She was born in Mountain on March 23, 1913 the tenth of 13 children of the late Gustaf and Maria (Bloom) Sandberg. She graduated from Mountain High School with the class of 1932. She married Philip (Ole) Johnvin on May 3, 1933 and the couple farmed in the Town of Riverview until moving to Mountain in 1948. He preceded her in death on March 22, 1974. Elsie married Carl Schabow on November 5, 1977 and they resided in Townsend. Carl preceded her in death on March 12, 1998.
She was a loving and caring Mom who enjoyed gardening, baking, dancing and writing letters to all of her family and friends. Lunch was always ready for anyone who might stop in. She was a faithful lifetime member of Tabor Lutheran Church. She was a member of Tabor Ladies Aid and the Ladies Auxiliary VFW 2119.
Survivors include three daughters and two sons-in-law, Bessie Gardebrecht, Audrey and Joseph Fonferek of Suring; Jean and Clifford Marshall of Lakewood; 12 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild; three stepdaughters, Nancy (Harry) Logan, Milwaukee; Sharon (Ronald) Krause, Pound; Sheila (Gerald) Leisner, Marinette; two stepsons, Larry (Joyce) Schabow and James (Claudette) Schabow both of Green Bay; 16 stepgrandchildren and 12 stepgreat-grandchildren. Further survived by one brother and two sisters-in-law, Alvin and Mary Sandberg, Menasha and Velma Sandberg of Eugene, OR. Also many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In addition to her parents and husbands, she was further preceded in death by her son-in-law, Roger Gardebrecht; three sisters, Naomi Dunlap, Vera Anderson and infant sister, Linnea Sandberg; eight brothers, Matt, John, Waldemar, Hugo, Sigurd, infant, Richart, Nels and Richard Sandberg.
Friends called upon the family on Friday, November 2, from 9a.m. until the time of funeral services at 11 a.m. at the Tabor Lutheran Church, Mountain, with Pastor Paul Scheunemann officiating. Burial in the Mountain Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Elsie's name. Elsie's family would like to thank everyone that has been a part of her life. A special thank you to those who ministered, visited and cared for her these past 61/2 years while she was a resident at Woodland Village Nursing Home. although Alzheimers may have robbed her of her memories of us, let it not rob us of our memories of her.