Grace R. Hawley, age 101, of Mt. Horeb, WI, formerly of Argyle, WI, passed away on Friday, January 23, 2009, at Ingleside Nursing Home in Mt. Horeb. She was born on July 10, 1907, on the family farm near Darlington, WI, the daughter of Christian and Rosalie (Eggiman) Hirsbrunner, both of whom immigrated from Switzerland. During her youth, Grace attended the Immanuel United Church of Christ, which her father helped found in 1909. She graduated from Darlington High School in 1926. She began her teaching career at Everson and Johnson country schools in Lafayette County. She married Garth Hawley on June 7, 1930, and made her home in Argyle, WI, for nearly 30 years. In addition to raising a family, Grace was active in civic affairs, including the Girl Scouts, 4-H, the Women's Club, the Methodist Church Women's Auxiliary and choir, and volunteer tasks for the WWII war effort.
In the early 1950s, she entered college and returned to teaching again at the Everson School. As a former student, Sharon Everson Andrews, recalled, "Being a teacher in a one room school was a very demanding position" and "Mrs. Hawley was the best teacher a student could have," a thought echoed by countless others that she had the pleasure to teach. She graduated in 1960 from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville with a Bachelor Science Degree in Elementary Education. Grace taught in Nekoosa, WI and Monroe, WI for many years.
Retiring from full-time work in 1972, Grace was a substitute teacher for another 15 years. She helped with the founding of the Green County Retired Educators Association, serving as its president for two terms and lobbying for better benefits for retired teachers. An avid traveler, Grace visited all parts of the United States, but the highlight of her life was a trip to Switzerland and other European countries in 1970. In earlier years, she was passionate about dancing, playing the piano and ukulele, sewing, calligraphy and other arts and crafts, cooking, fashion, and gardening. She loved to read, visit family members, and get together with dear friends.
Grace is survived by her children: Mary Sasse of Carbondale, IL, Joyce (Ralph) Schuler of San Diego, CA, Albert George (fiancé Karen Zethmayr) Hawley of Mt. Horeb, WI; eight grandchildren: Wendy (David) Carr of Minnetonka, MN, Julie Sasse of Tucson, AZ, Sara (Ola) Agren of Stockholm, Sweden, Cindy (Claude) Miller of Trabuco Canyon, CA, Laura (Todd) Ellenberger of Torrance, CA, Debra (David) Prevo of Temecula, CA, Lisa (John) Barron of San Diego, CA, and John E. (fiancé Jennifer Wuchterl) Hawley of Madison, WI; 14 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are many caring nieces and nephews, kind great-nieces and great-nephews, and loving friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband: Garth in 1956; her parents; 11 brothers and sisters: including Fred, Charles, Emma Roelli, Sophia, Edward, Jenny Durrestein, Hulda Roelli, Ida Babler, Frieda Cole, Christian, and Oswald; her son-in-law: Edward Sasse; and her daughter-in-law: Susan Hawley.
In celebration of her life, funeral services for our beloved "Amazing Gracie" will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, January 31, 2009 at Immanuel United Church of Christ, 339 East Louisa Street, Darlington, WI 53530 with Rev. Kathleen Rinear officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Argyle. A visitation will be held Saturday, January 31, 2009 from 10:30 a.m. until the time of services at Immanuel United Church of Christ in Darlington.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Immanuel United Church of Christ, 339 East Louisa Street, Darlington, WI 53530 or St. John's United Church of Christ, 1724-14th Street, Monroe, WI 53566.
Grace's family wishes to give special thanks to everyone at Ingleside and Inglewood, parts of the Ingle Living Communities in Mt. Horeb, who provided loving care and highly professional attention to Grace during her final years.
In the early 1950s, she entered college and returned to teaching again at the Everson School. As a former student, Sharon Everson Andrews, recalled, "Being a teacher in a one room school was a very demanding position" and "Mrs. Hawley was the best teacher a student could have," a thought echoed by countless others that she had the pleasure to teach. She graduated in 1960 from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville with a Bachelor Science Degree in Elementary Education. Grace taught in Nekoosa, WI and Monroe, WI for many years.
Retiring from full-time work in 1972, Grace was a substitute teacher for another 15 years. She helped with the founding of the Green County Retired Educators Association, serving as its president for two terms and lobbying for better benefits for retired teachers. An avid traveler, Grace visited all parts of the United States, but the highlight of her life was a trip to Switzerland and other European countries in 1970. In earlier years, she was passionate about dancing, playing the piano and ukulele, sewing, calligraphy and other arts and crafts, cooking, fashion, and gardening. She loved to read, visit family members, and get together with dear friends.
Grace is survived by her children: Mary Sasse of Carbondale, IL, Joyce (Ralph) Schuler of San Diego, CA, Albert George (fiancé Karen Zethmayr) Hawley of Mt. Horeb, WI; eight grandchildren: Wendy (David) Carr of Minnetonka, MN, Julie Sasse of Tucson, AZ, Sara (Ola) Agren of Stockholm, Sweden, Cindy (Claude) Miller of Trabuco Canyon, CA, Laura (Todd) Ellenberger of Torrance, CA, Debra (David) Prevo of Temecula, CA, Lisa (John) Barron of San Diego, CA, and John E. (fiancé Jennifer Wuchterl) Hawley of Madison, WI; 14 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are many caring nieces and nephews, kind great-nieces and great-nephews, and loving friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband: Garth in 1956; her parents; 11 brothers and sisters: including Fred, Charles, Emma Roelli, Sophia, Edward, Jenny Durrestein, Hulda Roelli, Ida Babler, Frieda Cole, Christian, and Oswald; her son-in-law: Edward Sasse; and her daughter-in-law: Susan Hawley.
In celebration of her life, funeral services for our beloved "Amazing Gracie" will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, January 31, 2009 at Immanuel United Church of Christ, 339 East Louisa Street, Darlington, WI 53530 with Rev. Kathleen Rinear officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Argyle. A visitation will be held Saturday, January 31, 2009 from 10:30 a.m. until the time of services at Immanuel United Church of Christ in Darlington.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Immanuel United Church of Christ, 339 East Louisa Street, Darlington, WI 53530 or St. John's United Church of Christ, 1724-14th Street, Monroe, WI 53566.
Grace's family wishes to give special thanks to everyone at Ingleside and Inglewood, parts of the Ingle Living Communities in Mt. Horeb, who provided loving care and highly professional attention to Grace during her final years.