Elsie M. Schultz (2/5/1920 – 7/20/2015)

Elsie Mattila Schultz died in her sleep on July 20th at the Lutheran Home in River Falls. Elsie was born February 5, 1920 on a small farm in central Wisconsin (near Owen). Her parents, Victor and Selma Mattila, were born in Finland and came to the U.S. after they were married (early 1900s). Elsie was the second youngest of seven children (one boy and six girls) all born in the U.S. All of Elsie’s siblings and their spouses preceded her in death.

The Mattila family spoke Finnish at home, but the children learned English at the one-room country school (Hoard Center) they attended. There were eight grades with one teacher and no indoor plumbing. Elsie and her siblings walked to grade school, and later to Owen High School (a distance of 3.5 miles each way). The family milked cows by hand, since they had no electricity.

In 1939, Elsie married a dairy farmer, Clarence (Clarry) Schultz from Curtiss, WI. They spent 61 years on their dairy farm until Clarry died in 2000. Elsie stayed on the farm until the summer of 2004 when she moved to River Falls. She resided at the Wellhaven Senior Apartments for 10 years. After a fall in February 2014, Elsie transitioned to the Lutheran Home. Both facilities were places that felt like home and provided her with new friends, memorable activities, and caring staff.

Elsie attended college 30 years after graduating from high school. She received her degree in Library Science from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Elsie worked as an Elementary Librarian in the Owen-Withee School District for 18 years.

Her strong Christian faith and values were evident in her daily life and allowed her to remain positive, even in adversity. She was an active member of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Dorchester, WI and attended Luther Memorial Church regularly after she moved to River Falls.

Poetry was one of Elsie’s passions. She often wrote poems for special events, anniversaries, and birthdays. Elsie loved being asked to share her creations or recite a poem she had memorized in high school. She willingly recited her poems to others until her passing.

Preparing and eating delicious food was a priority for Elsie. Guests never left Elsie’s kitchen until they had sampled everything she had on the table. She was best known for her brownies, apple pies, cinnamon rolls, jams and jellies, garlic dill pickles, apple sauce and more. The garden and apple orchard on the farm provided a bountiful harvest. Coffee with treats at mid-morning and before bedtime was a ritual on the farm.

Elsie and Clarry had three children. Two sons, David Schultz (Alicia) Arnold, MD and Brian Schultz (Ellen) River Falls. Their only daughter, Diana (Schultz) Beardsley New Haven, CT died in March 2010.

Elsie is survived by five grandchildren: Catherine (Schultz) Wasiuta (Eric) Annapolis, MD, Daniel Schultz (Amanda) Davidsonville, MD, Christopher Beardsley (Allison Young) Brooklyn, NY, Todd Schultz (Kensey) River Falls, and Timothy Schultz (Nicole Gottleib) Chicago, IL. She was also blessed with four great-grandchildren: Julianna and Kate Wasiuta, Tenley Schultz, and Owen Beardsley.

While small in stature, she had a giant heart!

Funeral services for Elsie will be at 11:00am, Saturday, July 25, 2015 at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, River Falls, WI. Burial will be in the Dorchester Memorial Cemetery, Dorchester, WI. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the funeral at the church on Saturday.
In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to The Lutheran Home, River Falls; 640 N. Main Street, River Falls, WI 54022; Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, 420 S. 4th St., River Falls, WI 54022; or St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 266 S. 3rd St., Dorchester, WI 54425

Cashman-Hill Funeral Home & Cremation Services, River Falls, WI is assisting the family.