LeeAnne Ashenberg, age 71, of Waupaca, WI was taken by her Lord and Savior on April 22, 2018, ending her courageous battle with Alzheimer’s. LeeAnne was born at home in Wood County on December 13, 1947 to Ray and Faye (Holmes) McAllister. After doing the evening milking on June 13, 1964 she married Gary Ashenberg at Immanuel Church in Wisconsin Rapids.
LeeAnne waitressed the night shifts at a small restaurant in Plover and the Sky Club for two years while Gary finished school at University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point. In the following years she waitressed at: the Gaslight Inn in Wausau, the Kaiserrhoff in New Ulm, Minnesota and Simpsons in Waupaca. During her time in Marshfield, LeeAnne installed commercial drapery by herself, a job she truly enjoyed.
In Waupaca, LeeAnne worked at Noffke Lumber and knew every tool and how it was used. Through the years she did sewing and alterations including work on the high school Madrigal singer’s costumes and all the dresses for her daughter’s wedding. Her last job was at the Hallmark store in Waupaca, where she knew which people needed a big hug when they visited.
After retiring, LeeAnne took drum lessons. For the next eleven years she played drums, entertaining at 23 different retirement homes with Gary. She also played drums in a Polka Praise band Sunday mornings in churches from Fond du Lac to Caroline.
For most of her 53 years of marriage, she was always there to help load and unload heavy musical instruments for the Gary’s old time bands. LeeAnne is survived by her husband: Gary Ashenberg of Waupaca; daughter: Valerie (Chad) Sloniker of Edwards, Colorado; granddaughter: Dakota Sloniker of Boise, Idaho; son: Chris Ashenberg and family; siblings: Gary (Carol) McAllister of Wisconsin Rapids, Gene (Joey) McAllister of Mosinee, Julie Slauson of Rudolph, Linda (Conrad) Kraemer of Wisconsin Rapids; sister-in-law: Sharon Peterson of Minneapolis, Minnesota; brother and sister-in-law: Wayne and Shirley Ashenberg of Plover; she is also survived by several nieces and nephews. LeeAnne was preceded in death by her parents: Ray and Faye McAllister; sister: Marla Soika; brothers-in-law: Bill Soika and Donald Slauson; in-laws: Florian and Lucille Ashenberg, and Claire Jacobson.
LeeAnne will be deeply missed. We know she is in a much better place, until we can all be together. A very special thank you goes out to the second floor staff at Bethany of Waupaca.
They provided LeeAnne with loving and respectful care through her final days. Also, thank you to her many friends that kept her in their final prayers and thoughts with cards and visits (which she greatly appreciated). The funeral service will be held at her home church, First Lutheran Church of Poy Sippi, WI.
Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, with the service starting at noon, on Friday, April 27, 2018. Burial will take place in the Colburn-Leola Cemetery in the Town of Colburn. All funeral arrangements are being handled by Maple Crest Funeral Home of Waupaca, WI.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to First Lutheran Endowment Fund, St. Judes Children Hospital or Alzheimer’s Association (specifying for research only) alz.org.
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