Elizabeth Ann Hasler

Elizabeth Ann Hasler, age 95, died Monday, Nov. 5 at Reedsburg Senior Life Center. She was born Oct. 21, 1923 in Hartford, Wis. to John and Adelia (Gehl) Gutschenritter, the sixth of the Alsacian farming family’s eight children.

After graduation from Hartford High School in 1942, Elizabeth took a job in town at City Hall, where she met Dr. James B. Hasler, a young optometrist who had come to pay his local taxes. They were married Oct. 7, 1950 and soon had three small children. In 1954, the Hasler family moved to Reedsburg, where three more children joined the family.

“Granny Liz”, as she was known to her beloved 26 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren, was a specialist in the culinary arts and a master of hospitality. She was renowned for her chocolate chip cookies, cream pies and Swedish meatballs. Rarely did she join the dinner table before serving everyone else; her stamina was legendary. She and Papa Jim travelled far and wide across the upper Midwest, attending countless plays, recitals, and sporting events. She also delighted in making regular shopping trips to Madison—almost as much as she relished inevitably going back to return her purchases!

All who were fortunate enough to know Liz will truly miss her warm presence and immense kindness. Elizabeth was a devout Catholic, first as a parishioner at St. Killian of Hartford; then of Sacred Heart in Reedsburg.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents and six of her siblings. She is survived by her brother Fred (Diane) of Hartford. On October 19, 2018 her husband of 68 years, Dr. James B. Hasler, preceded her in death.

She is further survived by her six children: Joseph (Stephanie) Hasler, Reedsburg; Mary Beth (Dr. Robert) Turner, Reedsburg; Barbara (Michael) Erickson, Fontana; Sarah (Paul) Wanless, Decorah, Iowa; Dr. Phil (Jan) Hasler, Reedsburg; Kathryn (Dr. Scott) Escher, LaCrosse.

A joint memorial mass for Elizabeth and Jim will be celebrated Friday, Nov. 23 at 10:30 AM, with a visitation beginning at 9:30 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Reedsburg.

The family requests memorials to Sacred Heart Church, MATC Educational Endowment or Illinois College of Optometry in lieu of flowers.

The Farber Funeral Home, Reedsburg, is assisting the family with the arrangements.

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