Adeline "Addie" Elias

Adeline “Addie” Elias, age 100, passed away at Brewster Village on Monday, May 29, 2017. She was born to the late Henry and Lucille Kluge on May 18, 1917. Addie was a lifelong resident of Appleton and graduated from Appleton High School in 1935. She worked at Zwicker Knitting Mills at the age of 14. Addie was a receptionist for Tuttle Press and later worked for Dr. Si Kloehn as an Orthodontist Assistant. She married Bill Elias on December 30, 1948 and they spent 61 years together before his passing in 2010. Carrying forth the Elias generational family business, Bill and Addie owned and operated Valley Sporting Goods, Inc.

Addie was a passionate gardener who took pride in her floral arrangements along with her rose and begonia beds. She loved to entertain and was known for her candy making (seafoam and caramels), diverse and artistic cookie baking, canning and pickling. She carried on the legacy of family “old world” recipes. Addie loved fishing since early childhood, playing cards, knitting, reading and golfing with family.

She is survived by her son Michael Elias (Ann), her daughter Bonne Elias Planner (Bill Planner), granddaughter Amy Elias (Andy Kraft) and her sister Helen Luedtke.

A private family ceremony was held Thursday, June 1, 2017 at Highland Memorial Park. In honor of Addie, donations may be made to the Fox Valley Memory Project, Homeless Connections Emergency Shelter or the Brewster Village Endowment Fund and mailed to Wichmann Funeral Home.

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to family, friends, staff and residents of Brewster Village, ThedaCare at Home Hospice and those who provided care and loved Mom through her journey.

We will miss her warm spirit, devoted presence, unconditional love and genuine smile. She will remain in our hearts forever.