Arletta J. “Arlee” Davids, 75, of Bowler passed away peacefully on April 1, 2014 in Antigo. She was born on the Stockbridge-Munsee Indian Reservation on Dec. 1, 1938, to the late Adrian “Cobby” and Angela Gardner.
Arlee was united in marriage to James “Jim” Davids in May 1957 at the Church of the Wilderness. She was a graduate of Bowler High School and earned an associate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
She held several positions throughout her life. She was the manager of the Arvid E. Miller Library-Museum, director of the S-M Head Start, where she enjoyed working with the young children of the community; it was the most rewarding and fulfilling job she ever had. She also worked at Briggs and Stratton in Milwaukee as an inspector. She and her family lived in Milwaukee for many years but would drive “up north” every weekend.
One of her favorite childhood memories was picking cherries in Door County with her family and other families from the reservation. She continued the tradition with her own grandchildren. She also enjoyed berry and mushroom picking with her husband, sitting around campfires, and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a devoted Packers and Brett Favre fan.
Her husband told her when their sons were little that he was going to teach them to hunt and fish, so she decided that she would have to learn to like these things or sit home by herself. So she tagged along on hunting and fishing trips and learned to like it as much. They went on many trips to Canada camping and fishing with their sons. She and Jim also took many road trips in their pickup truck and camper across the country with their grandchildren in tow, and she has been to 49 states.
Arlee is survived by her sons, Sheldon, Bert and Mark, all of Bowler, and Steven (Antoinette) Davids, of Gresham; her grandchildren, Kelly, James, Shelly and Konkapot; her great-grandchildren, Kalen, Kamille, Conner, James “Be-ma-sek,” Paxston and her newest, Xavier. She is further survived by extended family, Carmen Cornelius, Louise Madosh, Marisa, Venessa and Trisha Cardish; brother–in-laws, Elwood “Woody” (Jermaine) Davids and Milford Mohawk; and sister-in-law, Pat Davids. She is also survived by her siblings, Chenda (Doug) Miller, Herb (Marilyn), Ralph (Lena) and Robert (Norma) Gardner; many nieces and nephews; and sister-in-law, Nancy Gardner.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Jim, of 53 years; grandson Teddy; her parents; her brother, Leroy; in-laws, Ira (T-Spoon) Davids, Larry Davids and Janis Mohawk.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 9, 2014, at the Church of the Wilderness, Bowler, with Pastor Shriner officiating. Burial will be in the Stockbridge-Munsee Burial Grounds in the town of Bartelme. Visitation will be held Tuesday at the church from 1-8 p.m. and Wednesday after 10 a.m. until time of service. Schroeder-Mickelson Funeral Service of Shawano is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Online condolences may be shared at www.schroedermickelsonfuneralservice.com.
The family would like to thank the many people who have helped Arlee during her illness, the staff at Fresenius (Dialysis) Care in Shawano, the staff at Leroyer Hospice in Antigo, Stockbridge-Munsee Health and Wellness Center, Elena Cox and Pastor Melinda Shriner for her great friendship and spiritual guidance, special friend Eunice Stick and her niece, Fran Miller.