Esther McFall

Esther A. (Bendorf) McFall, 88, of Platteville, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on March 27, 2015 at Orchard Manor Nursing Home in Lancaster, Wisconsin.

Visitation will be held from 4-7pm on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at the Melby Funeral Home & Crematory in Platteville. Funeral services will be held at 11am on Thursday, April 2, 2015 at the Platteville Free Methodist Church, with visitation at 10am. Burial will take place at Whig Cemetery following the service. A luncheon will be held at the Sonshine Center of the Platteville Free Methodist Church following the burial. The Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville, is assisting the family. Online condolences may be made at www.melbyfh.com.

She was born on January 7, 1927, the daughter of Lewis and Nellie (Wieland) Bendorf on a farm near Lancaster. She graduated from Lancaster High School in 1944, and then attended Greenville College in Southern Illinois, from 1945-46, where she took general courses. Upon returning to Lancaster, she received her Rural Diploma from the state of Wisconsin and taught at the Wunderlin School in rural Platteville for two years. Esther married Robert S. McFall on February 19, 1948 at the Lancaster Presbyterian Church. They farmed outside of Platteville for many years. They had seven children: Gary (Vicki Lamb McFall), Madison; Kathy (Joe Kopp), Platteville; Mark (Monse Verdesoto McFall), Platteville; Patricia Zimmerman, Madison; Ginger (Steve Zielke), Platteville: Glen (Betty Henry McFall), Platteville; and Beverly (Perry Hubert), Spring Branch TX. She has 20 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren, with one on the way. Besides her children and grandchildren, she is survived by her brothers Calvin, Virgil (Mary), Walter (Kaye), and sisters Ivanelle Foreman and Margaret (Henry) Oeschle, sister-in-law Margaret Sigurdson, brother-in-law Doug (Wanda) McFall and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Lewis and Nellie, husband Robert, brothers Leslie, Lyle, Eldon and William, and son-in-law, Mark Zimmerman, and grandson Jeffery Davis.

Over the years, while still farming, she worked part-time at several jobs including Dick's Supermarket Deli, Uffelman's Store, and serving hot lunches at the Twin Platte School. She was a member of the Platteville Free Methodist Church, where she loved working with children. She was a great cook (especially pies, cakes, cookies and cinnamon rolls). She loved working outside and enjoyed her flowers, watching birds and squirrels. She rarely missed watching Wheel of Fortune or Antiques Roadshow. She had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh and make others laugh. But more than anything, she loved God and her family.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Jeff White and staff at Platteville Medical Associates, the entire staff of Park Place Assisted Living/Memory Care of Platteville and Orchard Manor of Lancaster, and the doctors and nurses of Grant Regional Health Center of Lancaster for their exceptional care provided to our mom over the years.

“A Mother is the only person on earth who can divide her love among her children and each child still have all her love.”