Elizabeth "Betty" Childs

Elizabeth A. “Betty” Childs, 78, of Iron Mountain, died Thurs. Feb. 10, 2011 at her home. She was born on May 22, 1932 in Kingsford, the daughter of the late Raymond and Eva (Jossart) Gussert. Betty graduated from Kingsford High School in 1951. She married Michael Chapman on Aug. 2, 1952 at American Martyrs Catholic Church. The couple had six children and Elizabeth always thought she was unique because she worked with each of them at one time or another at different restaurants. She worked for many years at Briggs and Stratton in Milwaukee, retiring in 1998. On Feb. 20, 1999 she married Matthew Childs in Las Vegas in a double wedding ceremony with her sister Joanne and her husband John Schriener. Betty and Matthew spent the winter months in Punta Gorda, FL and summers in Iron Mountain. Betty was a beautiful seamstress and shared this talent with her family. She made thousands of Raggedy Ann Dolls and many quilts. She had a great sense of humor and was great at telling jokes. She was very creative and she and Matthew enjoyed dressing in costumes that she created to make everyone laugh. Elizabeth will be fondly remembered by her grandchildren who lovingly called her “Grandma Liz” and her nieces and nephews who called her ABC “Aunty Betty Childs” She is survived by her husband Matthew of Iron Mountain six children Linda (Charlie Hackney) Chapman of Wauwatosa, WI, Harry (Maria) Chapman, Michael Chapman, Barbara Chapman, and Tony (Lynne) Chapman, all of Twin Lakes, WI and Lola Chapman of Waterford, WI, two sisters Olive (Hal) Schlag of Crivitz and Joanne (John) Schriener of Milwaukee, two brothers Jim Gussert of Aurora, and Dick (Ginger) Gussert of Clintonville, WI, twelve grandchildren Donica Lintner, Aaron Antonissen, Kirsten Antonissen, Heather Tierney, Neal Chapman, Richard Chapman, Raymond Chapman, Elena McFadden, Eva Lofton, Christopher Chapman, Gina Chamness, and Pamela Mazzone, and seven great grandchildren Michael Antonissen, Nathan Lintner, Aiden Chapman, Annabelle Chapman, Lexi Chamness, Keagan Chamness, and Dorian Chamness, two stepchildren Raymond Childs of Cincinnati, OH and Sheila (David) Faw of Goshen, OH, eight step grandchildren and eight step great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by three brothers Bob, Raymond, and John “Chuck” Gussert, one sister Rose Jensen, and one stepdaughter Deborah Childs. A celebration of Betty’s life will be held during the weekend of her birthday, May 22, 2011. Burial will be in Quinnesec Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Dickinson County Cancer Unit. Condolences to the family of Elizabeth “Betty” Childs can be expressed online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon and Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the funeral arrangements.

Elizabeth "Betty" Childs

May 22, 1932 - February 10, 2011