Thursday, October 4, 2018

MERCEDES L KAPFHAMER


Mercedes Lucille (Goessl) Kapfhamer left this world on Tuesday, October 2nd, 2018 with her loving family by her side. She was born on August 26th, 1924, in Curtiss WI to Theresa (Decker) and Irving Goessl at home. As infants, she and her twin sister, Marcella, were kept warm in shoeboxes placed on the open oven door. Mercedes attended St. Louis Catholic School in Dorchester. She was united in marriage to John Kapfhamer on September 5, 1945, at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Abbotsford, with the reception taking place in the same home she was born in.  She and John farmed for many years—first on a farm west of Medford, and then in 1948 they moved to a farm east of Stetsonville where they resided until they moved into the village of Stetsonville in 1987. John passed away in 2011, after 65 wonderful years of marriage. She continued residing in Stetsonville until earlier this year, when she moved to Abbotsford. In addition to farming with her husband, John, she pelted minks, worked at the Church and the Centennial Hall, cared for children, belonged to the Catholic Order of Foresters, sewed many beautiful quilts which she gave as wedding gifts for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also knitted hats for newborns, made bibs and small quilts for her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren as they were born. Mercedes’s love for sewing and knitting was strong, and she put it to great use making hats and small quilts for the preemies and newborns born at the St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield. She also helped many friends get to and from their appointments. In her free time, she enjoyed the Sr. Citizen lunches with her friends at the Centennial Hall, playing cards, especially Phase 10 (but without the SKIP cards), along with many other card games, and puzzles.
She is survived by her children; Carol Cypher of Fairborn, OH, Jean (Alan) Bushman of Greenwood, Linda Holland of Madison, Kevin (Karla) Kapfhamer of Sun City, AZ, Tim (Yvonne) Kapfhamer of Colby, Brenda (Jim) Duhaime of Schofield, 21 Grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren with another one on the way, and 2 great-great-grandchildren, her sister, Sister Celine Goessl of De Pere, and sister-in-laws; Peggy Goessl of Abbotsford, Roberta Kapfhamer of Medford, and Leona (Jack) Steinmetz of Slinger.
In addition to her husband, John, she was predeceased by her sisters Marcella Deeter, Ethel Gutenberger, Patricia Kuranda and her brothers Clarence, Orlando, Herbert, Theodore, and Peter Goessl, her son-in-law David Cypher along with many other family and friends.
A memorial mass will take place at 12:00 Noon on Sunday October 7, 2018 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Stetsonville. Father Michael Hayden will officiate. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held prior to the Mass at church from  10:30 AM until the time of Mass at 12:00 PM. Kraig Kapfhamer will serve as Urnbearer.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 322 W County Road A, Stetsonville, WI 54480 or to Hope Hospice, 537 West Broadway Ave, Medford 54451.
The family would like to thank those who helped by taking her to appointments, senior citizen center, picking up her medicine, groceries, visiting and helping her at home, or just taking her for a ride. We would like to especially thank Netty and Father Mike for the tender-loving care they showed Mom in her last months, along with all who helped Mom in any way. They would also like to thank Dycora and Hope Hospice for the loving care she received. And all of those who helped and visited her while still at home, and while at Dycora.
Hemer Funeral Service of Medford and Rib Lake has been entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences can be left at www.hemerfuneralservice.com