Regis M. Westphal

Regis Marie Westphal, 96, went home to her Lord on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, at Woodlands Senior Park in Fond du Lac.

Regis Marie Raaths was born at home on the farm July 13, 1927, in the Town of Angelica, first daughter of Harold and Marie (Kroening) Raaths. Dr. Shippy was the attending physician. Regis was baptized Aug. 7, 1927, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Zachow, and confirmed there on July 28, 1940, by Pastor A. Habermann. She attended Clover Leaf Grade School and the Pulaski High School, where she graduated in May 1945.

She was employed as society editor of the Shawano Evening Leader, then she moved to Bonduel in 1947 when she married Lothar M. Westphal at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Zachow. They lived near Bonduel until 1955 when they moved to Winneconne and lived there until 1963. They then moved to Highway K near Eden.

When Regis was 47, she returned to school and became a practical nurse, working at St. Agnes Hospital for 18 years.

Her husband, Lothar, died in July 1984, and two years later, Regis sold their little 19-acre hobby farm and moved to Boyd Street in Fond du Lac. After 25 years, she moved into assisted living at St. Peter’s Place, Fond du Lac. Two years ago, she moved to her final residence at Woodlands Senior Park, Fond du Lac.

Regis was active in her church and in the community. At St. Paul’s in Winneconne, she taught sixth grade catechism. At St. Peter’s Lutheran Fond du Lac, she sang in the church choir, served on the Altar Guild and served as the secretary or treasurer for the Gleaners. She was also a member of the Winnebago Lutheran Academy Auxiliary where she served as secretary or treasurer and helped in the WLA kitchen for 1963-2008.

In the community, Regis was active in bowling for 50 years. She enjoyed her gardening and quilting and served on the park and recreation committee in Winneconne. For 15 years, she was a caregiver after retirement from St. Agnes.

She was always experimenting with her flowers. Her huge gardens with abundant crops of raspberries, asparagus and apples were a delight for all palates.

A book or two were always handy, especially biographies and autobiographies, and many years of attending Bible classes at her churches.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Marie Raaths; her husband, Lothar Westphal; three sisters, Marie Sauer (Rev. Joel), Faye Bonnin (Gilbert) and Gordis Beilfuss (Wally); one brother in-law, Leonard Banasynski.

Regis is survived by four children, Randall J. (Joyce), Riley (Peggy), of Fond du Lac, Rachel (Ted) Schmitz, Berlin, and Rebecca (Bruce) Bowe, Fond du Lac; 11 grandchildren, Matt (Sue) Schmitz, Fond du Lac, Jacob (Nicole) Schmitz, Bloomington, Minnesota, Stephanie (Rev. Phil) Janke, Fond du Lac, Renee (Rev. Michael) Kober, Lawrenceville, Georgia, Rachel (Rev. Bradley) Kerkow, Mankato, Minnesota, Jodi (Josh) Schoemann, West Bend, Ryan (Nora) Westphal, Chicago, Illinois, Greta (Rev. Dave) Backus, Appleton, William (Amy) Westphal, Kimberly, Tony (Hayley) Bowe, Rochester, Minnesota, and Travis (Alyssa) Bowe, Beaver Dam; 27 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Karen (Earl) Brassow, Kimberly, and Ruth Banaszynski, Kaukauna; other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be Friday, Dec. 29, from 9:30-11 a.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 1600 S. Main St. Fond du Lac.

Funeral services will be Friday, Dec. 29, at 11 a.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Fond du Lac. The Rev. Stephen Sauer will officiate, and burial will be in Bethel Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the staff at Woodlands Senior Park for their care and compassion for Mom over the past two years.

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be made to St. Peter’s Church and WLA Scholarships Fund.

Twohig Funeral Home has been entrusted with Regis’s arrangements. Additional information and guest book can be found at www.twohigfunerals.com.