Elsie Waterman

Elsie M. Waterman, 88, of Wausau, Wisconsin passed away under the care of North Central Health Care (Lake View) on Friday, April 27, 2018. Elsie was born in Ishpeming, Michigan on July 24, 1929 to Eino and Naima Koski. Elsie grew up in the Finnish immigrant communities of the upper peninsula of Michigan. She graduated from Rock High School and then obtained a bachelor's degree in business education from Northern Michigan University. In later years, she received a master's degree in business education from the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire. In 1952, Elsie married Donald Waterman. They moved to Wausau in 1956 and raised a family of three children. They enjoyed a long and happy marriage until his death in 1989. Elsie worked as a business education teacher at North Central Technical College and at Wausau East High School. Later, she was employed as an accountant by Northern Valley Workshop until her retirement in 1993. On October 27, 2012, Elsie married her high school sweetheart, Jarl Roine. They reconnected at a class reunion in September of 2011. Together, they enjoyed being members of the Central Wisconsin Finnish American Club. Elsie loved her church, and was very active in United Methodist Women. In 1994, she was awarded a "Love in Action" award for coordinating a flood relief mission project of United Methodist Women. During the 1970s, she started a religious drama group called Agape Theater. She sang in the church choir when her husband, Don, was the director. Elsie also loved the Wausau community. She was on the original board of directors for The Neighbor's Place. She and her husband, Don, were involved with the local Community Theater. Elsie was an active member of League of Women Voters. In 1995, she attended the United Nations Women's Conference in Beijing, China, representing Older Women's League. In 2003, she was honored as a Woman of Vision by the YWCA of Wausau. Survivors include her husband, Jarl Roine of Wausau; brother Ronald (Jeanette) Koski of Madison; children, Vicki (Robert) Arkens of Clintonville, Robert (Julie) Waterman of Wausau, and James (Leslie) Waterman of Wausau; grandchildren, Caitlin (Dan) Grussing of Parthenon, AR, Landon (Emily) Arkens of Madison, and Alice (Christopher) Wood of De Pere; step-grandchildren, Melanie (Ryan) Kennedy of Wausau, Melanie Consolver of Wausau, and Hannah Consolver of Wausau; great-grandchildren, Huckleberry Wood, Leopold Wood, and Margaret Arkens; step-great-grandchildren Cole Kennedy and Olivia Kennedy. Other survivors include Jarl's four daughters and their families. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Donald Waterman and also her parents, Eino and Naima Koski. Memorial service will be held Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 11:00 am at First United Methodist Church, 903 3rd Street, Wausau. Rev. Jayneann McIntosh will be officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:30 am until the time of service at the church. A special thank you to the staff of Lake View, NCHC, for their care and concern for Elsie during the last year and a half of her life.