Martha Engel

Martha Engel, 95, of Lac du Flambeau passed away on Sept 2, 2016 surrounded by five of her children at Friendly Village in Rhinelander. Martha was born February 22, 1921 in Le Sueur Minnesota, the third child of four girls to Niels Christian Peter Nielsen and Martha Adelia Tufte. Martha lost her mother to tuberculosis when she was only 2 years old. Her father married again to Anna Qualey, a widow with three children, they had three more children. In 1925 Niels moved his blended family to Racine County Wisconsin where he remained raising his large family by working on farms. Martha graduated from Horlick High School in January 1939. in June of that same year Martha, working as a mother’s helper , traveled with the Beck Family to their cottage on Twin Placid Lake in Lac du Flambeau. Martha met William (Bill) Tischendorf who was celebrating his birthday at “Tischendorf’s Chain O”Lakes Resort, and they were married October 7, 1939 in a cabin on Fence Lake. Bill & Martha built a home on South Twin Placid lake where they were raising their four children, a home where Martha remained until four years ago when she moved into KCare . Bill Tischendorf was in a logging accident and died of injuries on February 8, 1954. Martha later married Wm (Bill) Engel who had three children, they had one child together, now another well blended family was created. Martha lost her second husband on December 28, 2008. Martha worked at several area businesses but will be remembered mostly for her service working with children as a Teacher’s Assistant in the Lac du Flambeau Grade School and her volunteer work there as 4H Leader and Girl Scout Leader. She also taught Sunday School for several years at Calvary Ev. Lutheran Church in Minocqua, volunteered in the Calvary Women’s Group and Altar Guild. Martha was an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Lac du Flambeau Unit 0374 and enjoyed marching in the 4th of July parades. Besides her parents, her step-mother and two husbands, Martha was preceded in death by her sisters Jeanette Hogan, Violet (Raymond) Marhefke, Hazel Nielsen, Sara, (Rubin) Glass, Anna (Lloyd) Fredericks, Norma (Richard) Kremen, brothers Orville (Betty) Cleven, Raymond (Norma) Nielsen; brother in laws Raymond Marhefke, Rubin Glass, Lloyd Fredericks, Richard Kremen, Lloyd Tischendorf, sister-in-laws Alice Tischendorf, Gladys (Walter) Buelow, and Marcella (Henry) Beson. Martha is survived by sister Shirley (Robert) Woodward, her children Judy (Dave) Groh, William (Sherry) Tischendorf, Jill (Harold) Haling, Nancy (Don) Johnson, Peggy Engel, Patricia (Russ) Beseler, Ed (Lois) Engel, Dorothy (Pat ) Payne; Grandchildren Richard (Bethany) Combs, Deborah Combs, Julie (Glen) Guetzke, Tina ( Ken) Brunell, Tamy (Tom) Chambers, Marc (Tanya) Tischendorf, Chris(Toni) Haling, Jon Haling, Don (Christie) Johnson, Martha Ericksen, Josh Ericksen, Bill Beseler, Terri (Jacques) Lafave, Mark (Amber) Engel, Matt (Christa) Engel, Rick Payne, Ed Payne, and Cody Payne; Great-grandchildren Eric (Oriel) Combs, Emily Combs, Aubree (Adam) Bremer, Meghan Combs, Brandon Guetzke, Alyssa Guetzke, Aaron Richardson, Zena Wilson, Everett Sherwood, Sawyer Chambers, Wylie Chambers, Zaine Tischendorf, Reid Tischendorf, Remington Haling, Talon Haling, Liza Johnson, William Johnson, Kaylie Erickson, Harper Lafave, Taylor Engel, Brooklyn Engel, Kolten Engel, Jasimine Payne, and Jessica (Mike) Daffren: Great-great grandchildren: Ashton Bremer, Azalea Skye Bruette, Maycee Daffren, Jane Daffren , Madisyn Draffen, sister-in-law Rosella (Bob)LaVine and many wonderful nieces and nephews too numerous to list. Visitation will be held from 5:00 - 8:00 PM on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 at Bolger Funeral Home - Woodruff Chapel. Funeral Service will be at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Minocqua, with visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Calvary Lutheran Church and American Legion Auxiliary, Lac du Flambeau Unit 0374.

Martha Engel

February 22, 1921 - September 2, 2016