Arlene Jean Aldrich

Arlene Jean Aldrich, age 92, of Fall Creek, passed away peacefully on Thursday evening, July 10, 2025, at Heritage Memory Care in Eau Claire, under the care of Mayo Home Hospice.

Arlene Jean Aldrich, daughter of Julius and Paulina (Schlewitz) Mueller was born Nov. 9, 1932 in Lincoln Township, rural Fall Creek. Arlene attended rural country school and before her marriage she had worked at Uniroyal Tire Company and Presto Industries both in Eau Claire. She was baptized into the Lutheran faith and was a confirmed member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Fall Creek. On Feb. 5, 1955, Arlene was united in marriage to Donald Aldrich at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Augusta. The couple lived a short time in Eau Claire before moving to Fall Creek in 1956. From 1963 until 2024 when they entered Heritage Memory Care, the couple had lived in the home they built in Fall Creek in 1963.

Arlene was a quiet and friendly woman, known for her kind heart and gentle nature. She found great joy in being at home, where she could tend to her garden and spend time cooking - two of her favorite pastimes. One of her greatest joys was babysitting her grandchildren, whom she adored.

A devoted member of her church, where she served faithfully with the Altar Society and over the years had volunteered with both Vacation Bible School and Sunday School programs.

In her younger years, Arlene enjoyed being part of the Fall Creek women's bowling and horseshoe leagues, where she formed lasting friendships and shared many laughs. She enjoyed fishing with Don both on open waters and ice fishing. And she also loved going to dances - whether it was for the music, the movement, or simply the joy of being out with others.

Don, her beloved husband of 69 years passed away on May 10, 2024, and since that time Arlene had remained at Heritage Memory Care.

Arlene will be dearly missed by her 3 sons: Jeffrey Aldrich, Dale (Joyce) Aldrich, and Timothy Aldrich all of Fall Creek; daughter, Sherie (Jeffrey) Rudy of Eau Claire; 9 grandchildren: Amelia (Curtis) Baskin, Aaron (Abigail) Aldrich, Andrew (Jill) Aldrich, Mark (Kim) Rudy, Whitney (Tyler) Berre, Alex Aldrich, Cole (Chiara) Aldrich, Kylie Aldrich, and Brooke Aldrich, as well as 19, soon to be 20 great-grandchildren.

Arlene was also preceded in death by her parents, Julius and Paulina; brothers, Morris (Elsie) Mueller, Frank (Mildred) Mueller, George ( Ivis) Mueller, and Edgar Mueller in infancy; sisters, Hilda (James) Anderson, Grace (Gale) Weber, Phyllis (Ed) Landis, and Hazel (Harvey) Kuhnert.