Esther Fern Schlabach

ESTHER FERN (LEE) SCHLABACH, 83 of Ava, IL formerly of Arthur, IL passed away at 6:30 A.M. on Thursday, February 3, 2022, at her son’s residence in rural Tuscola, IL.

Funeral services will be held at 9:30 A.M. on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, at the Shawnee Amish Church-East, Campbell Hill, IL.  Burial will be in the Shawnee Amish Church Cemetery-East, Campbell Hill, IL. Visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. to 7:30 P.M. on Sunday, February 6, 2022 at the HCK West Building in rural Arthur, IL and any time after 10:00 A.M. on Monday, February 7, 2022 at the Richard Schlabach residence, 213 Foss Road, Ava, IL.   The Edwards Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.   

Esther Fern was born on November 9, 1938 in Arthur, IL to James Edwin and Sarah (Miller) Lee.   She married Willard F. Schlabach on August 28, 1958 in Arthur, IL. They lived in Holy Matrimony for 62 years, 2 months, and 20 days.  Willard passed away on June 17, 2021.

Esther Fern is survived by; eight children, Doris (Gerald) Yoder of Arthur, IL, Clyde (Treva Herschberger) Schlabach of Arthur, IL, LaVern (Dorothy Diener) Schlabach of Tuscola, IL, Gary (Dorothy Miller) Schlabach of Williams, IN, Richard (Mary Ellen Schrock) Schlabach of Ava, IL, Duane (Andi Conlin) Schlabach of Monticello, IL, Marilyn Otto of McBain, MI, and Ervin (Heidi Martin) Schlabach of Mattoon, IL; thirty-one grandchildren and seventy-nine great-grandchildren; twin brother Lester LaVern (Mary Ellen) Lee of Arthur, IL and three sisters, Alta (John) Yoder of Arthur, IL, Anna (Velvon) Miller of LaGrange, IN, Bertha Yoder of Arthur, IL

She was preceded in death by her parents, James Edwin and Sarah (Miller) Lee, her husband, Willard F. Schlabach, two grandchildren, Marcus Schlabach, Rachel (Schlabach) Gingerich, one stillborn great-grandson, Johnathan Schlabach, one son-in-law, Kenneth Otto, one sister, Edna Otto and one brother, Ervin Lee

Esther Fern was a member of the Shawnee Amish Church-East, Campbell Hill, IL.