Esther Schneider, 100, of Eau Claire passed away Friday, November 28, 2008, at Sacred Heart Hospital. She is survived by her son Robert (Gail) Schneider and daughter, Marjorie Schneider both of Eau Claire; four grandchildren and eight great grandchildren in various locations. Esther was born August 16, 1908, in Menomonie, WI. Her father was Clarence Burgett, a carpenter and lumberman. Her mother was Effie Petrick. Esther was the fifth of eight children and the last survivor. She was struck by polio at an early age but her mother's massage and hot wraps along with physical therapy pushed by older sisters enabled her to enjoy almost complete recovery exhibiting only slight limp for the balance of her life. Her grade schooling was in Menomonie. When the family moved to Madison, WI, she finished her school career at Madison East High School. \r\nOften called to assist older sisters having babies, Esther was helping Sister Sally Winget in Eau Claire when, in 1927, she met Ernest J. Schneider at a Moose Club dance. They eloped to Red Wing to be married. It was a depression era and Ernie worked at varied jobs while they made their home in several small apartments. Son Robert was born in 1928 followed by daughter Marjorie in 1930. Ernest found permanent work with the National Pressure Cooker Co. (now Presto) in 1932 and the young family purchased a small house on Bergen Ave. close to his work. They lived and raised their family in this home, except for a few years in the late 70's when they owned and operated the Wildwood Resort and Trailer Park on Prairie Lake in Chetek. Ernest died in 1991. Esther lived with her daughter, Marge in their home until the present day.\r\nEsther loved the motherhood roles of child raising, gardening, neighborhood socials and summer swims at Davis Beach on the Dells Pond but WWII put her in the work force, building munitions at the local tire Plant. She continued to work out of the home after the war. She tinted portraits for Storr's Studio, taught sewing for a Singer store, ran a fabric department for the Co-op store and taught arts&crafts for the City of Eau Claire Recreation Department. \r\nShe was an accomplished artist producing acrylic paintings cherished by friends and family. She and her husband were active in the Indianhead Association working in conservation efforts to improve lake conditions and tourism in Northwest Wisconsin. Esther loved fishing. Ice fishing was her passion producing fabulous fish fries of Prairie Lake sun fish. She was an avid Packer fan enjoying broadcasts from crackling early Curley Lambeau radio broadcasts to T.V. games dressed in her green and gold jersey cheering for Bart or Brett. And there was never a dog or child that failed to feel her love! \r\nFuneral services will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 4, 2008, at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home, 814 First Ave, Eau Claire with Monsignor Edmund Klimek officiating. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Eau Claire. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday prior to services at the funeral home. \r\nIn lieu of flowers, family request memorials be directed to Sacred Heart Hospital Palliative Care Unit, 900 W. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire, WI 54701 or Eau Claire Humane Society, 3900 Old Town Hall Road, Eau Claire, WI 54701

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