Esther Marie (Freeman) Meyer, age 86 of Berlin died Monday, April 25, 2022, at home surrounded by her family after a hard-fought battle with a rare cancer.

She was born Oct 17, 1935, on a rural Omro farm to the late Burton and LaVerna (Allmann) Freeman.

Esther graduated from Omro High School in 1953 and worked at Wisconsin National Life Insurance Co.  On July 10, 1954, she wed Ellsworth Conrad Meyer at Grace Lutheran Church in Omro and moved to the Meyer family farm where she raised her family.

Her family describes her as a jack of all trades and master of most. Esther was an excellent seamstress having made all of the 28 bridesmaid/flower girl dresses for her four daughter’s weddings including a wedding dress and wedding attire for herself. She loved to cook and bake and many benefited from the fruits of her labor. Esther had an incredible green thumb and could nurture a mature tree from a tiny seed. She filled her freezer each summer to provide for all.

Although not her first love she was the farmer’s wife and was in charge of evening milking for many years, worked the fields, baled hay, and cared for the animals. Never shying away from a hard day’s work, her jobs in life were many in addition to working on the farm and raising her family. As a faithful member of the Borth United Methodist Church, she was a Sunday School Teacher, Youth Fellowship leader, helped out when called upon and most recently was the treasurer of the Esther Circle. Her skills were also shared as a 4-H leader. She worked as a supervisor at then Leach Farms, worked early mornings at Ludwig’s Bakery, drove a school bus route, sewed at Sand-Knit, worked at Eskimo Comfort and retired from Fabriko in Green Lake in 2000. Her most important jobs then became caring for Ellsworth and helping care for the grandchildren. She also enjoyed supporting her children’s businesses which included working at Jorgies. Many special times were had there with friends for fish fries and she always enjoyed dressing up for the monthly themed steak fry.

Esther is survived by her son, Dean (Kerri) Meyer; daughters, Cynthia (David) Matthias, Cathleen Sponholtz, Coreen (Chris) Jorgensen, Carleen (Craig) Rohde; 15 grandchildren, Brad Meyer, Ann (Joe) Trapp, Noralynn Meyer; Brian (Kelly) Matthias, Jeremy (Alexandria) Matthias, Laura (Matthew) Hohl, Devin, Jenna and Riley Matthias, Eric (Heather) Sponholtz; Courtney (Matt) Mathia, Chelsey (Brad) Fuchs; Alyssa (Erich) Mueller and Carter and Camdyn Rohde. She is further survived by 12 great -grandchildren, two sisters and brothers-in-law, Marion (Russell) Retzack and Anna (David) Slaughter, nieces and nephews and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ellsworth; brother-in-law, Almond and his wife Fern Meyer; sister-in-law, Arletta and her husband Donald Tracy; a son-in-law, Steven Sponholtz; and a grandson, Clint Jorgensen.

A visitation for family and friends will be on Sunday, May 1, 2022, from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Borth United Methodist Church W304 Cty Rd D Berlin. A funeral service will be held on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the church with Pastor Becky Kindschi officiating. Burial will follow in the Borth Cemetery. Mueller Funeral Home-Winneconne is assisting the family.

You were a great mom, taught us well and we will always love you, The Kids.

If you wish please submit online condolences to muellerfh.net.