Anita F. Day

Anita F. Day, age 87, of  Lancaster, passed away on  Thursday, March 31, 2011, at the  Lancaster Care Center,  Lancaster. She was born on December 21, 1923, in Dundee, IL, the eldest of four born to Frank and Emma (Holtz) Schmidt. Anita spent her childhood years in Racine, and graduated with high honors from Washington Park High School. She later graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison School of Education and taught in Port Edwards and  Sun Prairie High School before her marriage. Anita married Larry A. Day of Madison of June 9, 1951, in Christ Congregational Parsonage in Racine. Shortly after their marriage, Larry was called into the service as a Lieutenant in the Army Medical Corp. Together they lived in Ft. Sam Houston, TX, Ft. Ord, California, and also in Wurzburg and Kitzingen Germany before returning to civilian life in 1954. In 1956, Larry purchased the Unseth Drugstore in Westby and the family then spent five happy years in Westby. In 1961, Larry opened Days Rexall Drugstore in  Lancaster, WI, Larrys hometown, as the owner and pharmacist. Larry continued in that capacity until his unexpected death on  May 9, 1997. Larry and Anita enjoyed raising their five children in Lancaster and treasured all of their friendships and thoroughly enjoyed their many activities. Anita did Yoga for many years and was greatly interested in nutrition and vitamins. Her lifelong interests were traveling, sewing, reading, and creative writing and gardening. Over the years, Anita clerked part-time at their drugstore, helped with cub scouts, 4-H and taught Sunday school. She also held offices in her church and homemakers group. Anita enjoyed time spent with her family and she was so proud of each one and felt many times blessed. They were truly the wind beneath her wings and the center of her life. Her greatest sorrow was the loss of her husband. Anita was a longtime and active member of the Lancaster Congregational Church, their Couples Bridge club, her Homemakers group, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Lancaster Country Club, and the UW Alumni Association of Grant County.

Survivors include her children: Carrie Krogman, Fennimore; Larry Day, Jr., Madison; John (LuAnn) Day, North Aurora, IL; Jane (Frank) Cox, Lubbock, TX; Nancy (David) Shaw, Corvallis, OR; 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two sisters: Violet (Richard) Gorham, Elk Grove Village, IL; Betty Schmidt, Los Alamitos, CA; other relatives and many friends.

In addition to her parents, Anita was preceded in death by her husband, her sister, Shirley Dersien and sister-in-law, Delores (Day) Klevgard.

Funeral services were on Tuesday, April 5, 2011, at  11:00 a.m. at the Lancaster Congregational Church with Pastor Mark Dieter officiating. Burial was in  Hillside Cemetery,  Lancaster. Family and friends called on Monday, April 4, 2011, from 4:00 p.m. until  6:00 p.m. at Schwartz Funeral Home in  Lancaster and on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until time of services at the church.