Erma M. Leis

     Erma M. Leis, 88, of Sparta, died Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at Mayo Clinic Health System, La Crosse.  She was born on September 19, 1928 in Portland, WI to Frank and Mina (Jobe) Weinke. She grew up in Portland and graduated from Cashton High School in 1946.

     Erma married Urban Leis on September 19, 1946 at St. Mary’s Ridge Catholic Church.  She worked at a nursing home in Medary before they rented their first farm in Cashton in 1948. They farmed in Cashton until 1958 and then purchased a farm in Coles Valley. They farmed in Coles Valley until 1972 and then moved to Norwalk.

     Erma was a 4-H leader and on the Mound Prairie School Board. She also collected census.

     She loved quilting, crafting, and crocheting. But her biggest love was with spending time with her children and all their families.

     Erma is survived by her children: Erling Leis of Sparta, Myron (Marjorie) Leis of Sparta, Jeffrey (Lanita) Leis of Cashton, Virginia (Dale) DeWitt of Ontario, daughter-in-law, Ella Leis of Sauk City, and Tim (DeDe) Leis of Wilton; 23 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; 9 great great grandchildren; her siblings: Elaine Schwarz of Sparta, Edith Webster of Sparta, and Doug Weinke of Rockland.

     She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Urban, in 1995; two sons, Dale and Eric; great grandson, Brian Leis; a sister, Marcella Leis; and a brother, Lawrence Weinke.

     A funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 10, 2017 at Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home, Sparta, with Father Keith Kitzhaber officiating. Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery, Sparta.

     Family and friends may call from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home and from noon until time of services on Saturday at the funeral home.  Memorial may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, P.O. Box 1000 Dept. 142 Memphis, TN 38101. 

     The Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.

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