Elmyra "Myrie" Esther (Maas) Krans

Elmyra Esther “Myrie” Krans, 93, of Chetek, passed away Saturday, April 2, 2016, at Lakeview Medical Center in Rice Lake.

She was born January 8, 1923, to Walter and Emma (Buck) Maas in Arlington Township, Sibley County, Minnesota and was baptized and confirmed in both German and English at St. John’s Evangelical Church, New Rome. Myrie attended District 41 rural country school and graduated from the 8 ^th grade.

Myrie married James Merlin “Jim” Krans (from Chetek) on May 1, 1948 in Hamburg, Minnesota. They had been introduced by a military service buddy and were married 55 years. Jim and Myrie lived west of Chetek and she was a helpmate to Jim during their many years of farming and beekeeping. Myrie also worked at Barron Medical Center for over 25 years and was their first ward clerk. She loved reading, baking, sewing/embroidery, flowers, gardening and nature, and loved her family more than anything in the world. She was a woman of great faith and a member of the Prairie Lake Evangelical Covenant Church.

Myrie is survived by two daughters, Janis (Marvin) Schoonover of Hillsdale and Wendy (Jim) Stavran of Rice Lake; 10 grandchildren: William ‘B.J.’ (Rob Holleman) Mickelson, Steven (Kathy Rodgers) Mickelson, David (Sylvana) Mickelson, Shelley Pedersen, Christopher Schoonover, Janella (Shaun) Heisz, Katasha Schoonover, Bryan Stavran, Lynnsey Stavran, and Bethany Stavran; 3 great-grandchildren: Dakkyn Mickelson, Justin Allen, Carter Heisz; 4 step great-grandchildren, 7 step great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, James (on August 25, 2003); daughter, Cheryl Mickelson; son, Jack Krans; son-in-law, Wilfred Mickelson;  grandson, Jonathan Schoonover; brothers, Lyndon and Vandell; brother-in-law, Tom Krans; sisters-in-law, Norene Maas and Beverley Krans.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 9, at Prairie Lake Evangelical Covenant Church. Visitation will be at Burnham-Ours-Kolstad Family Funeral Home Friday, April 8, 4-7 p.m. and one hour prior to the service at church on Saturday. Burial will be at Otterholt Cemetery, Prairie Lake Township. Memorials will be sent to the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library. Please view and sign the online guestbook at www.burnhamours.com.

The Burnham-Ours-Kolstad Family Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.