Elsie E. Rew, 98 of Birnamwood, passed away on Saturday, October 20, 2018 at Autumn Lane Family Care, Birnamwood, under the care of LeRoyer Hospice, Antigo.

She was born on September 17, 1920 in Princeton, WI to the late Ferdinand and Natalie (Kunst) Raasch. On August 27, 1941 she married Arthur Rew in Shawano. He preceded her in death on September 28, 2001.

Elsie loved to cook and bake, and always had a huge garden. She was a member of the Birnamwood American Legion Auxiliary, and Trinity Lutheran Church Altar Guild for many years. She enjoyed playing Liverpool Rummy with her card club, and especially loved staying up on all of the local gossip. When her husband was diagnosed with dementia, she became his dedicated caretaker, insisting on keeping him at home with her.

Survivors include three children, Ronald Rew of Fort Atkinson, Gerald (Roseanne) Rew, and Donna (Jonathan Drost) Diers, all of Birnamwood; 7 grandchildren, Kristin (Ken) Blazek of Fargo, ND, Karyn Rew of Janesville, Kathy (Billy) Riley III of Deltona, FL, Kevin (Amy) Diers of Birnamwood, Keith Diers of Birnamwood, Krystle Diers of Hatley and Kassandra (Michael) Kraus of Rhinelander; 12 great-grandchildren, Daniel Tipping, Savana Rew, Liam and Libby Reilly, Katlyn, Kendra and Kensi Diers, Clay Sprague, Kira and Kyle Votis, Karissa Snyder, and Nickalous Kraus; two great-great grandchildren, Tannor Suski and Treyton Scott; one sister, Doris Wieland of Munster, IN and two sisters-in-law, Betty Rew of Antigo and Patricia Rew of Roseburg, Or.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ferdinand and Natalie, her husband Arthur, and three sisters,  Arlene Bastil, Viola Raasch, and Verna Loehrl.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, October 26, 2018 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Birnamwood.  Rev. Betty Wyatt will officiate.  Burial will be in Forest Cemetery, Birnamwood.  Visitation will be from 10 AM until the time of service on Friday at the church.  Schmidt & Schulta Funeral Home, Birnamwood is assisting the family with arrangements.