Ellen Raehl, age 96, formerly of Winneconne, died Thursday October 27, 2016, at Brewster Village in Appleton. She was born in the town of Neenah to the late Erwin and Lois (Lambie) Nelson. Ellen was a graduate of Neenah High School and attended college in Portland, Oregon. On June 14, 1941, Ellen married Elmer Raehl. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary a few months before Elmer passed in 2011. Ellen was a long time member of Grace Lutheran Church of Winchester, Larsen, Wisconsin. In addition to helping on the farm and raising the children, Ellen worked many years as a business officer manager in Oshkosh. Ellen's activities focused on the arts; she volunteered as a docent at the Paine Art Center & Gardens in Oshkosh. Ellen started painting in her 70s. She and Elmer travelled internationally and across the U.S. Her lifelong love of gardening, reading, and horses complimented her skills as a world-class pie maker. Ellen is survived by four children: Andrea (Gus) Gianas, of Frisco, Texas; Stephen (Gwen) Raehl, of Winneconne; Christine (Galen) Drews, of Winneconne, Cynthia Raehl, of Frisco, Texas and her sister-in-law, Marrianne Bond, of Walnut Creek, California; grandchildren, Danielle Raehl, of Neenah; Geoffrey (Tracey) Drews, of Appleton; Tanya (Keith) Koller, of Neenah; Michael Gianas, of Frisco; Trisha (Bob) Aiken, of Chicago; great-grandchildren, Jacob Raehl, Taylor and Amber Koller, Forrest, Landon, and Josephine Drews, and Liliana Gianas. Ellen was preceded in death by her husband; parents; sister, Ruth Wright; brother, Floyd Nelson; and son-in-law, CAB Bond. A visitation for family and friends will be on Thursday, November 3, 2016, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1140 Tullar Road, Neenah, Wisconsin. A funeral service for Ellen will be held on Thursday at 11:00 am at the church with Pastor Cath Mode officiating. Burial will be in the Clayton Cemetery. Ellen's family would like to express their profound gratefulness to all the caring and compassionate staff at Brewster Village and ThedaCare at Home Hospice. Ellen's family also appreciated the visits of Mary Alice Eisch and Pastor Dan Luett. In lieu of flowers, family suggests a donation to: The Ataxia Telangiectasia Children's Project, 5300 W. Hillsboro Blvd., Suite 105, Coconut Creek, FL 33073; Phone 800.5.HELP.A-T (800.543.5728) info@atcp.org. Please submit online condolences to muellerfuneralhomeinc.com.