Esther Marie Rathert

MADISON-Esther Marie (Shefloe) Rathert, passed away on the morning of Tuesday, February 22, 2011. She was with her immediate family and in the caring hands of staff at the Don & Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center. She was 85 years old. Esther was born on April 17, 1925, in Milwaukee, and moved to Janesville in 1948 with her husband, Leroy. Most of her life was spent in Janesville. Once their three daughters were in school, she earned a degree in elementary education at UW-Whitewater and went on to teach kindergarten at Madison Elementary School in Janesville where she also served as a Resource Specialist. Esther and Leroy lived the summer months of their retirement years in Janesville and wintered in Texas and then Arkansas. Five years ago, they moved into an apartment at Attic Angel Place in Middleton. Esther is survived by her husband, Leroy, her daughters, Diane (William) LaDue of Rice Lake, Barbara (James) Garot of Little Rock, Joan (Mike Pfrang) Sanzen of Cross Plains, five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren. Memorial gifts may be made on behalf of Esther Rathert to the Wisconsin Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America, Wisconsin Chapter, Inc. at 2600 N. Mayfair Road, #320, Milwaukee, WI 53226-1313. Memorials: Memorial gifts may be made on behalf of Esther Rathert to the Wisconsin Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America, Wisconsin Chapter, Inc. at 2600 N. Mayfair Road, #320, Milwaukee, WI 53226-1313.