Emma E. Link, age 97, died on Saturday, August 7, 2010 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison. She was born on June 26, 1913 in Sun Prairie to Martin and Lona (Weisensel) Starker. She married Oscar “Mike” Link on June 7, 1932 in East Bristol. They lived on a farm in Hampden Township for 40 years and belonged to St. Joseph’s Church in East Bristol where she sang in the Choir for 38 years. She was active in the National Catholic Society of Foresters being a charter member. She served as field representative and recording secretary for 25 years. She also belonged to the Christian Mothers and was secretary for the Wisconsin Order of Foresters. Emma was a 4-H leader for the Hampden Happy Hustlers and a member of the F.S.O. Homemakers Club, St. Ann’s Altar Society, the Colonial Club and the Red Hat Society.
They moved to East Bristol in 1973 where she owned and operated Mike & Ems Ceramic Shop for ten years. She also worked for the Heritage House in Madison for 8 years and worked at Ella’s Deli for 4 years as a baker. She and her husband spent 20 winters in Weslaco, Texas where she was active in crafts and oil painting. Her husband passed away in 1989 after 57 years of marriage. She then moved to Sun Prairie and was active in the Colonial Club, working in the gift shop and painting ceramics for the club. She also enjoyed playing Canasta at the club.
She is survived by her 3 children, Virginia (Edgar) Rehfeldt of Columbus, Kenneth Link (Yvonne) of Stoughton, Monica (Wayne) Gannon of DeForest; 7 grandchildren, Brian (Janet) Rehfeldt, Ross (Berit Poser) Rehfeldt, Nan (Thomas) Linde, Mari (Hayden) Creque, Rick Rehfeldt (Sandra), Shane (Tracy) Gannon, Diana (Patrick) Ruesch; 9 great grandchildren, Clair, Laura, Thomas, Elisabeth, Emma, Briana, Bailee, Alex and Braxton; 1 brother, Theodore (Laura) Starker of Sun Prairie, a sister, Margaret Bigelow of Sun Prairie, a sister-in-law, Dorothy Starker of Columbus and a special friend Frienda Raether.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Oscar; 2 sisters, Catherine Starker, Thecla Kunn; a brother, Lawrence Starker; brother-in-laws, Ralph Kunn and John Bigelow.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Catholic Church, 227 Columbus St. in Sun Prairie with Father Brian Dulli presiding. Burial will be held at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in East Bristol. A visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church on Tuesday. The family suggest memorials be made to Sacred Hearts Catholic Church or The Colonial Club.
Tuschen-Newcomer Funeral Home
Sun Prairie 608-837-5400
www.newcomerfh.com