Charlene R. Stelzer

Charlene "Rae" Stelzer, age 92, of Stoughton, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2025, at The Heritage Center at Skaalen Nursing Home, surrounded by her loving family.

Born on June 10, 1933, in Stoughton, Rae was the daughter of Oscar and Harriet Nelson. She graduated from Stoughton High School and married her high school sweetheart, Kenneth C. Stelzer, on September 2, 1953. They shared 62 years of marriage until Ken’s passing on March 1, 2016. Rae worked for many years as a legal secretary in Ader’s Birkeland’s Law Office before joining Ken in his electrical business. A devoted wife and mother, she raised four children with an easy smile, an open heart, and a steadfast spirit. Kind yet resilient, she carried the strong work ethic she learned growing up on a Wisconsin farm, along with a deep love of animals and Wisconsin sports.

Rae served as both a Girl Scout and Boy Scout leader, and she took great joy in spending time with her grandchildren and their dogs. She and Ken cherished annual road trips to visit family and friends across Iowa, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, and she proudly attended every one of her grandchildren’s high school graduations. Later in life, she discovered a love of dance, and she and Ken enjoyed traveling to polka events and teaching others. Their cabin on Little Lac Courte Oreilles in northern Wisconsin brought them special happiness, where Rae could often be found reading on the front porch, watching wildlife, playing Euchre with her grandchildren, or sitting on the bridge in her visor to watch the sunset. A woman of deep faith, she lived guided by her beliefs throughout her life.

Rae is survived by her children, Kim (Carol Ann) Stelzer, Kerry (Chris) Wollak, Kevin (Christina) Stelzer, and Karl (Janice) Stelzer; 12 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; her sister-in-law Lynn Stelzer; and many beloved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth Stelzer, her parents Oscar and Harriet Nelson, her in-laws Milton F. and Mabel Stelzer, her sisters Lois Quale and Marilyn Bostrack, and many other dear family members.