Mercedes M. Howe

Normal 0 After 92 happy years, Mercedes Marie Howe, resident of Eastview Medical and Rehabilitation Center, passed on peacefully to her next adventure. She was born at home on August 17, 1918, the third daughter of the late Emil and Mary (Chase) Hanneman. Living in a railroad neighborhood with an engineer father Mercedes enjoyed riding the train to Summit Lake with other railroad children and mothers, spending the day picnicking and swimming, then returning on the evening train back to Antigo. As a child in the 1920's she played neighborhood games still being passed down through generations of Antigo children. A 1936 graduate of Antigo High School, Merc was active in GAA Half-court basketball, played violin for a time in the school orchestra, and enjoyed attending sporting events. As a junior in high school, she was quarantined for several months with a severe case of scarlet fever. During her senior year, she reigned as the Queen of the Winter Carnival. After graduation she attended the vocational school, majoring in bookkeeping. Her love of travel started early, and she and a friend traveled by railroad to Kentucky to experience Mammoth Cave, Churchill Downs, and Calumet Farm. By the time she passed on, she had traveled to many of the United States, into Canada, and, at 85, traveled to Europe. She spent several months with her family in Tennessee. Employed by the telephone company in Antigo as a switchboard operator, Mercedes often told the story of the day the entire switchboard lit up, December 7, 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor. In 1942, Mercedes met S.Scott Howe, a young Army Airforce pilot-in-training enrolled in Antigo's glider program, and two months later they were married. They had three children together, divorcing ten years later. Mercedes worked as a bookkeeper for Aulik Implement, Lockwood Graders, Wausau Insurance, and GTE. She served as the office manager for the General Clinic, and retired from her position as bookkeeper at City Hall's Water Department in 1983. She loved her family beyond measure. She enjoyed art, literature, and music, and encouraged her children to do so as well. For much of her life she was an avid knitter, card player, and Packer fan. She loved nature, traveling with family, and being on or near water. Mercedes was an active member of United Methodist Church since 1930. When her children were young, she served as the Superintendent of the Sunday school, and for many years sang in the church choir and special cantatas. She was preceded in death by parents Emil and Mary, three sisters, LaVanche (Gordon) Rettinger, Beverly (LeRoy) Beltz, and infant sister Phyllis. Mercedes is survived by onw son, William George (Clarice) Howe of Grafton,Wisconsin; two daughters, Mary Scott (Gene) Herman of Antigo and Cathy Jane Gernt of Jamestown, Tennessee; six grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday at 11:00 AM at United Methodist Church. Reverend Charles Strong will officiate. Visitation will be form 9:00AM until the service at the church. Interment will be in Elmwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers a memorial will be established in her name. Strasser-Roller Funeral Home is assisting the family.