Lavina M. Sleeter

LaVina Mae Sleeter, 98, of Schofield, passed away on Wednesday, December 6, 2023.

She was born on February 24, 1925, to the late Benjamin and Clara (Neitzel) Trantow, in Antigo, Wisconsin. 

LaVina or "Vinie" as she was known, enjoyed a very long life filled with many experiences.  She and her siblings grew up in a household where German was the spoken language more often than not.  Every now and again she would throw out a German word or two and then relish in somebody asking the meaning.  Even weeks leading up to her passing, she was overheard teaching some German to her daughter Linda.  In addition to being a very loving and caring mother and wife, her career path included work as an office manager for businesses including The Three Sisters, Prange's, Hoffer's Paint and finally Helke's Furniture Company.  After retirement from Helke's, she also worked for Wicke's Lumber as a cashier.  She loved to travel and she did with Linda to places including California, Tennessee, Missouri, Hawaii and even a trip to England, Scotland and Wales.  Vinie was very involved in her church, Our Savior's Lutheran in Wausau.  She enjoyed many years participating in a women's bowling league.  She loved to bake, especially sweets.  More than baking, she loved to consume cookies, bars and any other sweet treat she could get her hands on.  She insisted these things be available to her in mass quantities in her room at all times.  She seemed to run out frequently, only to find out she characteristically shared the treats with others as fast as we brought them.  Family was extremely important to Vinie.  She managed as best as she could to keep up with the lives of her many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, grandchildren, great grandchildren and anyone associated with them.  It would be wrong not to specifically mention how special her relationship with her daughter Linda was.  She loved all her children wholeheartedly, but Linda was special to her.  Linda was her daughter, her travel partner, her roommate, her game and card playing buddy, her friend and for many years her support and caretaker.  It was a very special, extremely loving, relationship.  

As winter seems to be upon us, we can't help but begin to yearn for the warmth and new beginnings spring offers every year. Grass greening up, flowers blooming, trees budding and birds becoming more active.  Most of us look forward to these things come spring.   Vinie loved that too, but to her, spring's most important and vital function was that it signaled catchers and pitchers returning for spring training!  Next to the word fanatic in the dictionary, specifically baseball fan, should be Vinie's picture.  She could hold a high-level conversation about the ins and outs of baseball better than most.  She loved the game.  More specifically, she adored the Atlanta Braves.  Two things that probably bothered her the most the year or two leading up to her passing were, the nursing home didn't have the Major League Baseball Network and Atlanta traded Freddie Freeman. 

LaVina is survived by her children, Linda Sleeter, Steven (Mary) Sleeter, and Scott (Pam) Sleeter; grandchildren, Lance (Chasity) Sleeter, Mason Sleeter, and Megan Isakson, Katelyn (Josh) Swenson, and Tyler (Lexie) Sleeter; great-grandchildren, Izzie, Henry, Leo, Gus, Isla, and Polly; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.  

She is preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin and Clara Trantow; her husband, Harold Sleeter; seven siblings and their spouses; and a dear friend, Margie Austin.   

A funeral service will take place on Friday, December 15, 2023, at 11:00 am, at Brainard Funeral Home, in Weston.  A visitation will take place from 10:00 am until the time of services at the funeral home.  Burial will take place at Restlawn Memorial Park.