Elizabeth M. Kranz

Elizabeth Mary (Huffman) Kranz, age 105, formerly of Lancaster, Wis., died Thursday, April 17, 2025, at the St. Dominic Villa skilled nursing care facility near Hazel Green, Wis.

Elizabeth was born Aug. 23, 1919, to Thomas G. Huffman and Mildred J. (Schwandt) Huffman. Growing up an only child on their dairy farm in Libertyville Township, Ill., she was expected to help. They worked with horses, which Elizabeth also sometimes rode to visit neighbors. Through this early exposure, she developed an abiding love of horses, always favoring the large, black Percherons used on the family farm.

She was very active in academic, extracurricular, and athletic activities at Libertyville High School. Many years later she mentioned that she was offered a scholarship to college, but her parents did not consider that an appropriate path for their daughter in the mid-1930s and did not allow her to attend.

After graduation, she took work as a stenographer at an automobile parts factory in the Chicago area. She continued to live with her parents and commuted to work by car. Then she met a man about to embark on a career in ministry, Francis E. Kranz, and shortly the two were married on June 26, 1940.

Early on, the couple moved multiple times. They moved to Omaha, Neb., as newlyweds for Francis to take a position that would complete his preparation for ordination. He was ordained in Des Plaines, Ill., and then they moved for positions in Richmond, Ill., and Evansville, Ill., before accepting the position at the First Congregational Church in Lancaster, Wis., the town where they would reside for their remaining years.

Two sons were born to the couple, Charles A. Kranz in 1943 and James F. Kranz in 1948.

Elizabeth was a gardener, a reader, a quilter, a spinner and knitter, and a lifelong fan of the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago Bears. She was a longtime member of Lancaster’s PEO Chapter and a supporter of libraries and education. She also was a founding member of the Sarasponda Spinners, a group that meets regularly to this day in southwestern Wisconsin to spin wool and share fellowship.

Surviving family enjoy sharing memories of gathering for the many holiday celebrations Elizabeth hosted in Lancaster at their Sheridan Street home.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by Francis in 1998, and then by both of their sons, James in 2002 and Charles in 2019.

Elizabeth is survived by loving daughters-in-law Carol J. Kranz of Stevens Point and Susan Kranz of Cedarburg. She was much loved by her four grandchildren: Trent Mitchell (Tracy), Barry Mitchell (Jenni), David Kranz (Erin), and Andrew Kranz (Sasha). She doted on and shared widely all news of her great-grandchildren: Margo Kranz, Ben Mitchell, Jack Mitchell, Ethel Kranz, Theo Kranz, and Asa Kranz.

Interment of ashes will take place on Saturday, May 3, at Liberty Ridge in Saint Paul’s United Church of Christ Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the staff of St. Dominic Villa, and previously Epione Pavillion in Cuba City, for the care and attention shown to Elizabeth.

The family is being served by the Martin Schwartz Funeral Home and Crematory of Lancaster.