the Red and Elsie Scholarship Fund. 

McGuire-Peterson-Houck 

Funeral Home

Highland     

608-929-4815

www.houckfuneralhomes.com