Elaine Anita Held
Elaine Anita Held of Eagle River, Wisconsin was born in Hartford, Wisconsin, on July 24th ,1936 to Norman and Ilma (Kannenberg) Held. On August 2nd she was baptized into faith at Christ Lutheran Church in Jackson, Wisconsin. She attended the 35th Street Public School for kindergarten and Atonement Lutheran School for grades 1 to 8. She was confirmed on May 7th,1950. She attended Lutheran High School in Milwaukee for one year and transferred to the high school at DMLC in New Ulm, Minnesota when the family moved to Nashotah, Wisconsin. After graduation in 1954, she continued her studies in college on the same campus. After three semesters, she left to teach in a one room school in Goodhue, Minnesota. She married Robert Otterstatter on August 8th, 1956, at St Matthew’s, in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. She then taught third grade at St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. After teaching there two years, in 1958 she retired to be a full-time mother. In 1971 her family moved to Eagle River, Wisconsin after purchasing 7 Mile Pinecrest resort. The operation of the resort continued with the five children. Elaine lived at the resort for a time after her husband’s death. In 2008, she moved to New Ulm, MN. In 2021 she moved back to live in the lodge that she and her husband had occupied.
Their five children survive: Deanne (Douglas) Lange, Manitowoc, WI; Jonathan (Pam) Otterstatter, Eagle River, WI; Jacquelyn (Daniel) Moyle, Eagle River, WI; Timothy (Joyce) Otterstatter, Watertown, WI; and Michael (Teresa) Otterstatter, Summerville, SC. Her surviving grandchildren are: Katie (Joe) Jewell, Daniel (Sara) Lange, Emily (Brian) Graf, Jennifer (Nathan) Scharf; Matthew (Bethany) Otterstatter, Brittany (David) Pulito, Chad Otterstatter; Caitlin (Cole) Kraft; Benjamin (Kelly) Otterstatter, Marissa (Troy) Essman; Michaela (Jesse) Nofftz, Jared (Annisha) Otterstatter. Her great-grandchildren are: Richard, Theodore and Elliot Jewell; Sean, Lydia and Nora Graf; Madelyn, Olivia and Zachary Lange; Noah and Caleb Scharf; Isaiah, Lucas and Andrew Otterstatter; Jamie and Juniper Pulito; Zachary, Drew and Will Kraft. She is also survived by her sisters: Carol (Stephen) Becker and Kathryn Held; sister-in-law Betty Jo Held and numerous cousins, nephews, nieces and many friends.
Preceded in death by her husband Bob, parents Norman and Ilma, brother Donald, her grandson Zachary Moyle and daughter-in-law Pam Otterstatter.
Honorary Pall bearers: John Nelson, Kevin, Keith and Mark Otterstatter.
Funeral services will be held at Christ Lutheran Church, 201 N 3rd St, Eagle River, WI on Monday, March 31st, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. before the service at the church.
Memorials have been arranged at Christ Lutheran Church, 201 N 3rd St, Eagle River, WI 54521 and the Sevenmile Lake Association P.O. Box 1814 Eagle River, Wisconsin 54521-1814.
As we gather to reflect on God’s grace in the life of Elaine Otterstatter and to find comfort in our grief through the Word of God, we share her favorite Bible passage. It serves as a proper reflection on her faith and the focus of her life. Isaiah 40:31 declares, “…but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.” The prophet’s inspired message of hope transcends time. It reminds us that we too are being renewed, sustained, and will ultimately be lifted into God’s loving embrace by his grace alone through faith in Christ alone.
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