Chapel Post

In Memoriam: Esther A. Ulmer

+ IN MEMORIAM +
Esther Anna Ulmer
June 4, 1924 – March 17, 2009

The following was prepared by Nancy Ulmer in memory of her mother.

Esther Anna Meta Mahler, the eleventh of 13 children, was born on June 4, 1924 to Carl and Elsie Mahler. She grew up on a farm in Fairmount, North Dakota. She is described as a quiet, unassuming child, who had a lively imagination, intense curiosity, and compassionate heart. She loved learning and formally earned her high school diploma and completed several semesters of college.

On September 3, 1949 she married Milton Ulmer and they welcomed two daughters, Nancy and Barbara. Esther loved being a mother and home maker, but her commitments were not contained to home. She was an avid church volunteer, focusing her energies in the Lutheran Womens’ Missionary League and on issues of social justice. Her volunteerism culminated in her founding the Our Redeemer Lutheran Outreach Ministry in the early 1990’s.

In 1996 Esther suffered a major stroke. Through the loving support of friends and family she made a recovery that was lauded by her doctors. She was able to move back home with her beloved Milton and continue attending Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. After Milton’s death in 2002, Esther moved to assisted living in Berkeley, California to be near Nancy and family.

During her last years in Berkeley, Esther’s main joys were Sundays and family occasions with Nancy, several trips back to the Midwest with her sister Hilda, and attending church and Bible Study. She died peacefully on March 17, 2009.

Esther is survived by her daughter Nancy and son-in-law Steven Schultz, granddaughters Sara and Rachel Schultz; daughter Barbara and son-in-law, Denis Kitayama; brothers Arthur Mahler and the Rev. Kenneth Mahler, her sister Hilda Danowsky, the rest of her large family, and many loyal friends.

Donations in memory of Esther may be made to a memorial fund at University Lutheran Chapel which will support the YEAH shelter at Lutheran Church of the Cross in Berkeley and other social justice projects at the Chapel in keeping with the spirit of Esther's activism.

Posted by Pastor Jeff at 3:18 PM