Frances E. Stephan

Frances Elaine Stephan, 90, of Dousman, WI, entered into Eternal Life on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 at her home at III Pillars Senior Living Community. She will be truly missed and always present in our hearts. Frances was born on December 20, 1926, the first of three children to Ivor and June Hopkins, and grew up in North Prairie, WI. After graduating from Mukwonago High School, she lived and worked for 3 years at the Wisconsin Masonic Home in the kitchen/housekeeping department. During this time, she went on a double date, met her future husband, Richard Stephan, and was soon married on April 15, 1950. They built their home on Wilson Avenue, remaining there until their move in June 2013 to III Pillars Senior Living Campus. As a dedicated and hard-working young mother, Frances saw to it that the family always went to church, helped with the chores and cared for the family pets (pony and dogs) and 4-H projects (chickens and rabbits). After the planting of an orchard and 2 large gardens, she worked diligently to can and freeze the harvests; shared her skills as a cooking project leader for the Dousman 4-H club and became well-known for her delicious contributions of bread, doughnuts and sweet rolls to the bake sales at St. Mary's Church and Dousman Fire Department. Frances was an active and long-time member of St. Mary's Episcopal Church, a long-time member of the Dousman Fire Department Auxilliary and American Legion Auxilliary for Post 405 where, for over 50 years, she and her husband, Richard, placed Memorial Day flags on four of the local cemeteries. Shortly after the passing of her husband, Frances moved to Compass Point Assisted Living apartments where she always took part in their many activities. She participated in the exercise program and coffee hour, made craft projects, played cards, went to the movies and looked forward to dressing in costume for the annual Haunted Woods Walk. Frances was also an avid BINGO player. Her move to III Pillars allowed her to stay connected to her Dousman area friends and gave her the opportunity to meet new people who very quickly became close and dear friends. Frances was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Stephan; father, Ivor Hopkins; mother, June Hopkins (nee Farnham); brother, Wayne Hopkins; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Pynakker, Edith Stephan, Bette Lean, Doris Stephan, Mabel Finney; brothers-in-law, Harold Keller, Albert Stephan, Walter Stephan, Gilbert Stephan, Robert Stephan, Norman Stephan, John Henry Stephan. She is survived by her five children, James (Barb) Stephan of Waukesha, WI; Elaine (Michael) Rolens of Mascoutah, IL; Kathy (Jeff) Stapleton of Cottage Grove, WI; Diane (Steve) Jurasewicz of Kenosha, WI; Tom Stephan (Sheila Miskowski) of Oconomowoc,WI; five grandchildren, Colleen (Bob) Thill of Sheboygan, WI; Melissa (Dave) Faught of Boise, ID; Jonathan (Amanda) Rolens of Fraser, MI; Adam (Marie) Stapleton of Sun Prairie, WI; Suzanne (Dylan) Anderson of Cottage Grove, WI; and seven great-grandchildren, Kylar and Maya Rolens of Fraser; Jayden Thill of Sheboygan; Katelynn Hill-Neil, Matthew and Elizabeth Faught of Boise; Avery Anderson of Cottage Grove. She is further survived by her sister, Joanne Keller and sister-in-law, Marjorie Stephan. She will also be remembered and missed by her many nieces and nephews and dear family friends. Visitation will be held at St. Mary's Episcopal Church (36014 Sunset Dr, Dousman, WI) on Saturday, October 28, 2017 from 9:30 until time of service at 11 am. Burial will follow at Summit Cemetery. Deep appreciation and gratitude to the staff and residents at III Pillars for their loving care and friendship of Frances during her residence there and to Allay Hospice for their comfort and care during her final days. Memorials in Frances' name may be directed to the St. Mary's Episcopal Church Building Fund or to the Western Lakes Fire District/Dousman Station.