Estelle Merlin

Estelle Merlin passed away August 21st after 95 grand years on this earth. She was strong, beautiful, creative, and feisty.

She was an avid Packer fan who was always relieved when the priest wrapped up mass early enough to make it home for kickoff. She loved a good game of cards, especially sheepshead, and was still playing well into her 90s with her grandchildren.

She was still living independently in her little yellow house beside Silver Lake where our annual 4th of July family picnics were filled with swimming, beer, brats, her famous strawberry jello, and playing on the tree swing by the lake.

She maintained amazing mobility her entire life, to which she gave credit to her years of playing golf. She continued to cut her grass right up to the week before her death.

The thing that brought her the most joy was her family. After the death of her husband in 1968, Estelle raised six kids from the age of two to fifteen on her own. As an alumnus of Marquette University, she was proud that all six went on to graduate from college, even if none followed in her footsteps to MU.

She spoke often of how proud she was of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. We will miss her terribly and love her forever.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, and her husband Richard. She is survived by her children: Mark, Dennis, Jan, Chris, Curt, Lisa, her grandchildren: Beth, Amanda, Taylor, Dylan, Paul, Ben, Kate, Molly, Maddy, Brock, and Dane, and her great-grandchildren: Avery, Zoe, Nick, Oliver, and Everett.

Visitation will be Wednesday, August 28th from 11:00 to 12:00 at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, Nashotah. There will be a mass of Christian burial at noon.

Memorials may be contributed to Waukesha County Meals on Wheels.