Erna Averbeck

Erna Elizabeth Averbeck, age 92 formerly of Buffalo City, WI passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 9, 2025 with family at her bedside. 

Erna was born on March 10, 1932 and grew up in Germany during WW II. On September 3, 1949, Erna was united in marriage to Nikolais Serjogins and that same year they came to America. They gained citizenship through New York Harbor, continued on to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, and eventually landed in Buffalo City to be close to her aunt, who lived nearby.

Nikolais and Erna had three sons; Alex, Helmuth and Nick. Nikolais passed away in 1959 and their son, Alex, passed away in 1972.

In 1961 Erna married Donald Averbeck on June 24th. To this union, two daughters were born, Cathy and Susie. Donald passed away in 1981. Following Donald’s passing, Erna sold their home and purchased Nick’s Bar and Restaurant in Alma, WI, which she owned for 15 years. 

Erna met Charles Stehlik, a patron of her restaurant, and they proceeded to spend 20 years together until his death in January of 2010.

After Charles death, Erna went to live with her son Helmuth in Eau Claire before eventually moving to an apartment in Cochrane, WI. She became a resident at St. Elizabeth Healthcare Center in Wabasha, MN in 2018.

Erna’s passion was cooking, and everyone that ate her abundant delicious food returned for more. Over the years she was a well renowned cook in several supper clubs (prior to her restaurant) and people traveled from far and near to enjoy her talent. She also enjoyed baking, reading a good book, watching movies, going shopping, time with family and friends, and the love of her animals. She found great joy traveling to Maui several times, Florida, and the Caribbean. Some of her most memorable trips were going back to her homeland Germany with her cousins Manfred and Reinholdt. Erna lost her ability to find words when she was 86 due to a stroke, but that never stopped her from wanting to spend time with both family and friends and give you that special Erna smile.

Erna is survived by her children, Helmuth (Jane Blair) Serjogins, Nick (Kim) Serjogins, Catherine Smith Averbeck and Susie Averbeck; grandchildren, Nicholas (Savannah Sixty) Serjogins, Mitchell (Kendra) Serjogins, Cassandra Tock and Hunter Smith; great grandchildren, Dakota Liebl and Azalea Rose Tock, Hutson and Auden Serjogins; also, nieces, other relatives, and friends.

Besides her mother, Erna was preceded in death by her husbands, Nikolais Serjogins, Donald Averbeck and Charles Stehlik; brother, Harold Ziegler; son, Alex Serjogins and grandson, Benjamin Tock.

A memorial gathering and time to celebrate the life of Erna will be held on Monday, February 17, 2025 from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM at the Talbot Family Funeral Home, Alma Chapel, WI. A private family inurnment will be held at Buffalo City Cemetery at a later date.