Faye Ebert

Faye Alberta (Phillips) Ebert, age 99, formerly of Green Lake, passed away peacefully at her daughter’s home in the Town of Seneca, Berlin, WI, on July 15, 2008.

Faye was born in the Town of Rosendale on November 27, 1908, the daughter of Sidney and Fern (Howard) Phillips. Faye was the granddaughter of Julia (Olin) and Dr. A.Z. Howard. She married Junior Leo Ebert on July 5, 1930 and he died on July 10, 1986. She received most of her education in the Green Lake School District. During her senior year she was elected to stay with her Aunt Julia (Phillips) James who needed some one to live with her and so Faye graduated from Rosendale High School in 1927. She received training at the St Agnes School of Nursing in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

In the past, Faye worked as a private nurse in homes and also worked as a nurse in Ripon Hospital and Green Giant. In addition, she was a cook at Carver’s on the Lake. Faye was a charter member of the Green lake Federated Church and served the church in various capacities over many years. She served on the Mission Board, the Board of Deacons, the Memorial Committee, the Funeral Lunch Committee, the Nursing Home Visiting Committee and the Scholarship Committee, In addition, she was an active member of the Women’s Fellowship and she was the Church Historian for a number of years. Before becoming a charter member of the Federated Church, she was a Methodist Sunday School Superintendent. During her lifetime, she attended several Methodist conferences with Dr. Dwight Bastian, a past Pastor of the Federated Church. Over the years Faye was involved in a number of community activities, and her volunteer work enriched the lives of many. She was a 4-H General Leader and 4-H foods leader for many years. She served a term as city alderman, and after her husband died, she worked as a volunteer in the Berlin Hospital Gift Shop for a time. In addition, she was a member of the Green Lake County Homemakers and a member of the Dartford Historical Society.

Survivors include her daughter, Donna Mae and her husband Bertram Zietlow of Berlin and their children, Dan Zietlow, of Minnesota, Rod (Karen) Zietlow of Berlin, and Marci (Mark) Ruman of Oshkosh; and her son Darrel “Fritz” Ebert and his wife Cynthia of Ripon, and their children, Debbie (Tim) Gangnon of Minnesota, Becky (Rick) Koon, of Ripon, Tony (Wendy) Ebert of Minnesota, and Anna (Dustin) Hershberger of Minnesota. She is further survived by 12 great grandchildren and 2 great, great grandchildren. Faye was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, six sisters, Laura (Clarence) Laboyeske, Vera (Ed) Radke, Hope (Leo) Huth, Julia (Ross) Spiegler, Joy (Carl) Ferch, Eva (Joe) Martin and two brothers, Glen Phillips (who died at three years old) and Jess (Marie) Phillips.

Faye was a wonderful, loving, and caring, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great, great grandmother. She enjoyed spending time with her family. Some of her hobbies were swimming, gardening, and keeping track of what was going on in the world. During her lifetime two trips had a lasting impression on her life. In 1984 she attended a seminar on Peace in the Middle East in New York with Dr. Dwight Bastian. At that time she had the opportunity to listen to the United Nations delegates from Israel, Jordan and the P.L.O. (Palestinian people). In 1998, she had the opportunity to follow the footsteps of Jesus by attending the Sara and Reggie White Holy Land Tour in Israel with her daughter.

Since she had macular degeneration of the eyes, Faye recorded on tape what it was like living in the early 1900’s and her daughter-in-law recorded the words on paper and helped her put it in the form of a booklet and it was given to the grandchildren for Christmas.

Faye ended the booklet with the following message: “And now it is Christmas 2001. This is what I wish for you. That not only in gratitude and joy will you celebrate Christmas because of the gift to the world of Jesus Christ from our father in heaven, but that you will have gratitude and joy in your heart for your heritage of your home and your country, all secured for you because of the planning and the work of generations that have gone before you. And I wish for you, that as you walk the road of life, you will do so in faith and hope of the shepherds of old and in love for family and mankind. Be a sharing, caring person for then you will have the peace and joy of Christmas all the days of your life. With love, Grandma Faye”

Visitation for Faye Ebert will be held on Saturday, July 26, 2008 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at the Federated Church, Green Lake.

Memorial Service for Faye Ebert will be held on Saturday, July 26, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at the Federated Church in Green Lake with Reverend Karen Gygax Rodriguez officiating. Inurnment will be held in Bluffton Cemetery, Town of Brooklyn. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established to the Green Lake Federated Church.

The family of Faye Ebert expresses sincere thanks to Barry Rogers MD, Mamoun Al-Nouri MD, Linda Pollesch RN Hospice Coordinator, the Hospice Staff, the Homecare Staff, Jeffrey Carroll MD and all the other doctors, nurses, aides and staff for their acts of kindness and care of Faye over the past years. Also, the family wishes to thank relatives, friends, neighbors, the Federated Church of Green Lake and Reverend Karen Rodriguez for their many acts of kindness shown to Faye and her family.

Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home, Ripon, is assisting the family.
www.butzinmarchant.com