Elizabeth Levar

From one mother to another, the dear Blessed Mary held out her hand and took Elizabeth "Betty" Rose Levar home to our heavenly Father on July 22, 2023 at the age of 94. She considered herself a humble person who lived a simple life. She worked hard, loved her family unconditionally and had great faith in God. Betty was a loving and caring mother, wife, sister, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend. She is survived by her sister, Carol Ann Eicher; three children, Anne (Robert) Kelly, Jane Levar, and Paul (Jamie) Levar; grandchildren Michael Kelly (Stacy Iruk), Brian (Jessica) Kelly, Laura (Austin) Reed, Danielle (Eric) Blaschke, Jaclyn (Elling) Hofland; great grandchildren Charlotte Blaschke, Elizabeth Blaschke, Emerson Hofland, Bennett Kelly, Jack Kelly, and Owen Reed. Numerous cousins, nieces, nephews also survive. She was preceded in death by her parents Alfred and Julia Grall, her husband William "Bill", her siblings Monica Schmitz, Ruth Schmitz, George Grall, Harold Grall, Robert "Bob" Grall, Jerome "Jerry" Grall, and Donald Grall. Elizabeth "Betty" Rose Grall was the sixth out of nine children born on July 30, 1928 to Alfred and Julia (Steffek) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She graduated from Rufus King High School in 1946. She married the love of her life William "Bill" Levar in 1956. After raising her three children she enjoyed working for Sears and the Air Force Reserves. Betty was a devout Catholic and a member of St Mary's Catholic faith community for almost 50 years. Here, she volunteered with preparing mailings, cleaning the church, assisting with Bingo, the Friday fish fry, and the annual festival. She was a die-hard Green Bay Packer fan, and also loved the Marquette Golden Eagles and the Wisconsin Badgers. Her hobbies included sewing, tailoring, knitting, baking, and reading. Her siblings, children and grandchildren all have handmade fisherman's rib stitch knit afghans which they treasure as their favorite blanket. She made her husband Bill's sport coats, all her kid's clothing, and even some of her grandchildren's Halloween costumes. She knit hundreds of mittens and would donate them to charitable organizations. She was frugal and often the yarn she used was repurposed from resale shops blankets. Her family would joke that the real reason for the knitting was to control her anxiety during the Packer games. She won four blue ribbons at the Wisconsin State Fair for her baking, sewing, and knitting. She made sure there was always fresh homemade bread for her family and refused to use processed Wonderbread. When she prepared dessert for Thanksgiving, the pies nearly outnumbered the people at the table. When she made chocolate donuts, the neighborhood kids would sound the alarms and line up at her back door waiting to devour this amazing delicacy. Betty had an extraordinary personality. Her enthusiasm lit up a room. She was greatly loved and will be missed by many. Her family and friends are grateful for all the special memories which will live in their hearts forever. A visitation will be held on Saturday, August 5, from 9:30 am to 10:45 am at St. Mary Catholic Faith Community, 9520 W Forest Home Ave., Hales Corners, with a Funeral Mass to celebrate her life at 11:00 am. Private entombment Holy Cross Cemetery in Milwaukee. In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Mary Faith Community or the charity of your choice would be appreciated.