Nita M. (Straw) Sauerbrei

Nita Marie Sauerbrei (Schley)(Straw) – Former Sheriff of Waushara County – Our beloved Mother, Grandmother and “Super-Grandma” passed away at Heartland House CBRF in Wautoma, Wisconsin, at the age of 96.

Nita was born May 4, 1926, in the Town of Oasis, in Waushara County. She was the youngest child born to Harold and Ivy (Beggs) Straw. Her siblings were Genieve Huber, Russell Straw, Harold (Stub) Straw, Harriet Schneider and Ione (Nonie) Rodencal. They all precede her in death.

She attended school and got her education from the Wild Rose School District. Nita married Arthur E. Schley on May 9, 1943. This marriage was blessed with three daughters: Patti (Larry) Dittburner, Weslaco, Texas and The Villages, Florida; Judi (Frank) Weiland and Nancy (John) Stahl of Wautoma. Art precedes her in death at the very young age of 43 at which time he was Waushara County Highway Commissioner. Before that position of employment, Art was Sheriff of Waushara County for many years. Art was Sheriff during the Ed Gein saga in 1957 in Plainfield, Wisconsin. Nita, herself, was Sheriff and Under-Sheriff for Waushara County in the early 1960s. In September of 1968 Nita married Marvin (Mike) Sauerbrei. Mike had a son James (Jim) Sauerbrei to whom Nita became stepmother. She is survived by Jim (Judy) Sauerbrei. Mike precedes her in death in December of 1987. Nita’s Grandchildren include: Tami Dittburner and Margo Sunderland of Texas; Dean (Val) Stahl of Berlin; Jeffrey (Angela) Stahl of Wautoma; Jackie (Jeff) Kucharski of Cedarburg; Jill (Ryan) Tetting of Appleton; and Jasey (Leanne) Caswell of Wautoma. She has 13 Great-Grandchildren, which knew her as “Super-Grandma”. Preceding her in death are two Grandchildren, Cory Arthur and Natalie Lynn Caswell. Through the years Nita had acquired many friends and acquaintances, many of which she had to pay her last respects to as a farewell gesture. That’s the hard part of growing old, your friends grow old too. She is survived by many Nieces and Nephews whom she dearly loved. The Straw Family will miss their monarch at the yearly Straw Reunions held at the Roberts Wild Rose City Park. Her Great-Nephews: Steve, Mike and Jeff Straw and Great-Niece, Collett Ross, have always done a terrific job of organizing this special and favorite summer event. Nita had a cake made this last reunion that had words written on it reading “Grateful for this life I have and all the people who made it worth it – Love you all, Aunt Nita.”

Funeral services for Nita will be held on Friday, October 7, 2022 at 1:00 o’clock P.M. at the Stahl Celebration and Remembrance Center, Hwy 21/73 Wautoma. A visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. until the time of services. Nita will be laid to rest next to her husband, Arthur Schley, in the Wautoma Union Cemetery.

Through her years and throughout her life she’s made it a BLESSING.

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