Ardene Mae Ott

In the early morning hours of September 3, 2025, Ardene M. Ott passed peacefully into the arms of her loving Savior with her family by her side. Ardene had a strong faith and was a lifelong Christian. She wasn’t vocal about her faith, but she lived and practiced it daily.

Services will be held for family and friends at Hansen-Schilling Funeral Home, 1010 E. Veterans Parkway, Marshfield, on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., with the  Reverend Mark Krueger officiating. Visitation for family and friends will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. Lunch will follow.

Ardene was born on January 9, 1936, to Arthur and Sarah (Krueger) Paasch in Marshfield, WI. After she graduated from Marshfield Senior High, she worked for Vernon Berg, Sr. as his secretary at BERG Equipment Corporation, Marshfield, until the time of her marriage.

On September 15, 1956, Ardene was joined in marriage to Darwin E. Ott at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Marshfield, WI, where she was a lifelong member. They were blessed with two children, Mark and Darla. Darwin and Ardene were lifelong farmers.

Ardene was a wonderful farm wife and mom—loving, supportive and hardworking. She kept a meticulous house and yard, cooked great meals (often serving them in the fields as the family worked), and took care of the animals with great patience and  compassion. As a farmer, it was her daily work, but in retirement, it was her daily joy and purpose.  

Ardene had a special place in her heart for animals, especially cats. For almost a decade, she volunteered at the Clark County Humane Society, cleaning the office and then the cats’ pens and bowls while showering the cats with love and the assurance that they would soon find their forever home. Over the years, she took care of many cats on the farm, always making sure that they had fresh food, water, and any “doctoring” they needed. The family often kidded her whenever a new face would show up in the barn, someone must have dropped off another cat knowing that Ardene would take care of it. Her reputation for being softhearted was well-known. Ardene also enjoyed feeding the birds, and at one time, had 22 pairs of cardinals sitting on her snow-covered pine trees like big red Christmas bulbs. She also enjoyed feeding the deer, especially making sure that they had something to eat during the bitter winter months.

Ardene enjoyed many activities including snowmobiling, bowling, gardening, tending to her beautiful flower beds, attending her children’s, and then grand and great-grandchildren’s school and church activities, and spending time with family and friends, including family and neighborhood card parties. She was the perfect hostess, ensuring that everyone had what they wanted, and no one ever left hungry. Ardene was very particular about this, where some might call “old fashioned” in making sure that everyone was taken care of. Ardene’s lemon meringue pie was unmatched, her delicious banana bread was a family favorite that she freely shared, and her tasty apple cake will also be missed.

Ardene leaves a legacy of not only her children, but her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She cherished her time with them, and they brought her great joy. In her later years, she so looked forward to them visiting. Grandma/”Grandma Deenie” will be dearly missed.

Ardene led her life quietly by example. She didn’t ask others to do things that she could do…even well into her 80s when house and yard work was being done by family, she was right there helping as much as she could, and eventually just telling and directing. She role modeled personal responsibility by taking great care of herself, watching what she ate and exercising, and by respecting others’ thoughts and opinions and not speaking ill of others. She was humble, slow to anger, a good listener, and a peacemaker.

Ardene is survived by her children: Mark (Karen) Ott of Marshfield; Darla (Dennis) Wessel of Sturgeon Bay; as well as her four grandchildren: Jessica (Eric) Miller, Jordan (Trevor) Haack, Brian (Jessica) Ott, and Paige Dielmann. She is further survived by her three great-grandchildren: Darwynn and Jerry Miller, and Aria Ott; and sister-in-law, Bonnie Ziegahn.

Ardene was preceded in death by her husband, Darwin, her sister, Helen, and her brother, Harvey, along with numerous in-laws, and nephew, Robert Wachter.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Hewitt or Marshfield, the Marshfield Area Pet Shelter (MAPS), or the Clark County Humane Society.

The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the staff of the Marshfield Medical Center (MMC), Marshfield, for their compassionate care, especially Dr. Naik and Dr. Giotra, Melissa Bohn, NP, Dr. Aboli, and the therapy staff at the MMC, Neillsville. Special thanks to the staff at Sturgeon Bay Health Services, Sturgeon Bay, and Compassus, Marshfield and Sturgeon Bay, for their kindness and compassion.

Online condolences may be made at www.hansenschillingfuneralhome.com.

Mom, you will be greatly missed, as the world was a much better place with you in it. Your compassionate heart, strong faith, selflessness, and constant striving for harmony are an inspiration to us all.

To view the Livestream Service, please click this link: 

https://youtube.com/live/Lf_UTmMshJ4?feature=share

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