Florence E. Watters

Florence E. Watters, 97, of Bowler, passed away Thursday, June 25, 2020, at Birch Hill Health Services in Shawano, under the care of ThedaCare at Home Hospice.

Florence was born June 3, 1923, in Bowler, the daughter of Frank and Olga (Jahnke) Neitzel.

She graduated from Bowler High School in 1941. After World War II broke out, she went to Milwaukee to work at Zuckert’s Manufacturing, where she sewed buttons on military uniforms for four years to help the war efforts. After the war, she returned to Bowler and took a job at Hotz’s Manufacturing in Shawano.

On Sept. 11, 1948, Florence was united in marriage to George Watters at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Bowler. They moved to Symco for a few years, where they operated a cheese factory. In 1956, they purchased a farm in the township of Seneca and operated it along with several small enterprises until selling it to family members.

Florence was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Tilleda, where she helped make quilts for foreign relief and local rest homes. Florence loved being close to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her favorite times were spent gardening and relaxing by the family river cottage, entertaining friends from across the country.

Florence is survived by her sons, Bruce (Susan) Watters, of Bowler, and Reid (Trish) Watters, of Tilleda; two grandchildren, Bethany (Andy Miller) Watters and Kiley (Randy) Pingel; 11 great-grandchildren, Stephanie, Keegan, Kellen, Jackson, Adison and Mason Pingel, Kade, Christian, Grace and Conner Hartleben and Emma Watters.

Florence was preceded in death by her husband, George; her parents; two brothers, Ervin (Vicky) Neitzel and Arthur (Violet) Neitzel; and one sister, Arlis Neitzel.

A funeral service will be held at 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, 2020, at Schmidt and Schulta Funeral Home in Wittenberg. The Rev. Lois Graper will officiate. Burial will be in Peace Lutheran Cemetery in Tilleda. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until the time of service at the funeral home.

Memories and messages of support may be shared at schmidtschulta.com.

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