Died: 2 January 2022
Ardith Kay Kelsey {Ardie} 73 years, of Pound passed away unexpectedly early 2 January 2022 at Bellin Hospital in Green Bay. She was born 18 December 1948 in Port Washington WI to the late Arno and Martha {Riebe} Bretschneider. She had one older brother Lloyd Bretschneider. Ardith grew up in Grafton, WI attending St. Paul Lutheran Elementary in Grafton, and graduating from Grafton High School in 1967. As a very gifted artist, she was involved in many art classes. She enjoyed painting, drawing, woodworking, and crafting. Ardith loved being with animals and rehabilitating wildlife, although her biggest passion was horses. To say Ardith loved horses would be an understatement. One of her most talked about past times growing up was of trail riding with her friends. She enjoyed training and showing horses in 4-H and traveling with her dad to open shows as well. She also loved training others to be good showman. She was a 4-H horse project leader at a club in Ozaukee County Wisconsin, before moving to Peshtigo with her parents and becoming involved in Marinette County’s horse project.
After moving to Peshtigo she started raising cattle with her dad which is how she met Stanley Kelsey, while he was working at a local feed mill where she purchased her calf feeds. Stanley and Ardith married 23 December 1975, and farmed his family farm where they still currently resided in Pound, WI. They have four children together, that Ardith was very proud of. Her glory days were most likely having all four kids showing horses, cattle and art projects, in 4-H and FFA at the Marinette County Fair. She sewed all their show attire and especially loved creating elaborate costumes.
Ardith talked often of her time working at Grob Inc. in Grafton and enjoyed her summer job working at a stable in Shawano as a trail guide, near her family Cottage on Shawano Lake. She had been to many places across the USA with her parents on family vacations, as they loved to see new places.
Besides farming, she was employed for many years at Springside Cheese in Oconto Falls and later on worked at Krueger’s worm farm that sold organic fertilizer.
Ardith is survived by her husband Stanley of Pound, her four children Jennifer {Jeremy McDonald} of Lena, WI, Stephanie Kelsey of Green Bay, WI Clayton {Pam} Kelsey of Coleman, WI and Nicole Kelsey and her life partner Carson Carriveau of Lena, WI. She is also survived by two granddaughters that she adored; Ilah Kelsey of Green Bay and Harlyn McDonald of Lena. Two sisters in law, Gloria Bretschneider, of Port Washington, WI and Charlotte Reed of Pound, WI, many nieces and nephews as well.
She was preceded in death by her parents; Arno and Martha, her brother Lloyd Bretschneider , Mother in law Patricia Kelsey, Father in law Norman Kelsey, and Brother in law David Reed and also her many aunts and uncles.
Services were held Saturday, 8 January 2022 at Beaver American Lutheran Church located at N4557 19th Road in Pound, WI. Visitation was held from 10am till the time of service at Noon. A luncheon will be served at the church following funeral services. Rhodes – Charapata Funeral Home of Coleman is assisting the family.
Ardith is pictured in the 4th edition of the Friedrich Seidemann Family Tree Book on page 37 with her parents and on page 38 with her husband Stanley on their wedding day. She is listed on page 83 and 84 with her parents, husband, their children, and their grandchildren. Ardith is a 6th generation descendant of Friedrich and Rosina Seidemann and her genealogy line is as follows: Friedrich, Traugott, Mary, Ida, Arno, and Ardith.