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Ellen Atwater Obituary
Mequon, WI - Ellen Leypoldt Atwater peacefully entered eternal life on Dec. 13, 2020 at the age of 81. She was born July 18, 1939 in Whitefish Bay to Walter and Esther Leypoldt and was the youngest of three children.
Ellen was the beloved wife of the late Gordon Atwater for 45 years. Loving mother to Paul (Susan Cleary) Atwater, Tom (Jennifer) Atwater, and John (Adam Williams) Atwater. Proud grandmother of Alex, Abigail, Gabriel and Marianna. Dear sister of Carolyn (the late Gerry) Abraham and the late Nancy (the late William) Finger. Loving aunt to her nieces and nephews. Further survived by her many relatives and friends.
A native of Wisconsin, she was born in Whitefish Bay and graduated from Northwestern University.
Ellen was a woman of deep faith, she was fiercely loyal, and was a friend everyone could count on. A devout Christian, she was a long-time member of Trinity Lutheran Freistadt and consistently lived and shared her faith with others.
Ellen was a barrel of fun and was never without an entertaining story. She was a gracious host and her annual Christmas Eve parties welcomed four generations of family and friends over the years.
She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends at her cottage on Kettle Moraine Lake where she was often behind the wheel of her Pontoon Boat touring until sunset. Ellen also enjoyed playing bridge, participating in her investment club, and lunching with her church friends. Most importantly, she loved butter and semi-sweet chocolate morsels.
Ellen's legacy lives on in the many lives she touched and we will miss her dearly.
In lieu of flowers, memorials on her behalf can be sent to 911 Life Ministries at www.911life.org.
Family will gather for a celebration of Ellen's life next year.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Ellen Atwater
Sponsored by Schmidt & Bartelt Funeral and Cremation Services.
4 Entries
leta kolvenbach
December 10, 2023
its hard to believe Ellen has been gone since 2020. I miss her calls to check up on me or to say how she and Gordon loved Eugene's favorite tree, especially in the fall. Hugs to all family members, you have lots of good memories to hold on to.
Rosemary Bockman
January 5, 2021
Ellen, my firecracker friend i will miss you ALWAYS! You were entertainment in a box of laughter and i have the
stories to prove it. Showing up at my elegant dinner party in your prom dress; furry bits from your vintage muff sprinkling the air with your exaggerated gestures; wearing a mini skirt many years after the demise of this fashion; in black face wrapped in a floral sheet with your front teeth blacked out (I'll never tell why). You never pretended to be anything but real; you never knew a stranger. You were the epicenter of FUN wherever you landed. I was one lucky neighbor to be able to call you a super good friend all these years and i have no doubt that little angels
are rolling in those golden aisles, mussing up their wing feathers, hysterical at your stories. I will always love you; anticipating a glorious noisy reunion in a heavenly cottage with a hickory tree at the edge of the beach in Paradise. Thanks for EVERYTHING --- decor and personal advice, shopping memories, your Moms antique sugar bowl, and SO much more. It doesnt get better than YOU. Until then . . .
leta kolvenbach
January 2, 2021
what a beautiful obituary for a beautiful person. prayers and hugs to all
Phyllis and Roger Chase
December 19, 2020
Our deepest sympathy to the boys Paul Tom and John Your mom was a great lady and I have fond memories of our time together at the antique mall you. All at the Ghost Town. She will be missed by all . God will bless her.
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Schmidt & Bartelt Funeral and Cremation Services10280 N. Port Washington Rd., Mequon, WI 53092
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