Elizabeth Mary Westrich, 77, of Algoma and most recently Green Bay, passed away Friday, October 19, 2018 from complications of Parkinson’s Disease. Elizabeth (Liz) was born December 11, 1940 in Plain, WI to Edward and Lucy (Dischler) Gruber. She graduated from St. Lukes HS in Plain and moved to the big city of Milwaukee to attend Alverno College, where she met the love of her life, James Lawrence Westrich.
They married on March 3, 1962 in Racine and moved to Fort Leonard Wood, MO… Read More » where Jim served in the Army. A job with Algoma Net Co. brought them to Algoma in 1964 where they settled raising four children. Liz was a tireless and devoted wife and mother.
She loved spending time with her family especially when a trivia or card game could be won. She enjoyed her friends who usually participated in some of her favorite hobbies of golf, bridge, estate sales crossword puzzles and gardening. She was an active member of St. Mary’s Parish where she worked as school and parish secretary, was a member of the adult choir and took great pride in overseeing the environmental ministry.
She also worked for two physician practices as billing manager. One of her greatest accomplishments was going back to college after her children received their degrees. She attended UW-Green Bay from 1986-94 earning her Bachelors of Art, specializing in art and textiles.
This passion led to employment at The Miller Art Museum as a labor of love. She exhibited work at the Neville Public Museum and several private galleries. Liz is survived by children; Lizanne Armstrong (Kevin) of Fox Point, WI and their sons Zach, Adam, and Gabe; James II (Tricia Spellman) of Norwich, VT and their daughter Mary; Todd (Carole) Westrich of DePere; Georganne Scherer (Kristopher) of Wayzata, MN and their children Hannah, Lucy and Henry.
Sister Anna (Emil) Bowmil, sister in-laws Kathy Gruber and Karen Westrich, brother in-law Thomas (Sharon) Westrich and nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Liz was preceded in death by brother Edward, brother in-law George Westrich, sister in-law Mary Westrich, nephews Timothy and John, and grandnephews, Andrew and Thomas. Family and friends may gather at St. Mary Catholic Church, 118 Church Street, Algoma, on Monday October 22, 2018 from 9:00 AM until the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM with Father Alvan Amadi officiating.
The family would like to thank the staff at Allouez Parkside Village for their compassion and care over the last 5 years. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent in her name to The Miller Art Museum, Attn: Director, 107 S. 4th Street, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 or to St. Mary’s School, 214 Church St., Algoma, WI 54201. The SCHINDERLE FUNERAL HOME, Algoma, assisted the family with arrangements.
Leave your online condolences on our Tribute Wall at www.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
