Leone P. (Peters) Tilly

Leone Virginia Peters Tilly, 98, of Fredonia passed away on Friday, March 23, 2018.

She was born on November 21, 1919 to the late George and Ida (nee Schultz) Peters in Black Creek WI. Leone grew up in Black Creek and graduated from Seymour High School as the valedictorian of her class. She continued her education and graduated from Lawrence University in Appleton summa cum laude with a bachelor’s in music. She was united in marriage to Ewald August Tilly in March 1941. She became a private music teacher and served as a music director at St John’s UCC church during World War II. For the next few years after the war Leone and Ewald moved around to many Wisconsin towns as he pursued his career as a public school music teacher. Leone was kept busy as a homemaker raising their four children. Leone was a member of the Sigma Alpha Iota fraternity for music; she continued giving private voice and piano lessons and ensured her children’s participation in instrumental and choir music.

Diagnosed with MS as a young adult, Leone acted as a mentor for many others dealing with MS as a member of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society-Wisconsin Chapter. Having settled in Appleton, she was an active member of the United Methodist Women at First United Methodist Church. She helped in the many mission programs of the church and was a mainstay of the church choirs.  Leone really enjoyed cooking and baking cookies, cakes, and pies for friends, family, and church functions. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Those Leone leaves behind to cherish her memory include her four children, Peter E. (Susan) Tilly, Mark G. (Cynthia) Tilly, Elisa T. (Eric) Gonder, and David L. (Jane) Tilly; three grandchildren, Eric Tilly, Luke (Laura) Tilly, and Daniel Tilly; four great-grandsons, Aaron, Greycen, James, and Richard Tilly; a close niece, Elizabeth Melchert and 11 more nieces and nephews; and many other relatives and friends.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Ewald Tilly; her brother, Earl (Faith) Peters; two sisters, Helen (Ralph) Corsette and Adela (Henry) Melchert; and a close cousin Letha (Bill) Reese.

A funeral service in remembrance of Leone will be held on Saturday, March 31, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. at Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church, 323 S. 5th Ave., West Bend.

The family will greet relatives and friends at the church from 2:00 p.m. until the time of service.

Memorials to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society-Wisconsin Chapter in Leone’s name would be appreciated by the family.

A special thank you to the church ladies from 5th Ave. Church for visiting Leone in the years since she moved to West Bend in 2001.

The Myrhum Patten Miller and Kietzer Funeral Homes have been entrusted with Leone’s arrangements. Additional information and guest book may be found at www.myrhum-patten.com.

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