Phyllis M. Abbott

Phyllis Mae Abbott, 94, of Sparta passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Saturday November 1, 2025 at Morrow Home-Marycrest apartments in Sparta. She was born on July 2, 1931 in Sparta, WI to Martin and Lyda (Stark) Paulson. Her parents passed away while Phyllis was young and she was raised by her grandparents, Morten and Hannah.

Phyllis married Basil Abbott on December 23, 1950 in Sparta.

Phyllis was an in-home nanny for a while. She also worked for Teasdale Phone Company as a phone operator, in Cataract. She was also a sales clerk and worked at the grocery store in Cataract.

Phyllis is survived by her children, Dennis (Cathy) Abbott of West Salem, Cheryl (Claire) Wenzel of Janesville, Sheila Abbott of Sparta, Darrell (Patti) Abbott of Cataract, Lee (Fran) Abbott of Sparta, and Lynn (Rhonda) Abbott of Cataract; grandchildren, Nathan (Laurie) Abbott, Bryan (Amy) Oesterle, Tina Oesterle, Ted (Sylvia) Wenzel, Tyler (Rachel) Wenzel, Brooke (Jared) Crocker, Brandi Strait, Jack Strait, Allisa (Dustin) Madison, Sierra (Jose) Tello, Ashley (Logan) Greeno, and Seth (Haylee) Abbott; great-grandchildren, Joe, Ben, Ava, Alexandria, Morgan, Montana, Macy, Zach, Samantha, Vivian, Tate, Christopher, Tristan, Parker, Weston, Corbin, Lydia, Sebastian, Jase, Cameron, and Sawyer; great-great-grandchildren, Harper, Ivy, Baby, and Raury; sisters-in-law, Elaine Paulson of Medford, Annamae (Abbott) Pollack of Angelo, and June Abbott of Tomah; brother-in-law, Warren (Caren) Abbott of Nevada; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Basil Abbott; paternal grandparents, Morten and Hannah Paulson; maternal grandparents, William and Martha (Zillmer) Stark; brother, William Paulson; numerous brothers and sisters-in-law; and nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home and Cremation, Sparta, with Chaplain Shane Haynes officiating. Burial will follow in the Cataract Cemetery.

Family and Friends are invited for visitation from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. Online condolences may be offered at www.schanhoferfh.com

Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home and Cremation, Sparta, assisting the family with funeral arrangements.

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