Ella Jean Scholze, 94, of Rudolph, WI, passed away peacefully Wednesday morning, February 7, 2024, at Cranberry Court Assisted Living in Wisconsin Rapids, WI.

Ella Jean Durst was born on June 18, 1929, in Fairchild, WI, the youngest daughter of twelve children born to LeRoy and Janie (Lightfoot) Durst. She attended Lone Pine grade school in Fairchild and graduated from Humbird High School in 1947. She worked at National Presto Cooker Company in Eau Claire, WI, until her marriage to Clarence Paul Scholze on Sept. 12, 1953, at St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church in Humbird.

In the early part of their 51 year marriage, Clarence worked for Rowe and Algier Construction Co., Inc. and moved from Dodgeville to Menomonie and Marionette, WI. In 1960, they bought A & B Plumbing and Heating shop in Rudolph, WI, and built their home.

Throughout her life, Ella Jean was active in Women's Fellowship at the Rudolph Moravian Church. She served as the treasurer, secretary, altar guild, Sunday school teacher, sang in the choir, and cleaned. She enjoyed spending her time sewing clothes and dolls, quilting, crocheting Afghans, knitting hats, mittens, and scarves, and gardening. Clarence and Ella were snow birds and loved traveling in their mobile home down to the valley in Texas to escape cold Wisconsin winters.

Ella Jean is survived by two sons; Ronald (Elizabeth) Scholze of Miladore, Wi, and Bruce (PollyAnn) Scholze of Colliersville, TN; two daughters, Vickie (Gene) Parker of Hayward, WI, and Jane Martinez (Val Jaramillo) of San Antonio, TX; one grandson Dominic; four granddaughters; Elizabeth, Manuela, Alexandra, and Anatasia (Jason), and one great-granddaughter, Kierra Estella, born on Feb 5 to Anna and Jason Mutter. She is survived by her brother-in-law, Frank (Ilene) Scholze of Osseo, WI, and two sisters-in-law, Verna Scholze of EauClaire, WI, and Nancy Scholze of Fairchild, WI.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers and sisters, Virgil (Amy), Ethel (Alvin) Schutte, Eva (Bill) Kurasz, James (Martha), Dorothy (Rolla) Sieg, Betty (Walter) Marg, Leone (Edwin) Scholze, Vivian (Hank) Schutte, Ivan (Gertrude), Neil (June), and Raymond (Ilene). Ella Jean's death is the last of the siblings born to LeRoy and Janie Durst – the last of an entire generation.

Visitation will be at the Wisconsin Rapids Moravian Church in Wisconsin Rapids from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, February 23. Services will follow the visitation with entombment at the Forest Hill Mausoleum.

John J. Buettgen Funeral Home is assisting family at this time. Online condolences may be expressed at HonorOne.com