Esther L. Fruit

 Esther L. Fruit, age 96, of Lancaster, WI, passed to eternal rest on Wednesday, December 4, 2008, at the Lancaster Care Center, Lancaster, WI. She was born June 6, 1912, in Potosi  Township, the daughter of James and Louise (Reinke) Belscamper. Esther was united in marriage to Harold Fruit on  November 5, 1932, in Galena, IL. Together they owned and operated the Fruit

s Garage in Lancaster beginning in 1949. In addition, Esther was employed for sixteen years as a bookkeeper at the Lancaster Canning Factory and for eleven years at the Grant County Nurse

s Office in  Lancaster.

Esther was especially proud of her German heritage. She loved gardening, quilting, ceramics, crafts, and playing euchre and bingo with her friends at the  Lancaster Care Center. But most of all she loved her family.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Harold in l981; a sister, Caroline Belscamper; a brother, Louis Belscamper; sisters in law, Grace Belscamper and Eleanor Kenny; a brother in law, Edgar Fruit; and her beloved pet schnauzer, Penny.

Survivors include a son, Gerald (Bonnie) Fruit, of Lancaster, a daughter, Judy (Allen) Wilkins, Verona, WI, and a sister in law, Eulalia Boak of Blue River, WI.; five grandchildren: Tim (Donna) Fruit, Madison, WI; Jill (George) Marin, Albert Lea, MN; Kelly (Earl) MacHenry, Scottsdale, AZ; Lee Wilkins (Josh Rhodes), New York, NY; and Dr. Jay (Torrey) Wilkins, Beaver Dam, WI.; seven great grandchildren; Elisha and Suzie Marin, Amanda and Andrea Fruit, and Harrison, Ashton, and Alexander Wilkins.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, December 10, 2008, at the Lancaster Care Center Chapel at  10:30 am with Pastor Mark Hoehne officiating. Burial was in Hillside  Cemetery. Friends called on Tuesday, December 9, from 5-7 PM at the Schwartz Funeral Home and on Wednesday at the Lancaster Care Center Chapel from 9:30 until the time of services.