Annette Jane Erickson, formerly of Sister Bay, Wisconsin, entered into the joy of being with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on September 30, 2022.
Annette was born in Sister Bay, Wisconsin, on April 22, 1928, to William J. and Elnora L. (Larson) Ebbers. Her grandmother, Anna Larson, an area midwife, attended to her birth in the family’s farmhouse. Her family moved to the Sheboygan, Wisconsin area, before Annette entered elementary school. There, she enjoyed helping her father make cheese at Lakeside Cheese Factory, located right next to their home in Wilson, Wisconsin. She also fit weekly piano lessons into her busy schedule and her love for the keyboard carried on into her 90’s. Upon her graduation from Central High School in Sheboygan in 1946, Annette’s family moved back to Sister Bay where her parents developed Ebbers Orchards, growing cherries and apples as part of Door County, Wisconsin’s well-known fruit industry.
In the fall of 1946, Annette enrolled at the Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and completed one year there before transferring to Northwestern’s School of Music in Evanston, Illinois, where she completed a bachelor’s degree in music education. It was at Northwestern that she met her husband-to-be, George Erickson, from Sister Bay, who was working toward a master’s degree in education after serving his country in WWII. They had not known each other previously. Annette often shared about how she had prayed, asking the Lord to bring her husband right to her door. That prayer was answered when George was asked to deliver a package to her from someone in Sister Bay. Following that knock on her door, it wasn’t long before they knew that they were meant for each other. They were married at her family’s home in Sister Bay on July 13th, 1950.
Upon returning from their honeymoon, they found a letter waiting for George, calling him back into active duty for the Korean conflict. Thankfully, he was not sent to Korea, and was eventually transferred to Camp Atterbury in Indiana, while Annette taught music in the Chicago suburb of Mt. Prospect. Following his discharge, George completed his master’s degree in Madison, Wisconsin, where he also student taught. They then moved to West Bend, Wisconsin, where he taught, before returning to Sister Bay and the start of George’s 30-year career at Gibraltar High School. Annette taught piano lessons out of their home, while raising 4 children. Dozens of young people in Northern Door County benefited from her keyboard instruction and she even encouraged them to sing while playing!
Annette’s love for working with young students found a new opportunity in 1964 when she learned that the school district was having a difficult time finding a kindergarten teacher before the start of the school year. She applied, and her hiring turned into 26 enjoyable years of teaching kindergarten for Northern Door County’s children. She taught in two-room schoolhouses in Appleport and Ephraim, before finishing her career at Gibraltar in Fish Creek. Together with her wonderful assistant and treasured friend, Margaret Loving, they gave the area’s children the best start to school that one could ever imagine. Annette continued to use her musical skills in the kindergarten, as well as an organist at Community Church of Fish Creek, and as a pianist for many functions at Scandia Village in Sister Bay, where she resided for 10 years. She was an active volunteer at Scandia Village in many ways.
Annette and George were blessed with 58 years of marriage and four children: William Erickson (Donna) Champaign, Illinois, James Erickson (Dorothy) Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, Thomas Erickson – deceased (Tracy Erickson Anderson), and Beth Wittmann (Thomas) Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, as well as six grandchildren and one great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, George, her sister, Beverly Jaquish and brother-in law, Delmar Jaquish, a sister-in law, Edna Erickson, and her dear son, Tom.
Annette’s trust in her eternal Savior, Jesus Christ, was her strength, and she extended His love to all those that life brought her way. A celebration of Annette’s life will be held on November 5th at the First Baptist Church of Sister Bay with Pastor Daniel Bowman officiating. Visitation is at 9:30, with the service at 11:00 and a lunch following. Memorials can be directed to Scandia Village Retirement Community, Community Church of Fish Creek, the Gibraltar Area Schools, Shorehaven Retirement Community in Oconomowoc, or other churches or charitable causes serving the Northern Door County area.
Casperson Funeral Home of Sister Bay is assisting the Erickson family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Annette may be shared with her family through her tribute page at www.caspersonfuneralhome.com.
