Elsa Sciano

Elsa Sciano, age 86, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on Sunday, November 2nd, 2025. Elsa was preceded in death by husband and best friend of 56 years, Tony Sciano, her parents, two sisters and two brothers. Elsa was born November 18, 1938 to Lydia and Erwin Schmidt and was married to her best friend and true love Tony. The two of them raised three beautiful children. Elsa is survived by her three children, Ingrid Adashun (Mark), Jerry Sciano (Ying), Kim Mennen (Mark), grandchildren Matthew Mennen (Sarena), Christopher Christenson, Nathan Christenson, Michael Mennen, and Emma Sciano Perdomo (Ed). She is also survived by two great grandchildren, Adison Mennen, and Maxwell Mennen and many nieces and nephews and close friends who all loved her more than she will ever know. Elsa was introduced to Tony by her best friend while he was stationed in Germany in the Army. He was smitten instantly but mom needed a little more convincing. She thought he was cute and that meeting started a whirlwind courtship, marriage, a move to the USA and a lifetime of adventures, laughter and love. Elsa was an amazing mother and wife and the absolute best cook in the entire world. She loved cooking for family and friends and creating new dishes. She started out her early career in Germany as a medical assistant. After she married Tony and moved to the United States, she held various jobs including co-owner of Fontana Auto Auction and The Dead-End Saloon and Eatery in Caledonia, Wi. Together with Tony, they ran the restaurant for over 22 years before retiring to the Great North Woods. There, they built a close-knit community of dear friends, and enjoyed 17 years of traveling, pontoon boat rides on the lake, snowmobile runs, and entertaining their friends. They loved throwing parties and were instrumental in building the party pavilion for their neighborhood association. Elsa loved her family more than anything. Her husband, children, and later grandchildren and great grandchildren were the center of her universe. She loved life and appreciated all of the beauty of the North Woods, the sun rises and sunsets and growing beautiful flowers and gardens. She found joy in her faith and her family and tried to make a positive impact on everyone around her. She was soft spoken but could be a force to reckon with. She had a sharp and witty sense of humor and a smile that would light up a room and she will be sorely missed by each and every one of them. Private burial and Celebration of Life to be announced later. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her honor to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Elsa Sciano

November 18, 1938 - November 2, 2025