Edna Laura Oechler

Edna Laura (Rosentreter) Oechler, 92, was born unto eternal life on October 24, 2017. She passed from this life surrounded by her loving family, peacefully and with assurance of eternal life with Jesus Christ, at her home.

Edna Laura Rosentreter was born in Kenosha on September 8^th, 1925, to the late Kristof Rosentreter and Bertha (Fiege) Rosentreter.

Edna was a lifelong member of Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church and she served her Savior and congregation in many capacities throughout her life.  She was adopted into the family of God in the waters of Christian baptism on October 4, 1925 and   on May 21, 1939; Edna publicly confessed her faith in Christ in the rite of Christian Confirmation. She attended and graduated from Friedens Elementary School in 1940.

Friedens is where Edna met her future husband Gilbert Oechler, but they did not date until high school.  On April 12, 1947 at Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church, she was joined in Christian marriage to Gil. Gil preceded her in death on May 28, 2015.

She was a lifelong resident of Kenosha.  She attended Kenosha High School with the class of 1943.  She left high school early to start working, but later earned a Bradford High School diploma.  Edna worked out of the home for many years, starting at local grocery stores, moving onto the CO-OP Credit Union in Waukegan, The Kenosha Labor Paper and Snap-on Tools as a ‘bookkeeper’.  In 1955, Edna and her husband Gil, opened and operated the Uptown Laundromat until it closed in 1963.  From then until her ‘retirement’ in 2000, Edna was self-employed in various direct sales companies, Queen’s Way Fashions-District Manager, Vivian Woodward Cosmetics-Director and Mary Kay Cosmetics-Independent Consultant.

Edna’s true passion was bowling, both from the administrative side, as well as the competitive side.  She was active in the Local, State and National Associations.  As Jim Kornkven wrote in his 1991 article, “Bowling is a way of life for Edna Oechler”.  Locally, Edna served as President of the Kenosha Women’s Bowling Association (KWBA) from 1965-84, after serving as Vice-President from 1964-65. She was a Director from 1984-86. She was Wisconsin Women’s Bowling Association (WWBA) President 1971-72, Vice-President 1972-73 and Director 1975-81.  On the National level, Edna serviced as Chairwomen of the Women’s International Bowling Congress (WIBC) Credentials and Internal Audit Committees, as well as serving on other committees.  She was inducted into the KWBA Hall of Fame for Meritorious Service and Outstanding Performance in 1983.  She became a KWBA Life Member in 1991.  In 2005, she was inducted into the WWBA Hall of Fame and became a Member Emeritus.  She was a WIBC Permanent Member.  Edna received her 25 Year WIBC Championship Tournament Participation Award in 1993.  Edna was served as a Director, Vice-President and President of the Lutheran Bowlers Association of Wisconsin, and was recognized for 58 years of participation in that tournament in 2004. She is a charter member of the Bowling Writers Association of Wisconsin.

On the lanes, Edna was also an outstanding performer.  She has multiple KWBA City Tournament Doubles Titles and a Team Title, a Kenosha Mixed Team Championship, a State Lutheran Team and Singles Title.  Her proudest accomplishment was her Division A Scratch State Team Championship in 1983.  Edna carried the team with her 552 series.  She participated in more than 25 KWBA and WWBA tournaments.  Edna enjoyed watching the Green Bay Packers with her family. Earlier in life Edna golfed, played softball and played a mean game of ‘crack the whip’ on the skating ponds, but her main hobby was bowling. Edna traveled extensively throughout the United States with her husband, as well as visited 5 of the 7 continents, Australia being her favorite destination.

Edna is survived by her children, Kristine (Bobby) Huffman of Louisville, KY and Jan (Donald C. Kirschbaum) Oechler-Kirschbaum of Pleasant Prairie; her three grandchildren, Bobby Glen Huffman, Jr., Dana Catelyn and Jordyn Elizabeth Kirschbaum; her three great-grandchildren, Lindsey, Bobby Glen the third (III) and Brett Gilbert Huffman; her sister Elaine Bergmann in San Diego, CA; her brothers in-law Marvin (Beverly) Oechler and Richard (Virginia) Oechler both of Kenosha; and by many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband and parents, Edna was preceded in death by her sister, Frieda (Frost-Rosentreter) Kaddatz; her father and mother-in-law, Henry B. and Hettwig “Hattie” E. (Blinten) Oechler; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Irvin Kaddatz, Donald Oechler and Doris (Oechler) Buening and William Bergmann.

The Oechler family wishes to thank the various Doctors, Nurses and Care-Givers that assisted the family the last few years.  Special thanks to Cindy, Jennifer, Mercedes and Sarah for taking special care of Edna.  We’d also like to thank her church family, Pastors Michael Gorte, Thomas Kraus and David Rockhoff, for their very faithful and blessed visitation ministry.