Henrietta R. Lepien

Henrietta R. Lepien

July 15, 1929- February 20, 2026

For a mother is the only person on Earth who can divide her love among ten children and each child still have all her love.

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Henrietta R. Lepien (nee Mueller) age 96 of Merton, Wisconsin. Born on July 15, 1929, in St. Lawrence, WI, she was the daughter of the late Henry W. and Elizabeth Mueller. Following graduation from 8th grade, Henrietta worked as a mother's helper for her neighbor and later found employment at the casing factory in Hartford, WI. On October 15, 1949, she married her sweetheart, Benjamin W. Lepien, and together they created a beautiful family that grew to include 10 children, 28 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Dedication to her family now became Henrietta's full-time job.

Henrietta's home and her heart were always open, especially to children. It was the magnet for all the neighborhood kids and the many friends of her own children. Times were not always easy for such a large family, but Henrietta was a master CEO, managing the controlled chaos of daily life, changing countless diapers, doing mountains of laundry, and canning and freezing veggies from her large garden. We treasure fond memories of her large family, crowded together around the kitchen table, sharing a meal, wondering how she made it happen day-after-day with what she had available, sometimes reminiscent of the loaves and the fishes feeding a great gathering.

In the early 1970s, Henrietta and her husband opened Merton Bait and Sport Shop, and she began her new career as a bookkeeper, salesclerk, inventory control manager, and HR director for the business. She continued in this role until 1995. Henrietta then turned her attention to her community, where she volunteered to work elections and served as a crossing guard for Merton Grade School, a job she loved because she could interact with the children!

Henrietta's loving legacy will be carried on by her children: Robert (Carol) Lepien, Linda Barron, Rita Brown, Susan Schutz, Cecelia (Jeff) Schliepp, Thomas (Cheryll) Lepien, Julie (Roger) Hilmer, Ben (Toni) Lepien, Andrew (Dewey) Lepien, and Paula (Corey Carter) Cull. She is further survived by 27 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Elizabeth Mueller, her sisters Rosemary Gunderson and Theresa Sonnemann, her husband Benjamin, her sons-in-law William Koester, Mark Brown, Kevin Cull, Robson Barron, and Jerry Schutz, her grandson Wyatt Lepien, and her great-great-granddaughter Addelyn Farah.

Visitation for Henrietta will be held in Monches at SAINT TERESA OF CALCUTTA, W302 N9583 O'Neil Road, Hartland, WI 53029 on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, from 9:00 A.M. - 10:45 A.M. The Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 A.M. She will be laid to rest following services at the St. Clare's Cemetery on County Road VV between Merton and North Lake.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Merton Fire Department via the Merton Auxiliary, PO Box 3044, Merton, WI, 53056.

Church & Chapel Funeral Service Serving the Family

Milw. 262-827-0659 Wauk. 262-549-0659

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