Elaine Joyce (Riegert) Parthie passed away on January 16, 2021 in St. Joseph, Michigan. She was born in Underhill, Wisconsin on August 24, 1932. Elaine grew up during the depression, luckier than most, in a tavern run by her parents, Adolph and Esther Riegert, where she learned at an early age how to craft the perfect brandy old fashion. While living in Appleton, she married the
devilishly handsome Lyle Henry Parthie in 1954, and despite her aversion to children, they managed to successfully raise four bratty kids who never ceased to inquire of the whereabouts of their clean clothes and to criticize her cooking.
Attempting to escape this life in the early 1970’s she began working at the Post Crescent, only to discover she still had to cook, clean, and raise her family after working an eight hour day. (She should have thought that one through a little better.) Other than the one “wooden spoon incident,” fortunately she never had to discipline her children herself ‐ “Just wait until your father gets home!” After living in Wisconsin for more than fifty years, raising her family and losing her husband to cancer, she decided to explore other parts of the country. Moving first to Houston, Texas, she worked in the gift shop at the Children’s Museum and consistently mispronounced every Spanish name she came across. (But to be fair, how many Texans can correctly pronounce Oconomowoc?) Then she had a short stint in St. Joseph, Michigan followed by eleven years in Green Valley and Payson, Arizona, where she loved having her children visit, and equally loved having them leave. For the past ten years she resided
in St. Joseph, Michigan, tormenting her eldest daughter by asking where her clean clothes are and criticizing Sue’s cooking.
After living 88 happy and healthy years Elaine suffered a series of strokes in October, 2020, from which she did not recover. Fortunately she voted early and lived long enough to see Donald Trump become a loser. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lyle Parthie; three siblings, Arthur Riegert, Marvin Riegert, and Marcella (Riegert) Buss and son, Brian Parthie.
She is survived by daughter, Sue Seipel and husband David Seipel, son Mark Parthie and husband Steven Kirkland, and daughter Karla Rothmann and husband Terry Rothmann, along with 5 grandchildren and 6‐ish great grandchildren. No service is planned. Interment will be at Appleton Highland Memorial Park. Online condolences may be expressed at www.purelycremations.org.
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Tom Baumann
It is with a heavy heart that I have to offer my condolence on the loss of your mother.
Best wishes to all of you.
Bob and Char Sigman
I never met Elaine, and I don’t know any of her family, but anyone who crafted an obit like that deserves recognition and appreciation for the smiles (actually, laughter) that it produced for my wife and me in Appleton, WI. Elaine must have been a terrific person. That is readily apparent from the loving, off-the-wall obit that her family was able to create for her friends and family, and then share with the public. It is the most humorous obit that my wife and I have ever read. We’re of an age where the most important part of our daily perusal of the local newspaper is the obituaries, and Elaine’s was a treat. I know that you are grateful for the generous time that she was a part of your lives, and you can take special comfort in the fact that she undoubtedly knew how much she was loved and appreciated by her family. We extend our sincere condolences to you.