Emma (Koepp) Perry

Emma Marie Helena Perry, 105, of Altoona, WI formerly Chetek, WI passed away peacefully from natural causes on December 18, 2020 at Grace Edgewood Assisted Living Facility, Altoona, WI.  She was born in rural Hillsdale, WI, the daughter of German immigrants, Emma (Sievert) and William Koepp. When she was three years old, her parents purchased a farm north of Barron, WI and throughout her life she considered herself a “Barron Girl”.  Emma was baptized at the German Lutheran Church in Barron and attended a one room schoolhouse through the eighth grade.  She was a sister to Agnes (Otto) Frambs, Elsie (George) Burgess, Martha (Fred) Schmidtke, Robert (Marion) Koepp), William (Fern) Koepp, Adeline (Ed) Slagstad, Harold (Romona) Koepp and Carl who died in infancy.

Emma was a wife and soulmate to Arthur “Art” W. Perry.  They were married on November 21, 1941 and lived in Chetek, Waukegan, IL and Baraboo, WI until returning to Chetek in 1954 to the home they built in 1947, with lumber from the Perry homestead.   Emma was a mother to Sharon and Susan who she fondly referred to as “the girls”.  Emma was primarily a homemaker being the glue that kept the family going.  During her lifetime she worked in retail, was a baker at the Chetek High School and an Avon sales representative.  Or as the girls referred to her “the Ding Dong lady”.  She was a terrific cook, baker, knitter and beautiful seamstress making numerous clothes for the girls and Susan’s wedding dress.  Emma was Grandma to Joe and Scott and how she loved “her boys”!  The boys enjoyed fishing with Grandma & Pops, trips to the playground at Roselawn, playing cards, walks to the Dairy Queen and activities too numerous to mention.  She was Great-Grandma to Parker, Emma, Lillianna and Adeline who called her Gigi.  These four were her pride & joy!  Emma was the “Matriarch” to the Koepp and Perry families and Aunt Em to numerous nieces and nephews.  She was a friend to many and the coffee pot was always on at Em’s house with bake goods available if the girls hadn’t raided the freezer!  Emma was a member of Chetek Lutheran Church where she was active in the Altar Guild, Ladies Aide and Rebecca Circle; Chetek American Legion Auxiliary Post 179: and the leader to Sharon’s Girl Scout Troop.  In retirement Em and Art enjoyed camping, traveling, fishing, playing cards with friends.  They were “snowbirds” in Mission, TX for 15 years where she learned the art of Quilling.  She continued this craft and knitting dishcloths until her arthritic hands could no longer assist her.  For her 100 ^th birthday she had a dishcloth for everyone in attendance.  Art preceded Emma in death by one day short of 24 years.  She was also preceded by her parents, brothers, sisters and their spouses.  She is survived by Sharon Perry-Batterman, Sheboygan, WI; Susan and Jeff Abboud, Eau Claire, WI; Jeffry “Joe”, Morgan, Emma & Lily Abboud, Brooklyn Park, MN and Scott, Rose, Parker & Addy Batterman, Cokato, MN and numerous nieces and nephews.

Emma is being cremated and will be buried at the Lakeview Cemetery, Chetek, WI, in the spring, where graveside services with the immediate family will be held.  No services are being held at this time due to Covid-19 restrictions. Memorials can be directed to the Altar Guild or Ladies Aide at Chetek Lutheran Church, 1419 Second Street, P.O. Box 625, Chetek, WI 54728.

The family would like to thank Dr. Johanna Setla, Mayo Health Systems-Eau Claire and staff at Grace Edgewood Assisted Living Facility, Altoona, WI for the loving and compassionate care Emma was given. To Joyce & Bear Pierce, Bryan Chuchwar and Karen and the late John Boortz, Chetek, WI, thank you for the services you provided allowing Emma to remain in her beloved home for as long as possible.  Wiedersehen!

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