Frank & Bright Funeral Home
Lena Detloff
Oct 28th, 1937 - Aug 6th, 2015Obituary information provided by Zacherl Funeral Home in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Lena Mae (Engelhart) Detloff passed away on Thursday, August 6, 2015, after overcoming several ailments and battling chronic kidney disease.
Lena was born on October 28, 1937 to Imogene and Robert Brissenden. Lena grew up in Southern Illinois and attended Southern Illinois University where she studied to be a legal secretary. She moved to Wisconsin in the early 1960's and worked for several years at law offices in Cedarburg and Kewaskum, specializing in Trust work. She moved to Fond du Lac and began working at National Exchange Bank in the early 1980's, retiring in 2000 as a Vice President, Trust Division. Lena married Bill Detloff on August 25, 1984, blending the Engelhart and Detloff families. In 2009 Bill and Lena moved to Bruce, WI to be closer to their children.
Lena had a passion for travel and food, often combining the two! She traveled to Alaska three times, once in her youth and twice with her husband, Bill. She accompanied Bill on several trips around the US to attend wood carving classes and exhibits. She visited Paris and London with her daughter, as well as frequent visits to Chicago and New Orleans. New Orleans was likely her favorite, visiting the city 5 times where she attended cooking schools and ate at her favorite restaurants. Her last visit included a wheelchair trip down Bourbon Street to see the sights and listen to music in a few jazz clubs. Each February included a trip to Siesta Key, Florida. A tradition started by her mom and dad many years ago and a place that was very special to her.
Lena had a deep love for her family and was very proud of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She followed their school, work and sports activities closely and saved newspaper clippings, letters and cards from all of them. She was an avid hockey mom to her son, Bob. She rarely missed a game and enjoyed using her cow bell and siren to celebrate each goal!
Lena had a smile for everyone and was eager to share her humor and quick wit. She will be missed.
Lena is preceded in death by her daughter Janet (Engelhart) Gellings, her parents and several Aunts and Uncles.
She is survived by her husband, Bill Detloff, brother Jim Brissenden (Linda), son Bob Engelhart (Melissa), daughter Michelle (Engelhart) Lukes (Jim), son-in-law Dan Gellings (Chris), step son David Detloff (Dianne), step son Daniel Detloff, step daughter Dawn (Detloff) Mangelson (Michael) and step daughter Debra (Detloff) Johnson (Jerry).
She is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren; with 5 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren from the (Engelhart) Gellings family and 7 grandchildren from the Detloff family.
Visitation: The family will receive relatives and friends at the Zacherl Funeral Home, 875 E. Division Street in Fond du Lac on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM and again on Friday from 9:30 to 10:15 AM.
Service: A funeral service will take place at Zacherl Funeral Home on Friday, August 14, 2015 at 10:30 AM. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Fond du Lac.
The family would like to invite relatives and friends to share hors D'oeuvres and a champagne toast to Lena following the burial, 12:00 noon, at the Holiday Inn 625 West Rolling Meadows Drive Fond du Lac.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Rusk County Animal Shelter, Rusk County Animal Shelter