Phyllis Ruth (Mahnke) Poppe

Phyllis Ruth Poppe of Watertown, passed away July 27, 2020 at the age of 93 years. She was born June 11, 1927, in Mayville WI, the daughter of Adolph and Elizabeth (nee Uhl) Mahnke. She married the love of her life, Richard Poppe on June 26, 1948 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Mayville WI.

Phyllis and her husband Richard, a cheese maker, worked together at their business ‘The Poplar Grove Dairy’, making cheese for the area farmers. She was a longtime member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Sugar Island. Phyllis was a devout Christian who read and often wore out her many bibles. She was an energetic and a fun-loving Gramma who taught her grandchildren many wonderful things about life. A fond memory of her  as a child, was she loved roller skating through Mayville. Another favorite memory was her roller skating in the kitchen for dinner, eating with her skates on, then cleaning up while still on her roller skates!

She is survived by her children, Dawn (Mike) Lake, Lorilyn “Lurp” (Ronnie) Geisthardt, Timberly Poppe (Trina).  Also, survived by her grandchildren Christopher (Jenny) Davison, Rachel  Davison, Amber (Travis) Schaefer, Ethan Geisthardt, Cheyenne Geisthardt , Katie Stange and Samantha (Ben).  Her great-grandchildren: Skyler White, Justin Davison, Derek Davison, Natalee Schaefer, Harlee Schaefer, Jack Schaefer and Dominik Schultz.  Also, survived by her sister Alice Lebakken, and sisters-in-law Carole and Janet.

She was preceded in death by her husband Richard, her daughter Pamela Davidson, her grandson Shayne, her great-granddaughter Paige, her brothers Victor, Adolph and Carl, and her sister Marion.

Pall bearers: Christopher Davison, Ethan Geisthardt, Travis Schaefer, Skyler White, Justin Davison, Derek Davison

A Private Family Funeral service and visitation will be at St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Sugar Island.  Interment will be at St Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery.  Family would like Memorials if you so desire, to be given to St. Paul’s “Her small little church”.

The Berndt-Ledesma Funeral Home Hartford is serving the family.  Private condolences may be placed on our website  www.berndt-ledesma.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Phyllis Ruth (Mahnke) Poppe, please visit our floral store.