Marian Jane Lichter

     Marian Jane Lichter, 98, of Sturgeon Bay, passed away on Thursday, August 9, 2018 at Anna’s Healthcare. 

     She was born August 26, 1919 in Menominee, Michigan, the daughter of Walter and Olga (Jacobson) Albertson. Marian moved to Sister Bay at the age of five and attended the Sister Bay School and Sister Bay Baptist Church where she was baptized when she was 11. They then moved to Appleport, where she attended the Appleport one-room school and went on to graduate from Gibraltar High School in 1931.

     Marian had worked the last two summers while going to high school for Anna and Eunice Pederson at Anna’s Restaurant. After graduating, she went to Chicago to work in the winter and came back to Sister Bay to work for Anna and Eunice in the summer, as they had become very special to her. 

     When World War II broke out, she found a job in a defense plant of 4500 people and worked as a solder, welder, riveter, line inspector, and spot checker for one and a half years and then was given the job of government inspector. For six years during the war, she took on a full-time night job at the Golden Bell Greeting Card Factory and volunteered Saturday afternoons and evenings at the U.S.O. in Chicago, Illinois. Marian also volunteered at Hines G.I. Hospital on Sunday afternoons and evenings. She did all of this while still caring on her mother’s tradition of going to church and dinner every Sunday.

     Marian was united in marriage with Eldridge “Al” Lichter on February 20, 1953 in Chicago. In 1962, they moved to Door County with their two sons and attended the Sister Bay Moravian Church before attending the Sturgeon Bay Moravian Church. They purchased and operated the Skylark Motel, the Choo-Choo Restaurant, and the Choo-Choo Hobby Shop in both, Ephraim and Sturgeon Bay.

     In the early 1970’s, she went on craft shows in Door, Kewaunee, and Brown Counties, as well as in Manitowoc, Milwaukee, and Michigan. Marian was noted for her hand-woven rugs, place mats, quilts, spreads, clown dolls, and big bird! They ended all their business ventures in 1981 but continued to do craft shows until 1993 when Al passed away. Marian then truly retired and moved to Bay Hill where she had a very special, kind, concerned manager – Ed Byrnes. She called her new place “Val Hala” (Viking Heaven) since it was so quiet and peaceful. There, Marian had help from very special friends – Ann and Mark Hill and family. When she was no longer able to attend the church services, she listened to church services on the radio and watched the Moravian Church on cable TV.

     Marian is survived by her son, Jerry (Debbie) Lichter of Burlington; grandchildren, Lisa (Joshua) Werner of Mukwonago, Sheri (Ted) Spankowski of West Allis, and Anthony Lichter (Rayeanne Gates) of Waterford; great-granddaughters, Ella and Marlina Werner; and many cousins; and nieces and nephews scattered across the states. 

     She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Al; son, Michael; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Harvey (Doris) Albertson, Wallace (Beverly) Albertson, and Arnold Albertson; and two brothers-in-law, Roy Lichter and Earl Lichter.

     A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 12, 2018 at Huehns Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay with the Rev. Dr. Matthew R. Knapp, Sr. officiating.  Marian will be laid to rest in Bayside Cemetery, beside her husband, Al.

     Visitation for family and friends will be held at Huehns Funeral Home on Sunday, August 12, 2018 from 12:00 p.m. until the time of the funeral service.

     Never fear, God is near.

     Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Marian may be shared with her family through her tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.

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