Elizabeth M. (Zehnle) Pritchett Obituary
Beloved Wife, Mother, and Grandmother Elizabeth Margaret Pritchett entered Eternal Life on February 25, 2025, at the age of 100. She is reunited with her beloved husband Billy.
Left to cherish Elizabeth's memory are her loving children Ann Kiel, Claire (Jeff) Sheldon, John (Kathleen) and Teri Pritchett, and daughter in law Ernestine (the late Gary) Pritchett; adored grandchildren Kevin and Tasha Durham, Vicky Lynn (Rich) Van Lare, Jason Tesch, Yvonne Pritchett, Dan (Jeanine Armstrong) Meinecke, Kate (Mike) Peterson, Nathan Pritchett, Trevor and Jesse Sheldon, Erica Steib, Cora Sheldon, and Alex Steib; precious great grandchildren Kiarra Durham, Marcellese , Justice and Anthony Powell, Daniel James (Lexi) Meinecke, and Nels and Cy Peterson; and great great grandchildren Harper and Eli Meinecke.
The youngest of 7 children, Elizabeth was born to John and Anna Zehnle (nee Bous) on July 28, 1924. Her family given nickname was Bessie, and it wasn't until she started college that she learned of her birth name. In Elizabeth's own words, she was born "in a farmhouse built from lumber from trees on the land homestead in 1900.". She writes that her first 8 grades were in a 1 room country school, and she graduated from Long Prairie High School in 1941. In June of 1947, she graduated from St. Benedict's College in St. Joseph, MN, followed by a dietetic internship at Wadsworth Veteran's Hospital in Los Angeles, CA. Elizabeth married the love of her life, Billy B. Pritchett, on February 10, 1949, at Holy Cross Church, also in LA. She adds that the Milwaukee School of Engineering is what brought them, the newlyweds, to Milwaukee and a few years later, Big Bend. It was home ever since. Billy was a Packer fan, and Elizabeth often told her children that was the real reason they moved to Wisconsin.
Elizabeth spent most of her career as a dietician but dedicated 8 years to teaching grades 3 and 4 at St. Joseph Catholic School. A testament to her love of teaching and reading to children, many of Elizabeth's students have referred to her as the best they've ever had, pointing out that she is the reason they love to read.
I see Gramma's house! was a favorite quote heard on the car ride to Elizabeth's warm and welcoming home. The sacred bond her grandchildren had with her will certainly transcend beyond this earthly life as they cherish the memories of countless pancake breakfasts, card games, the sweet sounds of her music boxes, and the heart-felt stories of how she met and fell in love with Grandpa.
In addition to her husband and parents, Elizabeth was preceded in death by her dear son Gary Pritchett; great grandson Bobby Fleischman; siblings Herman Zehnle, Gertrude Ross, Joseph and Francis Zehnle, Josephine Terwey, and Lawrence, Arnold, and Rita Zehnle.
Elizabeth was thoughtful, patient, and kind. Her journey on earth was one marked by love, compassion, and an unwavering faith in God. This shall be her legacy.
Visitation will be held on Friday, March 7, 2025, at 9:30AM until the time of funeral mass at 11AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Big Bend (S89 W22650 Milwaukee Ave). Burial will immediately follow at Rural Home Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Elizabeth's granddaughter's non-profit Roxyz Resources and Awareness (http://www.roxzsresourcesawareness.com.) or St. Joseph Catholic Church School Angel Fund (http://www.stjoesbb.com.) "Offer it up to God!". -Elizabeth (with a smile and a chuckle, her children share this quote used when she asked them to do something they didn't want to do).
