Phyllis Ashenbrenner, 99, of Gresham, passed away on Oct. 16, 2014, in Shawano. Born on Nov. 8, 1914, in Leopolis, she was the daughter of the late John and Minnie (Aschenbrenner) Cerveny.
On Feb. 4, 1931, she was united in marriage to Louis F. Ashenbrenner in Leopolis. Phyllis worked side by side with Louis on their farm in the Lyndhurst area until retirement in 1949, when they moved to Gresham. She then worked at the St. Francis Solanus rectory for 34 years. In her later years, she enjoyed sitting by her kitchen window and watching the birds. She was very proud of her Czech heritage and was known for baking the traditional Czech bakery, especially kolaches. At family gatherings she was often called upon to sing the Red Handkerchief Waltz (Cerveny Satecek) in Bohemian, which she even did while being a resident at Birch Hill.
In 2005, she was honored as the Woman of the Year at the annual mother and daughter breakfast at the St. Francis Solanus Church. In 2008, she received the “key” to the village of Gresham at the 100-year centennial celebration of Gresham. Also, in 2013, she was the oldest living graduate of the Leopolis School. Phyllis was also a member of the Christian Mothers and a lifelong member of the Gresham Royal Rummy Club.
Because she was so dear to us, her memory will live on, and in the hearts that love her, she lives on and always will.
Phyllis is survived by her children, Bernice (Dennis) Reinert, of Shawano, Kathy (Robert) Martin, of Seminole, Florida; four grandchildren, Jim (Susan) Kloehn, of Muskego, Tom (Chris) Kloehn, of Green Bay, Denice (Todd Szymkowski) Waldhuetter, of Menomonee Falls, and David Reinert, of Gresham, Oregon; her great-grandchildren, Daniel (Jamie) Reinert, Brandon Reinert, Arielle (Steven), Jessica (Travis Bastien) Kloehn, Erica (Tristan Vannieuwenhoven) Kloehn and Dylan, Ryan and Jenna Waldhuetter. She is further survived by her three great-great-grandchildren, Kaydence, Owen and Tayler.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband, Louis; one daughter and son-in-law, Shirley and Thomas Kloehn; her parents; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Jean (Alex) Sousek and Beatrice (Harold) Neumeier; and one brother and sister-in-law, Kenneth (Theresa) Cerveny.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Nov. 8, 2014, at the St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church with the Rev. David McElroy, O.Praem, officiating. Inurnment will be in the St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church Cemetery in Gresham. Visitation will be held at the church on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.
Swedberg Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Thank you to her special friends and neighbors in Gresham whose watchful eyes day to day helped make it possible for her to remain in her own home until becoming a resident of Birch Hill. A special “thank you” to the staff and friends at Birch Hill Care Center for the loving care she received the past three years.