Amanda A. Bogenschneider

Amanda A. Bogenschneider, 96, formerly of N6480 Hwy. P, Mayville, died Saturday, Nov. 15, 2003, at Meriter Health Care, Madison.

Amanda A. Bogenschneider was born May 14, 1907 the daughter of Charles and Louisa (Burrow) Benter. She became a child of God when she was baptized on May 20, 1907 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hochheim. She confirmed her faith in Jesus Christ as her Savior on August 15, 1929 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hochheim. She married Herbert Bogenschneider on June 2, 1928 at Immanuel Town Theresa. The union was blessed with four children, Betty, Bonnie, Marian, and Allan. By God's grace, Amanda lived out her Christian witness in her confession of faith and her service of love to the family of Immanuel and Mayville.

Amanda was a life long member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Town Theresa. She was a charter member of the Immanuel Ladies Aid and a former member of the Beaver Dam Lutheran Hospital Auxiliary. Amanda also spent her time as a Bethesda Volunteer. Together, with her husband, they farmed in the township of Herman. She was also a school cook for Herman Consolidated Schools.

Amanda is survived by three children, Betty Kaul of Sun Prairie, Bonnie (Robert) Block of Madison, and Allen (Mary) of rural Mayville; one Son-in-Law, Robert Binney of Largo, Florida; one brother, Armond (Erla Mae) Benter of Lomira; three sisters, Hertha Dogs of Yakima, WA, Evelyn Beck of Mayville, and Elvira Benter of Madison; two sisters-in-law, Forence Benter of Canada and Lucille Benter of rural Theresa; ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She is further survived by nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Louisa Benter; her husband, Herbert (1989); one daughter, Marian (1992); three brothers, Alfred, Erwin and infant brother Harold; and one Son-in-Law, Elton.

Amanda died peacefully in the grace of the Lord on Saturday, November 15, 2003 at Meriter Health Care Center, Madison, WI. She loved her Lord and God and now rests in her heavenly home in the arms of her Savior and Friend, the Lord Jesus Christ.

From the Bulletin for the Service of Thanksgiving and Praise Thanking the Lord for the Life and Faith of Amanda on November 18, 2003.
 

Amanda Bogenschneider (1907-2003)

She was a woman of the hearth. Literally and figuratively she kept the home fires burning -- whether it was by stoking that wood burning kitchen stove or by being at the center of family gatherings, holiday celebrations, or summer vacations for her grandchildren.

She was a woman who focused her energy on "kinder, kucher, and kirche" -- that German trilogy which prescribed the role of women. She cared for her children -- as the oldest girl in a family of seven, as a teen who "helped out" when neighboring families had a baby, as a live-in caretaker in her first paid job, and then as a full time mother for her four children.

She ran a "country kitchen" long before the restaurant chain with that name began. She cooked thousands of meals, not only for family, friends, and relatives; but also for hired men, threshing and other work crews, and for teachers who boarded with her. Meals were always a sit down affair with everything made from scratch -- the fruits and vegetables from her garden, the meat from the farm, the bread baked at least weekly and desserts made daily.

She was also one of those churchwomen who are the quiet bedrock of every congregation. She and Herbert were active first at Hochheim and then the River Church. She was a charter member of the Ladies Aid. She was involved in mission festivals, bake sales, funeral meals, church dinners, and quilting for world relief. She was a member of the Beaver Dam Lutheran Hospital Auxiliary for twenty years and a Bethesda volunteer.

But Amanda also moved beyond these traditional roles. After her children were grown, she was employed outside the home. She was a school cook who made hot lunches for more than a hundred kids a day. She worked in two area restaurants and occasionally at the Theresa canning factory. She served a two-year term on a grand jury of the federal district court in Milwaukee. She was a frequent writer of letters to the editor at the Milwaukee Journal about farm issues and signed them "A Farm Wife, Mayville." Up to the very end she observed the people and events around her and could be counted on to tell it like she saw it.

Even during her leisure time, her hands were never idle. She was an accomplished seamstress and she made over 80 quilts. She crocheted or embroidered hundreds of different pieces from afghans to tablecloths. She often said she would have liked to own a shop to sell her handiwork (and she did sell some things informally) but mostly she gave her beautiful handcrafted things a gifts to family and friends.

Amanda lived just a few years short of a century. She weathered huge changes and many losses. She worked harder than many of us every will. But she also celebrated the joys of along life and a close family. She was content even the last three years when she was no longer able to live at home alone. Throughout her life she remained a woman of strong faith who trusted implicitly in God's love and in the certain belief that death was just the beginning of life eternal. Her legacy is the rich memories of hearth and home and all tangible works of her hands.
          Bonnie Bogenschneider Block, November 18, 2003