• Visitation Friday, August 23, 2024 from 10-11am
• Christ Alone Lutheran Church 247 South Main Street  Thiensville, WI 53092
• Funeral service follows at 11 am
• Interment Monday 10:30 am Zum Kripplein Christi Cemetery

Phyllis Jane Westerhaus

Phyllis Jane Westerhaus [nee Redlin] was born on 3/3/1933 to Pastor Gerhard and Wilhelmina [Loeffler] Redlin of Allenton, Wisconsin.  She became a child of God through baptism as an infant, and entered eternal life on Monday, August 19, 2024, aged 91 years, 5 months and 16 days.

She was educated as a teacher at Wisconsin State Teachers’ College, now UWM, and found a great deal of satisfaction in her profession. This included teaching first graders to read, nieces and nephews to swim, art in one room school, Bible study with special needs adults, reading and math to her grandchildren, or life coaching sleep-deprived, new dad seminary students. [There were also several 11^th hour lessons for healthcare workers in recent weeks, but that’s a different story!]

Phyllis was married to the late Prof. Martin Westerhaus for 58 years, sharing many interests such as music, architecture, history, gardening, travel, art, and work in God’s kingdom.  God blessed their marriage with two children, three grandchildren, and most recently, two great granddaughters.  Sharing in and guiding the lives of these children was always one of her greatest pleasures. She was certainly looking forward to seeing her son, Marky again in heaven. Out of her many photos, she specifically asked Caroline to tuck a happy, healthy photo of 2-year-old Marky and 3-year-old Mari into her purse to bring along for her last stay in the hospital. On her last day, she still smiled broadly when Mari said, “When you get to heaven, say hi to Marky for me!” Hopefully he was able to say, “Hi Mom!” back.  We all look forward to our heavenly reunion, the “big celebration” she mentioned in her last hours.

Phyllis was preceeded in death by her parents, Pastor Gerhard and Wilhelmina (Loeffler) Redlin of Watertown, WI, her son, Mark Gerhard Westerhaus, her grandson, Paul Martin Jensen of Mwembezhi Lutheran Mission, Lumano Village, Zambia, Africa, her husband, Prof. Martin Westerhaus of Milwaukee, WI, her son-in-law, Pastor Daniel Allen Jensen of Farmington, NM, and her brother, Pastor David Redlin of Tucson, AZ.

Phyllis is survived by her daughter, Marianne Jensen, of Farmington, NM, her granddaughter, Caroline (Jensen) Cyr and her husband, Michael Cyr II, and their two daughters, Eva and Lilly, all of Milwaukee, WI, and her grandson, Dr. Daniel Peter Jensen of Los Alamos, NM.  She is also survived by many relatives and friends, who will miss her signature laugh and sincere interest in them!

            Visitation Friday, August 23, 2024 from 10-11am at Christ Alone Lutheran Church 247 South Main Street  Thiensville, WI 53092. Funeral service follows at 11 am.  Interment Monday 10:30 am Zum Kripplein Christi Cemetery.

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