Obituary of Theresa L. Borchardt

Terri Borchardt was born in West Allis on August 26, 1949 and passed away on Thursday, June 3, 2010 after a courageous battle with recurrent ovarian cancer. Terri was preceded in death by her parents Bud and Lorretta Schlaeger; survived by her loving husband, Bill; son, Bill (Heather Greco); daughter, Betsy (Dave Spielbauer) and soon to be born granddaughter; her sisters Jeanette (Ed) Hoge, Kathy Hunt, Michelle (David) Gross; brother Bud (Linda) Schlaeger; many dear nieces, nephews, friends and relatives. Terri graduated from UW-Madison and taught elementary education at several public and Catholic schools during the first part of her wonderful life, reluctantly having to move but willingly following her husband�s career path. She always easily made new friends and sought to establish new roots quickly for her family. She married William Borchardt on March 30, 1974. Bill�s career moves eventually led them to River Falls, WI where they were closer to Terri�s uncle Howie (aunt Joyce Schlaeger) who were fondly referred as Bill and Terri�s �parents of the north� and supported her immensely with her first ovarian cancer challenge. Her love of children and zest for life led her to do voluntary work for the Pregnancy Help Line and become an employee of The Girl Scout Council of St. Croix Valley, managing activities for over 10,000 Girl Scout troops and especially Girls Scout camp and outdoor activities throughout northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother-to-be, sister, aunt and friend. Since coming to Fort Atkinson in 1993, Terri has been active in church ministries at St. Joseph�s Church, Fort Atkinson (folk group musician, choir member, past president of Council of Catholic Women, Family Fair chairman, and coordinator for St. Anne�s Circle providing funeral luncheons). She was a Fort Atkinson Relay for Life Chairman/team member for many years and was a member of Gilda�s Club in Madison. She was a gifted quilter who taught for many years at MATC and other shops, and belonged to Piecemaker�s Quilt Guild. She has made innumerable raffle quilts to raise money for the fight against cancer and also St. Joseph�s Family Fair�s yearly raffle. Her love of quilting was very contagious and she has helped to spread this beautiful craft to so many people including a very special group of close friends called the �Wednesday Strippers�. She delighted in her family, her friends, her dog Bailey, music, plays and camping in Door County at Peninsula State Park. She was so dearly loved and will be greatly missed. Bill and his family especially want to thank the physicians and hospital staff at Fort HealthCare and at UWHealth (Comprehensive Cancer Center) in Madison and Johnson Creek and particularly Drs. Don Williams, Bill Kontny, Julie Mokhtar, and Dr. Ellen Hartenbach and the staff at the Gynecologic Oncology Clinic. They worked tirelessly in an effort to give Terri every chance to see her new baby granddaughter. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00PM on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Fort Atkinson with Father Jay Poster celebrating. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. Friends may call from 4-7PM on Monday, June 7, 2010 at the Nitardy Funeral Home, Fort Atkinson and after 10:30AM on Tuesday at church until the Mass. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a memorial to Terri�s family.