Esther M. Wittkop

Esther "Bert" Marie (Hamlin) Wittkop 72, Wausau, died Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at her home. She was born December 20, 1933, in Merrill, daughter of the late James and Margaret (Running) Hamlin. On August 28, 1954, she married Vernon Wittkop in Merrill. He survives. Esther graduated from Merrill High School in 1952. She worked at the Wausau Holiday Inn for 31 years as a cook, until her retirement. Among her interests, she loved cooking and baking wedding cakes, also traveling with her husband around the United States, Hawaii, Europe, Africa and Alaska. Esther was a member of the Wausau Eagles Club for 23 years and cooked there for 25 years. Survivors include her husband of 52 years, Vernon Wittkop, Wausau; one daughter, Lynn (Robert) Geier, Wausau; one grandson, Dillon Geier; 11 brothers and sisters: James Hamlin, Merrill, Alice Jane (Jim) O'Day, Georgetown, TX, Elaine Schultz, Eau Claire, Margaret (Anthony) Robl, Merrill, Reid (Lois) Hamlin, Oshkosh, Joseph (Lucy) Sturgis, MI, William (Mary Lou) Hamlin, Eudora, KS, Donald (Elizabeth) Hamlin, Belmont, NH, Claudia (Jim Roberts, Merrill, and Wayne Hamlin, Rhinelander; and further survived by numerous nieces, nephews, Eagles friends and friends. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by a half-brother, Edmund Hamlin and half-sister, Lorraine Liberty. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday, December 18, 2006, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Wausau. Rev. Gary Schultz will officiate. Friends may call on Sunday from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 3400 Stewart Avenue, Wausau and again on Monday from 10 a.m. until time of services at the church. There will be an Eagles service at 6:30 p.m. followed by a prayer service on Sunday evening at the funeral home. Following the service on Monday, the family will greet friends at the Wausau Eagles Club for a luncheon. Online condolences at www.petersonkraemer.com