Kathleen (Katie) Zentner Ingwell Elmer was born on April 28, 1927 to Nicholas and Alma (Legler) Zentner. She passed away peacefully on January 11th at the New Glarus Home.  Katie grew up on a farm in Legler Valley and loved helping her dad with the farm chores. She attended Legler Valley School and graduated from New Glarus High School in 1944.  In 1946, Katie was united in marriage to Harold Ingwell. Together, they raised four children. In 1980, Katie married Arthur Elmer.  Katie worked at several businesses in New Glarus in her early years and then spent most of her career at the Bank of New Glarus. She enjoyed speaking Schweizerdeutsch to the many tourists from Switzerland that came to the bank.  Her Swiss heritage and especially Swiss music were a very important part of her life. She sang with the Edelweiss Stars Swiss singing group, which later became the Edelweiss and Betty from 1950-1996. She also sang with the Swiss singers for many years. She so loved her hometown of New Glarus and was always eager to share how proud she was to be a part of this wonderful community.  Katie was a lifelong member of Swiss Church singing in the choir, serving on the consistory, and many volunteer roles. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Legion Auxiliary. She was also a cast member of the Wilhelm Tell Play from 1938-2015. Katie was a member of the Edelweiss Chalet Country Club and golfed until her 90th birthday. She was also an avid blood donor her entire life.  Prior to the Covid pandemic, Mom and her friend, Gaylord, spent every Friday and Saturday night dancing at the New Glarus Hotel enjoying their many friendships there.

Katie is survived by her daughters, Vicki Van Cott, Titusville, FL., Jane (Dennis) Fahey, Pleasant Prairie, WI, and Mary (Tim) Usher, New Glarus. She is also survived by 9 grandchildren, and 18 great grandchildren who were all very important to her. She is further survived by many nieces and nephews.

She is predeceased by her parents, her husbands, Harold Ingwell and Arthur Elmer; son, Dennis Ingwell; son-in-law Kev Van Cott; brother, Delmar Zentner; sister, Marion S. Streiff; brother-in-law, Clayton Streiff and sister-in-law, Betty Zentner and special friend, Gaylord Kittelson.

"I had a great life, never dull. I spent many years singing with the Edelweiss Stars and the Edelweiss and Betty. Five times to Switzerland, 4 lovely children. I've had it all. Thank the Lord." Mom

Funeral services will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at the Swiss United Church of Christ, 18 Fifth Ave., New Glarus, WI.  Pat Pluss will officiate.  Burial will be in the Swiss Church Cemetery.

A visitation will precede the funeral service from 10:30 a.m. until time of services on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at the Swiss United Church of Christ in New Glarus.

The Zentner-Beal Funeral Home of New Glarus is assisting the family

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Swiss United Church of Christ, The Chalet of the Golden Fleece, and the New Glarus Historical Museum.

Thank you to the staff at the New Glarus Home and Agrace Hospice for their care of Mom while she lived there.