Esther Clarene Wand

Esther Clarene Wand, age 90, of Elizabeth, IL, passed away March 9, 2025 at Winn Prairie Retirement Home, in Freeport, IL. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, March 17, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, in Elizabeth. Visitation will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., prior to the service. Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church.
Esther was born August 14, 1934, in Mound City, SD, the daughter of August and Sophia (Wandmacher) Kuehl. She spent much of her childhood in South Dakota, before moving with her family to Stockton, prior to her sophomore year of high school. She graduated from Stockton High School, with the class of 1952.
On March 25, 1956, Esther married John Schlichting. They would go on to have six children, and celebrate 42 years of marriage before John's passing in 1998. Esther was a loving mother and devoted wife. For more than 20 years, she worked as a District Sales Manager for Avon Products, and built many strong relationships that carried on for years afterwards. One of her most memorable qualities is that of a fiercely competitive card player! Any family get-together included lots of food, laughter, and card-playing!
Esther was a longtime member of St. Paul Lutheran Church. There she participated in the choir, as well as the worship committee. Music was always a love of hers from the time she was young; from singing with her siblings, on to performing at weddings and other events, and throughout her life - including as a senior, becoming a member of the "Joy Singers", performing at local ball games, churches, and banquets.
Esther enjoyed cooking and baking, especially trying new recipes. She was known to spend a whole day working to put on a feast. As she was blessed with grandchildren and later, great-grandchildren, they became the beneficiaries of much of her love. She attended games, graduations, concerts, and other events as often as she could, and was immensely proud of all of them.
On November 29, 2008, Esther married Wayne Wand. They built a strong and loving later-in-life marriage and greatly enjoyed each other's company and family gatherings.
Esther is survived by her husband, Wayne; son, Todd (Annette) Schlichting, of Pearl City, IL; four daughters, Susan (Dan) Leitzen, of Stockton, Joan (Alan) Feeser, of Groveland, FL, Amy (Jerry) Brunner, of Stockton, and Carol (Mike) Lense, of Union, KY; 16 grandchildren, Matt (Kristy) Leitzen, Amanda (Shawn) Stitch, Dawn Gardner, Jody (Tim) Pauley, Tony (Rachel) Schlichting, Justin Feeser, Alan (Betsy) Feeser, Joanna (Aaron) Clay, Russell Brunner, Erin (Steve) Jordan, Samantha (Steve) Yoder, Jessie (Aaron) Byers, John Lense, Christina Lense, Danielle Lense, and Amber Lense; 26 great-grandchildren; brother, Dean Kuehl, of Stockton; and 7 step-children. Esther is preceded in death by her parents, August and Sophia; first husband, John; daughter Marcy; and eight siblings: Dietrich "Dick", Mina "Dips" Gotham, Elsie Kunz, Walter Kuehl, Dorothy Kolasch, Otto Kuehl, Adela Burk, and Shirley Sincox.