Arlys J. Case

LANCASTER - Arlys J. Case, 87, of Lancaster, Wisconsin passed peacefully at home February 18, 2023, surrounded by family. She was born July 20, 1935, in Lancaster, the daughter of Clarence and Hazel (Hupenbecker) Udelhoven.

Arlys was a lifelong resident of Lancaster, WI, except for the four months in Tacoma, WA, when her husband Melvin was called to duty with the Wisconsin 32nd Division at Fort Lewis.

She graduated from Lancaster High School in 1953 and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison concurrently with the Madison General School of Nursing, completing her Registered Nurse degree in 1956. Her nursing skills touched the lives of countless patients, doctors, and new moms at Lancaster Memorial Hospital, now called Grant Regional Health Center. This career led her to be a charter member and the first president of the Southwest Wisconsin Nurses Association, Supervisor of Obstetrics in Lancaster, Childbirth Educator through Southwest Technical College, a member of the International and National Organization for Obstetrics, Gynecological and Neonatal nurses, a member of the American and Wisconsin Nurses Association, a nominee to Who’s Who in American Nursing, the chairperson of the Health and Education Lancaster Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, and a life member of the Lancaster Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.

Arlys was a lifelong member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, proudly participating since 1955 with the Fort Crawford Chapter.

Arlys and Melvin enjoyed time spent with golfing friends, bridge club, and family. Each new baby in the family received a crocheted blanket from Arlys that became a family heirloom to grandchildren and great-grandchildren alike. She spent much time following children and grandchildren in their music and sporting endeavors. On July 14, 1956, the Lancaster United Methodist Church was the setting for her marriage to the love of her life, Melvin. Arlys and Melvin celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary with family and friends in 2022. Their union was blessed with five beautiful children; Dan (Jean) Case of Lancaster and their daughter, Penny (Dan) Schelberger; Mark (Cammy) Case of Maple Grove, MN, and their children, James (Jennifer), Kyle (Erin), Christopher (Jeffrey), and Dillon (Bailey) Case; Nancy (G Daniel) Fairchild of Platteville, WI, and their children, Sara (Calvin) Koeller, Mark (Marguerite) Fairchild, Lara (Ronald) Christensen; Sarah (Mike) Williams of Stitzer, WI, and their children Wesley and Jordan Williams; and Sonia Case of Lancaster, WI.

Besides her husband, children, and grandchildren, Arlys is survived by 13 great-grandchildren (Riley, Emma; Logan, Quin, Ethan, Damion, Kaiden, Collin, Weston; Michelle, Gavin; Cruz and Piper-James) and extended family and friends.

In addition to her parents, Arlys was preceded in death by her brother Larry Udelhoven, niece, Kelly Udelhoven, brother-in-law Marvin Case and sisters-in-law Barbara (Carey) Udelhoven, and Rose (Eichelkraut) Case, and daughter-in-law Cammy Case.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at Martin Schwartz Funeral Home & Crematory in Lancaster with Pastor David Kim and Pastor Tammy Clausen officiating. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery, Lancaster. Family and friends may call on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and on Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. until time of services at the funeral home. In lieu of plants and flowers, an Arlys J. Case memorial fund has been established.