Our beloved Ila Abitz passed away at her home under the auspices of hospice care. Her family was at her side. She was 94. She attributed her longevity to being a stubborn German. Those of us who knew her credit her longevity to her gentle smile and cheerful attitude.

Ila Jean was the first of nine children born to Gilbert and Linda (Rahmlow) Weihing. She grew up in Center Valley and attended the one room school located next to the family farm. She was always proud to be selected valedictorian of her eighth-grade class. She was determined to attend high school in Appleton and did so by carpooling with other youth and later boarding with relatives. Following graduation, she accepted employment at AAL. She met Les Abitz in 1946 and fell in love with him and the outgoing Abitz clan. She and Les farmed in the town of Center. Ila later became the bookkeeper for Abitz Water Service. She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Ladies Aide Honor Roll and the Outagamie County Homemakers Club. An accomplished watercolor artist, she was a fan of public television, the Green Bay Packers, Hershey milk chocolate bars with almonds and President Obama.

Ila leaves behind her daughter Rebecca (Don) Schmoll, son Brent (Marcia) Abitz and daughter Sue Abitz; granddaughter Jen (Bob) Widholm and great-granddaughter Penelope and grandson Ted Weber. She is further survived by siblings: Barb Weihing, Bruce Weihing, Glenn and Charlene Weihing and Gary and Rosanne Weihing; sister-in-law Mary Weihing and brother-in-law Gerald Abitz.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and siblings Gordon Weihing, Helen Weihing, Merle Weihing and infant sister Marion.

A funeral service will be held at 4 pm on Wednesday, April 20th, at the Brettschneider Trettin-Nickel Funeral Chapel, with Rev. Matthew Holtz officiating. Friends may visit at the funeral home on Wednesday from 2 pm until the time of service. Interment will take place at Highland Memorial Park.

The family would like to thank family friend Jean Marie Schmeichel Hinds for her support and Julie Recker, Mom's long-time hairdresser, for her kind and gentle concern.

While Ila dearly loved flowers, she would prefer donations be directed to her great-granddaughter's physical therapy fund.

Welcome my good and faithful servant.