Lettie Houwers

Lettie I. Houwers, 93, of Sheboygan Falls died Saturday afternoon, March 10, 2007 at the Sheboygan Senior Community. Lettie was born in the home of her grandparents, James and Katherine Hebrew, on December 14, 1913 in Stockton, Kansas. She was the oldest of 11 children born to Albert and Ethel (Hebrew) Helmer. Lettie and her family moved to Wisconsin in 1926. Lettie graduated from Sheboygan Falls High School in 1932 and then from the Sheboygan County Teachers College. Lettie started her teaching career at West Oostburg Rural School until her marriage to Andrew J. Houwers on September 16, 1939. Lettie and Andrew made their home in Sheboygan Falls where Andrew ran a construction company. Lettie was a devoted homemaker and later worked for H.C. Prange Co. and then for the City of Sheboygan Falls in the city office. Lettie loved the time she could spend with her family. Any kind of family get-togethers would turn into a special occasion; holiday meals, family reunions, trips to visit her brothers and sisters, or camping with her children and later her grandchildren. These were the activities that filled her with the most joy. Her hobbies also included sewing, braiding rugs, collecting and drying flowers, making dried flower pictures and collecting antiques. She was a faithful member at Faith United Methodist Church in Sheboygan Falls. She is survived by a daughter, Connie Machi, of Clinton; two sons, James (Pat) Houwers and Art Houwers, both of Sheboygan; seven grandchildren, Andrew (Mary) Machi, Jerilyn (Lannie) Ross, Paul (Rachel) and John (Amy) Houwers, Sara (Jeff) Sixel, William and Lisa Houwers; 11 great grandchildren; three sisters, Gwen Schueffner of Pine Haven Christian Home, Grace (Clare) Landry of Beloit, Ruth (Stanley) Lammers of Hingham; two brothers, John (Dot) Helmer of Kingman, AZ and Howard (Gloria) Helmer of Colonial Heights, VA; and three sisters-in-law, Laverne Helmer, Jeannette Houwers, both of Sheboygan, and Eleanor Buelke of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Lettie was preceded in death by her husband, Andrew; a son, Paul, who died at birth; two sisters, Anna Helmer and Katherine Helmer; and three brothers, Carl, Harold, and Albert Helmer. Funeral services will be held at the Wenig Funeral Home in Sheboygan Falls at 11 am on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 with the Rev. Donald Drollinger officiating. Burial will follow at Sheboygan Falls Cemetery. Friends may call at the Wenig Funeral Home in Sheboygan Falls on Tuesday from 5-7 pm, and on Wednesday, from 10 am until the time of the service. Online condolences may be sent to wenig@wenigfuneralhome.com A memorial fund is being established in her memory for Faith United Methodist Church. The staff of the Wenig Funeral Home in Sheboygan Falls (920-467-3431) is serving the Houwers family.