Theresa Oelhafen

Mrs. Theresa Oelhafen passed away early Sunday morning, Sept. 12, 2021, at Sheboygan Senior Community, where she has resided for the past 19 years. She was 86 years old.

Theresa was born in Belgium on May 22, 1935, one of nine children born to Henry and Mary Welter Bittner.

On Aug. 27, 1954, Theresa was united in marriage with Earl Oelhafen at St. Mary Catholic Church in Lake Church. The couple was blessed with seven children.

In 1961, they purchased their dairy farm in Cedar Grove and farmed until Earl retired in 1996. He preceded her in death in 2019.

 Besides working on the farm, Theresa worked at Allen Edmonds and later at Cedar Valley Cheese. Being a mother to her children was her most important (and time consuming!) job. If she wasn’t cooking and
canning, she was gathering recipes from various sources, including the radio.

She enjoyed polka dancing and playing cards — especially a good game of sheepshead. Above all, her family was most important to her.

Mrs. Oelhafen was a faithful member of St. Mary Parish in Lake Church (presently Divine Savior Parish).

After her health failed, she continued attending Mass at Sheboygan Senior Community, where she resided.

She is survived by her daughter Suzanne (Randy) Parker of Cedarburg, sons Ronald (Christine), Steven (Lori), David (special friend Brenda) and Brian (special friend Allie), 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, with one on-the-way.

She is further survived by her sister-in-law Virginia Bittner of Belgium, nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

Theresa was preceded in death by her husband Earl, an infant son, her son Mark, son-in-law Mark Buser, brothers Wilbert, Ervin, Donald and Leroy Bittner, and sisters Estelle Eischen, Helen Deppiesse, Mildred Bode and Marie Weyker.

The family will receive visitors at the Eernisse Funeral Home, 171 N. Royal Ave., in Belgium from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 20, and again, on Tuesday from 11 a.m. to noon at Divine Savior Parish – Holy Cross Chapel, 5330 Hwy B, Belgium, Wis. 53004, followed by Mass at noon. Father Bob Lotz will preside.             

She will be laid to rest later that day beside her family in St. Mary Parish Cemetery, Lake Church.

Theresa’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Sheboygan Senior Community for the care and compassion they provided.

Eernisse Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.eernissefuneralhome.com.