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Ethel Mae Cowling, age 92, of the town of Vinland, passed away Monday, November 25, 2013, at Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh with her family by her side. She was born July 21, 1921, to the late Samuel and Selma (Williams) Johansen. Ethel was a 1939 graduate of Winneconne High School. On June 5, 1943, she married Joseph Cowling at the First Presbyterian Church in Winneconne, and they farmed the Cowling Century-Crest Farm their entire married lifetime. From 1961 until her retirement in 1987 Ethel also worked at the Wisconsin Association of School Boards office in Winneconne. Ethel was a 50 plus year member of the Progressive Homemakers Club, she and Joe were members of the Married Couples Club for many years, and she was a leader of the Mears 4-H club for over 50 years. Ethel was also a member of the Study Club, and a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church, Winneconne, where she had served as an elder numerous times. Her greatest joy was spending time with her twelve grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.
Ethel is survived by three daughters, one son, and their families: daughter Jane Cowling; daughter Ann Kobussen and her children: Scott Kobussen (Stacy) and son Hunter Michael, step-children Andrew, Dustin, and Kaitlin; Michelle Kobussen, and Melissa (Dan) Miller and children Laynee and Landan; daughter Alice (Andy) Andersen, and their children: Nicholas (Robin), Dean, and Andy (Vicki) Andersen, Ben (Shannon) Eggers and children Isabella, Daethon, and Fable; and Ashley (Joshua) Tackett, and children Julia, Claire, and son on the way; son Joseph IV "Jack" (Karen) Cowling and their children: Stephanie (Derek) Lenz and children Grace and Sam; Marcia (Chris) Anderson and children Hailie and Lily; Joseph Cowling V, and Gregory (Pam) Cowling and daughter Miranda; one brother, Leslie Johansen; and nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Along with her parents, Ethel was also preceded in death by her husband, Joe on January 23, 2009; a son-in-law, Michael Kobussen; granddaughter, Angela Eggers; one brother and two sisters-in-law, Stanley and Mary Johansen, and Millie Johansen.
A visitation for family and friends will be on Friday, November 29 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Mueller Funeral Home, 904 E. Main St. Winneconne, and will continue on Saturday, November 30 at the funeral home from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Mara Rivera officiating. Burial will be in the Brooks Cemetery, town of Vinland.
A memorial will be established.
If you wish, please submit online condolences to muellerfuneralhomeinc.com.