MADISON - Elnore Mae Heasty Silbernagel, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, friend to many and devout child of God, passed away peacefully on July 26, 2025, at St. Mary’s Care Center in Madison. She was 98.

Elnore was born on April 6, 1927, in Sparta, Wis., to Caroline and Ralph Heasty. She was one of seven children - three boys and four girls - and she enjoyed growing up on a small dairy farm near Sparta. She attended nursing school at Methodist Hospital in Madison. She joined the United States Cadet Nurse Corps in September of 1945 and worked in Chicago, Ill., and Madison, Wis. She continued to work as a registered nurse long after she was married and raising children.

Elnore met John Silbernagel in 1948, and they were married on July 30, 1949. Together they raised six children, beginning in Madison, then rural Middleton, and finally a small farm in Riley, Wis. Colonel John Silbernagel died in 2012.

Elnore is survived by one sister, Marlene Wilhelm of Sparta; her six children, Becky Blue (Michael) of Fitchburg, Bob Silbernagel (Judy) of Palisade, Colo., Karen Moucha (Larry) of Verona, Carl Silbernagel (Kathleen) of Rhinelander, Teresa Telford (Edward Fitzhenry) of Chesterfield, Mo., and Janet Balster (Nick) of Black Earth; grandchildren, Jacob, Joshua, Joel Blue, Derek, Kara Silbernagel, Nicholas, Skyler, Anya Moucha, Geneice Schmidt, Meghan Lees, Colin Fitzhenry, Hilary, Lindsey Telford, Pace and Edie Balster; and 19 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, three brothers and two sisters.

A funeral service will be held at MOUNT OLIVE LUTHERAN CHURCH, 110 N. Whitney Way, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 2, 2025. Burial will take place at Forest Hill Cemetery. A visitation will be held at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com

Gunderson Fitchburg

Funeral & Cremation Care

2950 Chapel Valley Road

(608) 442-5002

Elnore M Silbernagel

April 06, 1927 - July 26, 2025

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