Mielke, Althea M.Althea Marie Mielke, age 98 passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 16, 2017 at the Marshfield Medical Center. A service celebrating her life will take place at Hansen-Schilling Funeral Home, 1010 E. Veterans Parkway, Marshfield on Thursday, September 21, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. Reverend Mark Krueger will officiate. Burial will follow in Hillside Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home.Althea was born on November 23, 1918 to Thomas Leroy Murphy and Luella Caroline (Jaeckel) Murphy. She married Leonard William Mielke on August 4, 1941. Althea worked at the Weinbrenner Shoe Factory, then worked alongside Leonard in the Mielke/Frankwick Cabinet Shop, was a homemaker raising her two children, and later worked in the Dietary Department at St. Joseph's Hospital up to the time of retirement. Althea is survived by her daughter Gail Niehaus (Kenneth), her son Michael Mielke (Laurie), her grandchildren Rick Niehaus (Susy), Michelle Butterfield (Paul), and her three great-grandchildren Gabby Niehaus, Cody McCulloch, and Nathan Butterfield. Althea is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her two sisters Estelene Rogers and Arnelda Frankwick.Althea enjoyed watching the birds and the squirrels outside of her window. She enjoyed spending time with her family and always had advice to give as well as stories to share. She was an avid collector of elves. She named each elf that she received studying their little faces, and would smile at each one. She was affectionately referred to as "Granny Elf." Heaven gained a beautiful lady. Our spunky "Granny" has earned her wings and has left a hole in our hearts. We count our blessings at how fortunate we are to have had this remarkable lady in our lives. She has been the rock of our family, she had so much spunk, loved life, and she put a smile on your face any time you were around her. "Granny Elf" will be greatly missed. May the winds of Heaven blow softly and whisper in your ear, how much we love and miss you and wish you were here.