Edith Wisian passed away peacefully in her home in Nordheim, Texas surrounded by family. At the age of 98, she is preceded in death by parents Otto and Berta Mann, husband Edwin Wisian, son-in-law Robert Neilson, siblings Robert Mann, Edward Mann, George Mann, William Mann, Norman Mann, son Donald Wisian, and grandson Walker Scott Wisian.
Edith is survived by children, Patty Wisian-Neilson of Fort Worth, Gary Wisian (Carolyn) of Nordheim, Randy Wisian (Beverly) of Athens, AL, Kirby Wisian (Andra) of Boerne, and Lori Wisian-Brooke (Danny) of Austin; grandchildren Andrew Neilson, Beth Neilson, Wesley Wisian, Clayton Wisian, Holly Wisian Sandeen, Mikel Hynes, Krysta Frazier, Cammy Wisian, Kyle Wisian, Hans Wisian, Trent Wisian, Carson Brooke, and Connor Brooke; great-grandchildren McKayla Moody, Evan Neilson, Alice DeLorbe, Layne Wisian, Grahm Wisian, Abigail Wisian, Eli Wisian, Annabelle Wisian, Isla Wisian, Elodie Wisian, Liam Frazier, Tyler Frazier, Logan Hynes, Jaxon Hynes, Alethia Sandeen, and Declan Sandeen.
Edith was born in a sod house near Bowman, North Dakota to German immigrant parents, Otto and Berta Mann. She went to school in a one-room schoolhouse, encountering English for the first time. To get to school, she and her older brother either rode a horse bareback or in the snow on a horse-drawn sled. The family lived in their “Little House on the Prairie” until they moved away during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl Days. Parents, five kids, and whatever would fit into the car made the long trip to South Texas.
They joined Otto's brother, Karl Mann, on his dairy farm outside of Realitos. There, Edith learned about the dairy business, picking cotton, farming, and avoiding rattlesnakes. She was a real cowgirl, often found on the back of her horse, and she was fully capable of keeping up with her six brothers. She went to school in Realitos, but did not finish her high school degree until her children were almost grown when she earned a GED.
Edith was very shy, but remembered peeking out at Edwin Wisian when he, his brothers and his father visited from a neighboring farm in Realitos in 1940 shortly after moving to the area. In later years, she got to know Edwin through a group of friends in the area, friends who would hang out together for community events, movies, and dances. Shortly after, Edith and Edwin started dating.
Then, in 1944, Edwin was drafted into the U.S. Army. In a whirlwind ceremony during one of Edwin’s furloughs, they married on February 12, 1945. They managed a short honeymoon in Corpus Christi, a destination they visited often through the years to celebrate anniversaries. After Edwin’s short leave, he was transported to California and shipped out to the Philippines. During Edwin’s absence, Edith stayed with her parents. They communicated continuously through letters.
One year and a day later, Edwin returned to the United States. Upon his return, the couple moved to Cuero and ran a dairy with Edwin’s brother Herman, and sister-in-law, Leona. After a short time, they began their own dairy farm on leased land near Lindenau. Their first home there together was very airy, and the temperature was either really hot or really cold, depending upon the season of the year. During rainy spells, the couple had to sleep separated by a bucket in the middle of the bed to catch the dripping water.
In 1949 in search of a farm to call their own, Edwin and Edith started looking at land in the Yorktown and Nordheim area. Meanwhile, they moved to the Otto Mann farm, just south of Yorktown. They stayed in a tiny bunkhouse behind the main house and during that time they welcomed their first child, Patty.
In 1950 Edwin and Edith bought property south of Nordheim, which would be their home for their remaining years. They started a dairy farm, eventually milking 30-40 cows of their award-winning dairy. By 1964 Gary, Randy, Kirby, and Lori had arrived.
Edith was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother (Mutter, Mom, Mama), grandmother (Grandma, Oma), great-grandmother, and aunt “Edie”. She prided herself on remembering everyone’s birthdays and made a point to call them on the telephone on their birthday. She worked hard on the farm, milking cows, working in the garden, cooking and canning, mowing acres of grass and taking care of the home. She also had many creative talents including crocheting, embroidery, knitting, tatting and macrame. For many years, she baked her own bread, even grinding the flour from locally grown wheat. This was a popular treat for anyone who came to visit.
She and Edwin loved to travel and took the family on week-long to month-long vacations around the United States and sometimes to Europe, Canada, and Mexico.
Edith loved flowers, and always commented on them when she saw them on a drive through the countryside or the city. She had a green thumb, so the house was filled with live, green plants. Her most special plant was a Norfolk Pine that grew so large that it had to be moved outside. She decorated that tree, along with a Christmas tree, every Christmas.
Edith loved her kids and grandkids, playing with them at every opportunity and involving them in baking cookies whenever they came to visit. They fondly remember her “choo choo train kisses”, something you have to experience to understand, and her baking specials; wacky cake, applesauce cake and rum balls.
Visitation will be Sunday, October 13 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm Massey Funeral Home in Yorktown. The funeral will be at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Nordheim on Monday, October 14 at 10:00 am, followed by a graveside service at Yorktown Westside Cemetery. After the service at the cemetery, there will be a reception and luncheon at St. Paul Lutheran fellowship hall. Pastor Kay Johnson will officiate at the ceremony. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Edith's life. Please send donations to Alzheimers Drug Discovery Foundation (https://www.alzdiscovery. org/). On-line condolences can be sent to www.masseyfh.com.
The family would like to thank all the special caregivers: Carolyn Wisian, Gloria Guerrero, Simona Perez, Chelsea Ruth, and Estefina Nesmith, as well as Hospice of South Texas for their dedication and care.
Arrangements by Massey Funeral Home, Yorktown, TX 361-5642900
