Mary Ellen (Jager) Lansbach, 94, De Pere, Wisconsin, formerly of Land O’ lakes, Wisconsin, died Monday, March 30, 2015, in a local care facility. She was born December 29, 1920 and raised in Merrill, Wisconsin, the daughter of August (AKA “Muskie Gus” who was a famed fishing guide from 1920-1965) and Francis (Sandhofer) Jager. Mary Ellen attended Merrill High School graduating in 1938 and was a state swimming champion. During WWII Mary Ellen was the catcher for the Merrill Cardinal Women’s baseball team that won the state championship three years in a row. This team was a part of the women’s baseball league that was featured in the movie, “A League of Their Own”. Following high school graduation she was employed at the Weinbrenner Shoe Company and as a nurse’s aide at Holy Cross Hospital in Merrill. Mary Ellen and her husband, Eber, were also employed at the Gateway Hotel in Land O’ Lakes where Mary Ellen coached the swim team for many years.
Mary Ellen was married to Eber H. “Hi” Lansbach on February 15, 1947, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Merrill. In 1961 they moved to Land O’ Lakes with their seven children. Mary Ellen was an avid swimmer. She and her husband, Eber, were very proud to be the swimming coaches for two of their daughters, 1976 Olympic Gold and Bronze Medalist, Wendy (Lansbach) Boglioli and 1983 Pan American World Games Double Gold Medalist, Laurie (Lansbach) Lehner.
She was a longtime member of St. Albert’s Catholic Church in Land O’ Lakes and St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Merrill. Mary Ellen was a member of the St. Anne Society of St. Albert’s and a member of both the VFW Post #1638 in Merrill and VFW Post #8400 in Land O’ Lakes. She was also active in the Senior Citizens of Land O’ Lakes helping to distribute food to the needy of the community. Mary Ellen thoroughly enjoyed her membership in the Red Hat Society of Land O’Lakes. Mary Ellen felt her most important role in life was to be a good homemaker, wife and mother to her husband and seven children.
She is survived by her seven children: Peggy (Sean) O’More, Bethesda, MD; Linda (Al) Winfield, Skandia, MI; Bonnie (Mark) Hoedel, Manistique, MI; Wendy (Bernie) Boglioli, Sammamish, WA; Laurie Lehner, Land O’ Lakes, WI; Luke (Marci) Lansbach, Traverse City, MI and Todd (Sherri) Lansbach, De Pere, WI; grandchildren: Matt Winfield, Diorite, MI; Josh Winfield, Plymouth, MN; Jennifer (Josh) Saaranen, South Range, MI; Todd Lansbach, Detroit, MI; Dori Lansbach, Malibu, CA; Luke Lansbach, De Pere, WI; Bonnie (Nate) Randall, San Jose, CA; Bernie (Karen) Boglioli, Honolulu, HI; Taylor Boglioli, Wenatchee, WA; Jason Hoedel, Manistique, MI; Robin Lehner, Grand Rapids, MI and Andrea Lehner, Miami, FL; four great grandchildren: Keagan, Savio, Ave Maria and Eero.
She was preceded in death in 1982 by her husband Eber, the love of her life, her parents; five sisters: Margaret (Felix) Waznicka; Elizabeth (James) Pietranczyk; Phyllis (Joseph) Korba and Patricia (Bud) Schuman. She was further preceded by two infant brothers, Robert and Joseph.
Friends may call at St. Albert’s Catholic Church, 4355 County Rd B, Land O’ Lakes, WI, after 9:30 am, Saturday, April 11, 2015, until time of mass. Funeral Mass, 10:30 am Saturday at the church with Rev. Randy Knauf officiating. Burial in the St. Francis Cemetery, Merrill. On-line condolences may be sent to the Lansbach family at www.prokowall.com.
Mary Ellen’s family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the nurses and staff at Anna John’s Nursing Home for all the care and consideration given to Mary Ellen and her family.