Elva Bertha (Herbst) Killa

    Elva Bertha (Herbst) Killa, 104, of Sturgeon Bay, was called Home to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 at the Pete and Jelaine Horton Skilled Nursing and Hospice Care Center.

     She was born at home in West Jacksonport on November 4, 1915, the daughter of Louis Casper Herbst and Ella Minnie Marie (Muelbach) Herbst. Elva grew up attending Farview Grade School in West Jacksonport and Zion Ev. Lutheran Church in West Jacksonport where she was confirmed and was a member throughout her life. She graduated from Sevastopol High School in 1937 and went on to study nursing at Milwaukee County Hospital Nursing School for four years. Elva worked as a nurse for Wisconsin Energy for 30 years. She returned to Door County in 1977 to be closer to family. Elva was united in marriage to Sebastian “Bud” John Killa on October 10, 1980 at Grace Ev. Lutheran Church in Milwaukee. They shared over 16 years of marriage together. Bud passed away May 21, 1997. Elva moved into the Eames Farms Estates in Egg Harbor in 1999 and resided there until becoming a resident of the Door County Medical Center Skilled Nursing Facility (now the Pete and Jelaine Horton Skilled Nursing and Hospice Care Center) in Sturgeon Bay in 2015.

     Elva enjoyed traveling with family and friends, walking, and reading. She was also a fan of the Green Bay Packers.

     Elva’s love will live on in the hearts of daughter-in-law, Margaret Killa of Darboy; three nieces, Linda Harding on Plymouth, MA [and her three sons, Andrew, Alec, and Robin (Breanna)], Lisa (Jim) Daggett of Genoa, NV [Annie Daggett and Lucy (Ryan) Daggett Kelsey {and their son, Ryker Lane}], and Laurie Herbst of Providence, RI; good friends, Mike (Debbie) Serpe of West Jacksonport; the Clark family of Little Rapids; the Herbst and Muelbach families; her Skilled Nursing Facility family; and other friends.

     She was welcomed Home by her parents; husband; son, John Killa (2018); sister and brother, Irene (Harry) Edwards and Edward (Patricia) Herbst; and other relatives.

     Due to the current public gathering limitations, a private funeral service will be held at Zion Ev. Lutheran Church in West Jacksonport with Pastor Peter Lindemann and Vicar Dominick Olson officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

     Memorials may be given in Elva’s memory for the Zion Ev. Lutheran Church Remodeling Fund.

     Elva’s cousin, friend, and caregiver, Lee Bley, would like to extend a special thanks to her pastoral and church family, Pastor Peter (Kris) Lindemann and Vicar Dominick Olson, all from Zion Ev. Lutheran Church; her dear caregivers from Home Instead Senior Care, Chris Crass, Cherie Therrien, Grace Ann Matzke, and Anita Evers; and the entire Skilled Nursing Facility staff “for all of your loving care and support that you gave to Elva over the years.”

     Arrangements have been entrusted with Huehns Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Elva may be shared with her family through her tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.

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