Catherine E. Mytas

Catherine Elizabeth Mytas, longtime White Lake resident, died Wednesday, November 25 at Eastview Medical and Rehabilitation. She was 89 years old.She was born July 8, 1920 in White Lake, daughter of the late August and Elsie (Sperberg) Buettner. At five years old, Catherine sang a solo for her grade school's Christmas program, and later had a leading role in a White Lake High School play. She graduated at age sixteen, and at eighteen graduated with honors from Langlade County Normal School. She taught at Schuman School in Polar, Cozy Corner School in the Town of Evergreen and another one-room school in Mattoon. She worked in Chicago for a short time, but found big city life not complimentary to her love of nature. On August 31, 1952 she married Edward Mytas of White Lake and became a housewife and mother. Ed preceded her in death in 2004.She knew birds and wildflowers well, and inspired her youngest daughter to become a naturalist. She was very involved in her church and inspired two of her children to enter into full time Christian service. She also expressed herself through sewing, embroidery and crocheting. She was an accomplished quilt maker and made literally hundreds of quilts to donate to Lutheran World Relief. She was an avid reader, and could recite many classic poems from memory. In her final days, in less than full consciousness, she recited word for word the eight stanzas of "The Village Blacksmith" by Longfellow.Mrs. Mytas was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church and Lutheran Women's Missionary League. She taught Sunday School and collected Sunday School supplies for donation to Paper Peace Corps.Survivors include two daughters, Lois Mytas of Milwaukee, and Karen (Bruce) Newbern of Sturgeon Bay; five sons, Jan (Kim) of White Lake, Neil (Lois Marie) of Antigo, Loren of White Lake, Wayne (Cherie) of Kaukauna, and Brian of Orlando, Florida; two sisters, Ruth Buettner of Antigo, and Florence Simmons of White Lake; 4 brothers, Robert (Rowena) of Wausau, Carl (Dianne) of Antigo, Alfred "Fritz" of White Lake, and Herbert (Genevieve) of White Lake; six grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by five brothers, Casper, Arnold, Ruben, Ramon, and August Jr.