Lillian E. Greenquist, 95, of Florence and Green Bay, Wisc., passed away on December 26, 2023, after a brief illness, surrounded by love.

Lil was born on June 23, 1928, in Appleton, Wisc., to the late Martin and Stevana (Schumacher) Van Roy.

Lil graduated from Kaukauna High School in 1946 and from Oshkosh State Teachers College in 1950 with a degree in elementary education. She taught kindergarten in Niagara, Wauwatosa, and New Berlin, Wisc., public schools for nearly 27 years.

Lil met Ralph Greenquist when both attended Oshkosh STC. They were married on August 8, 1953, at St. Mary’s Church in Kaukauna. Lil and Ralph raised their children in New Berlin and were proud that all four made working with children one of their life’s callings.

With a heart as big as the outdoors she so enjoyed, Lil often worked quietly behind the scenes to improve the lives of others. She loved to read, swim, do crossword puzzles, cross-country ski, and travel, volunteered for years at the Florence St. Vincent de Paul Store, was a member of St. Mary’s Church, was an avid Packer fan, and deeply appreciated time spent with family and friends at beloved Misty Moors.

Lil was predeceased by her husband Ralph, her brother and sister-in-law Bob and Jane Van Roy, her sister-and-brother-in-law Beverly and Clarence Lietzow, her brother-in-law, Bernard Horath, and by her best friend of 89 years, Patsy Vanderloop.

Lil is survived by her children: Laurie (Don) Zimmerman; Sue (Mike) McFadzen; Nancy (Jay) Schulte; and Steve (Carol) Greenquist; by her grandchildren, Eric (Richelle) Zimmerman, Jen Laux, Michael Zimmerman, Amanda Zimmerman; Kate (Andrew Lindsay) McFadzen-Lindsay; Kristin (Caylyn) Kurty and Nicki (Jacob) Painter; and Stephanie (Mike) Marlett; by her great-grandchildren: Camryn and Landyn; Brynn and Carter; James; Jaxton and Peridot; and Avery. Lil is further survived by her sister-in-law, Helen Horath, and by her nieces and nephews, Kris and Barb; Debbie, Michael, and Mark; and Marcia and Jeff.

Lil is survived by many who blessed her with their friendship and care, including Scott, Tonie, Debbie C., Aunt Helen, childhood and lifelong friend Lois, Irene, and Leone from our family's old neighborhood, and Book Club members with whom she shared collective memories of their overlapping generations.

Our thanks to her special Iron Mountain doctors, especially Doctors Beth, Kristy, Jeff, and Colleen, and to the caring, capable staff at Cardinal Ridge, her assisted living home in Howard, Wisc., for the past 20 months. Our gratitude to the compassionate staff at St. Mary’s Hospital in Green Bay for

guiding us through the most difficult time of all.

A visitation will take place on Saturday, January 6, 2024, from 10:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at Jacobs-Lundholm Funeral Home, 417 Central Avenue, Florence, Wisc. Family and friends sharing will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the funeral home. A luncheon at Jacobs Funeral Home, 1025 Carpenter Ave, Iron Mountain, Mich., will follow the Florence service. A graveside service will be held in spring. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Vincent de Paul in Florence are appreciated.

It’s said it takes a village to raise a child. These days, it also takes a community to care for our elders. Lil’s family is grateful to those who helped her, in any way, to live comfortably at home on her piece of Paradise and in her assisted living home. Her children always joked about which of us was her favorite child, but we all can agree that Lil was our favorite mother.

Friends may leave condolences and tributes to Lillian’s family online at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com

The family has chosen Jacobs-Lundholm Funeral Home and Crematory, Florence, Wisc., to honor Lillian’s legacy of life.