Edie Paust Obituary
Paust, Edith Ann M (nee Cop): Cherished wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, Edith Ann Paust, born May 18, 1943, died the morning of August 13, 2022 in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.
She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and spent most of her childhood in Wauwatosa's Ravenswood neighborhood. She attended Wilson Elementary School, Hawthorne Junior High, and Wauwatosa High School. She was an active member of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church.
Edie led her life with passion. In photographs from her early years, Edie can be seen fishing or playing pickup sports with her brother, John, and the other Ravenswood kids – an early reflection of her adventurous and athletic spirit. An article from the Hawthorne Echo describes Edie leading her homeroom in a basketball game against faculty. Another recounts her family vacation to Florida, where she explored museums and marine life. Her peers at Wauwatosa High School recognized her as a socialite, a star athlete, and a friend to all. Her yearbook pages are crammed full of inside jokes and baseball memories.
One peer wrote, "I never thought a person could be as enjoyable to know as you.". She earned her associate's degree at Prospect Hall Secretarial School. Soon after graduating, Edie was at a wedding with her lifelong friend, Susan. Susan was approached by her cousin who asked if Edie was dating anyone and, if not, did she think Edie would go out with him. Susan told him he would have to call her and find out. His name was Marshall Paust and, as Susan puts it, "The rest is history.".
Edie married Marshall on November 30, 1963 at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Wauwatosa. Together they moved to Washington Heights not far from where she grew up. Two years later, their first daughter, Kristin, was born. Their second daughter, Cheryl, was born two years after that.
She treasured her family above all else and provided a full childhood for Krissy and Cherie. She took her daughters on the same annual trips to Elmer's Resort in northern Wisconsin that she enjoyed growing up. Her daughters recall camping nearly every weekend from a young age. Each year, Edie would start buying their Christmas gifts in July to prepare for the holiday.
In 1971, Edie and her family moved to Germantown – a much quieter life than she was used to. But Edie did not wait for friends to come her way. Instead, she founded the Germantown Newcomers Club in 1972 for women who, like herself, had recently moved to the area. Edie began working with her friends at the Custom-Pak Products paint factory once her daughters were established in school. When Marshall's appraisal business needed extra help, she left Custom-Pak to support him.
In many ways, her life in Germantown was no different from the spirited life she led as a child. When she wasn't working, Edie's day-to-day consisted of drinking Coca-Cola, listening to Elvis Presley, driving her Cadillac Eldorado, playing golf, watching tennis, seeing her friends, and supporting her family. In the early 1980s, she combined her love of sports with her love of shopping and opened the Seventh Court Pro-Shop at the Kettle Moraine Racket Club, but stepped away when Marshall's health started to decline. In 1992, Edie began working for the Village of Menomonee Falls, growing to become an integral member of the Human Resources team.
She and Marshall spent countless hours at Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra concerts and watching Wisconsin Badgers football games. In 1996, Marshall began relying more on Edie as his health worsened. She drove him to dialysis appointments three times per week at 5:00 a.m. before heading to work. Marshall passed away in 2009, and Edie retired from Village Hall later that year.
Edie's three grandchildren always found a friend in her. She was caring, thoughtful, and direct in her advice, yet unafraid to be playful and witty. Her granddaughter, Maggie, inherited Edie's love of shopping and appreciation for strong female friendships. From an early age, her grandson, J.P., adopted her sense of humor. Her granddaughter, Kylie, always enjoyed their phone calls to catch up on the latest gossip and shared Edie's love of sports. Her grandchildren are grateful to have experienced the same humor and joy she spread among peers at Wauwatosa High School decades ago. In her final days at Luther Manor, she made many friends with staff and residents who adored her honesty, wit, and determined attitude.
Edie's legacy lies in the countless lives she supported and touched throughout her own. Edie Paust is preceded in death by her parents, Edith "Pete" and Gus Cop, and her husband Marshall. She is survived by her brother John (Sheila) and family of Los Angeles, California, daughter Kristin (Dennis) Braunreiter of San Diego, California, and daughter Cherie (John) Swenson of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and her three adoring grandchildren: Maggie Swenson of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, JP Swenson of Chicago, Illinois, and Kylie Braunreiter and her fiancé Jacob Smith of San Diego, California. Her passion for people, sports, culture, and adventure translated into lifelong friendships and a loving family. For this, she will be remembered.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday August 17, 2022 at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church (1615 N. Wauwatosa Ave) from 9AM until time of service at 10AM. Burial to follow at Highland Memorial Park.
