Elmyra Kage

Elmyra Anna Emilie Sabatke was born on August 24, 1919 on her family farm in the Town of Berlin to the late Edwin and Lydia (Fehlhaber) Sabatke. She was a 1937 graduate of Wausau High School. After graduating, Elmyra worked as a bookkeeper for the Agricultural Offices and later Hoffer Glass before going on to help her parents with Sabatke Tavern. She married Herbert Kage on June 8, 1958, and the couple was blessed with their first and only child, a daughter, Jayme. In 1968, after the tavern was sold, she helped her husband with their ginseng farm before finally retiring in 1985. However, her first and foremost occupation was being a mother and later, a grandmother. Both Elmyra and Herbert were delighted with the additions of their only three grandchildren whom they grew very close to. The couple celebrated 43 loving years together before Herbert’s passing on December 13, 2002.


Elmyra was a determined and selfless woman who always thought of others and their needs before their own. She was devoted to her grandchildren, was very involved in their lives, and often spoke of them to friends and family. She also loved her pets, and doted incessantly on the family dog, Linus and cat, Meeko. She loved spending time with her family at their cabin, going for boat rides, and treating everyone to ice cream. Even in her later years, she never allowed her age to slow her down and made sure that household chores got finished. In her free time, Elmyra enjoyed working in her vegetable and flower garden, bird watching, sewing, baking, and making Barbie furniture and doll clothes for her granddaughters. She also looked forward to mornings with a shared cup of flavored coffee and a chat with her daughter, Jayme. She passed away at the age of 91 on Friday, August 27, 2010, at her home. Elmyra will be sadly missed by her loving family, but they will forever cherish their memories of her and she will live forever in their hearts.


Elmyra is survived by her daughter, Jayme (Francis) Krautkramer; grandchildren, Elyse, Brandon, and Kara; sisters-in-law, Amella Bielke and Florence Kage; and many other nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. She was preceded in death by her by her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Ray Kage, Harold (Eleanor) Kage, Wilfred (Mary Ann) Kage, Leroy Kage, and Ray Bielke.


Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Naugart, Town of Berlin. Pastor Nathaniel Biebert will be officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Monday, August 30, at Helke Funeral Home, Wausau, and will resume at 10:00 AM on Tuesday until the time of services. Entombment will be at Restlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum. You may sign our family guestbook at www.helke.com.


“A mother holds her child’s hand for a short while, and their heart forever.”


Author Unknown