This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: ChgoKid Surnames: Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.wisconsin.counties.shawano/16330/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Anchorage Daily News (AK) - September 17, 2007 Deceased Name: ELSIE MAE OGREN Sept. 3, 1915 ~ Sept. 12, 2007 Longtime Alaskan Elsie Mae Ogren, 92, died Sept. 12, 2007, peacefully at Heritage Place. She was born Sept. 3, 1915, in Aniwa, Wis., to Otto and Lottie Cole. Elsie's family moved from Wisconsin to a farm in Bruce Crossing, Mich. She was quite proud of the apples the Cole family grew on their farm. As a farm girl she learned to sew, quilt, knit and crochet. Because she grew up in a rural community, her family made their own entertainment, which included playing musical instruments. Elsie married Theodore Rudolph Ogren, better known to all as Rudy, on May 9, 1940. Rudy went to Alaska to seek his fortune, and went to work for the Alaska Railroad in 1946. Elsie and their first-born son, Dennis, followed in 1947. Soon after, a second son, Allen, was born in Anchorage. The family homesteaded on Deep Creek Road in Ninilchik in 1952. There Elsie worked alongside Rudy and the boys raising acres of certified seed potatoes. Elsie and her family attended St. Peter the Fisherman United Methodist in Ninilchik. She shared her talents with the Ninilchik Homemakers Club. In the early 1960s she took a painting class and discovered that she also had quite an artistic talent. Roses were her favorite subject to paint. In the late 1960s, she and Rudy sold the homestead and moved back to Anchorage to be near their children and grandchildren. She had a greenhouse and backyard garden full of healthy vegetables and beautiful flowers even though it was in the city. After Rudy died, Elsie and Allen continued to live at in her Anchorage home until 2004. At that time she was failing from dementia and needed complete 24-hour care and moved to Ninilchik to be with Dennis and Martha Ogren. In November 2005 she moved into Ebb Tide Inn Assisted Living in Kenai. Then in November 2006 she moved to Heritage Place. She was quite happy with her new home and enjoyed entertaining the residents by playing her harmonica. She played a new one she received on her 92nd birthday on Sept. 3. The family wrote, "Elsie was loved dearly by them all." She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Rudy, and siblings, Walt Cole, Amy Hansen, George Cole, Don Cole and Buddy Cole. Elsie is survived by her sons, Allen G. Ogren of Anchorage and Dennis K. Ogren and wife, Martha, of Ninilchik; grandchildren, Eric Dean and wife, Casey Ogren, Jeanie C. and husband, Robert A. Simpson; Chadde N. Ogren and wife, Valerie Palmer, and Alica Mae Ogren and husband, Rohit Butail; great-grandchildren, Erica (Ogren) and husband, Eric Ellis, Phillip Ogren, Molly Ogren, Marta Simpson, Javan Simpson, Alana Simpson, Olivia Ogren-Butail and Cole Ogren-Butail. Arrangements are by Peninsula Memorial Chapel Visit the online memorial at legacy.com Anchorage Daily News (AK) Date: September 17, 2007 Edition: Final Page: B7 Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.