Emma Langlois
Emma (“Amelia”) Langlois, age 94, passed away peacefully, September
22, 2008, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, WI, following a lifetime filled
with change and adventure.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Michael and Eva Horvath, Sr.; her husband, Claude J. Langlois; three siblings: Ethel (Reynold) Schleife; Michael Horvath Jr.; Ruth (Mitchell) Mroz; and one infant grandchild, David Langlois.
Surviving her are two sisters: Ann (Harvey) Lachmund, Pewaukee, WI; Mary (Neal, deceased) Dupree, Durand, WI; her eight children, fifteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Emma was a first generation American, born March 20, 1914. She was
born of Slovak-American parents, Eva and Michael Horvath, on a little farm on
Elderwood Road in Phillips, WI. Her parents had settled in America in 1908, only
six years before Amelia was born, the third oldest of six children.
Emma spoke no English before entering school. But after listening to her
older sister and brother, she realized the importance, and made herself learn
English before entering the schoolhouse door at age six.
In 1933 Emma graduated as Valedictorian from Price County Normal
School, taking a job as a caseworker with Price County Welfare Department,
where she met Claude. After they were married, they moved to Durand, WI,
where Claude accepted a position as the Pepin County Welfare Director, and
served in that capacity for 19 years. Emma took a position as Clerk for the Pepin
County Draft Board as World War II got underway.
As Emma and Claude eventually had eight children together, Emma
decided to become a full-time mother and to educate all of them through college:
William M. (Susan) Langlois, West Point graduate, nuclear engineer, Wilmington,
NC; Mary A. Langlois Schlosser (Gene), high school/college English instructor,
Menomonie, WI; Dr. Joseph C. Langlois, Auburn, WA; Daniel T. Langlois,
UW Eau Claire Assistant Recreation Director, Durand, WI; Margaret R. Langlois
Miller (William), author-teacher-homemaker, Knapp, WI; John R. (Teresa)
Langlois, Social Services Coordinator, Community Health Partnerships, Altoona,
WI; Nancy E. Langlois Peloquin (Bruce), Clinical Social Worker, Middlefort
Clinic, Chippewa Falls, WI; Theodore J. Langlois, Osseo Golf Course Grounds
Maintenance Superintendent, Durand, WI.
Emma was proud of her 15 grandchildren who survive her: Thomas
Langlois, Amanda Langlois, Rebecca (Mendel) Langlois Ireland, Aaron (Elena)
Langlois; Mark (Sanna) Schlosser, Matthew Schlosser, Sara Schlosser; Rachel
Miller, Grace Miller, Emma Miller; Simone Peloquin; Jordan Langlois, Steven
Langlois; Emma’s two step-grandchildren: Traci Peloquin, Dean Peloquin; her
new great-granddaughter, Ava Lauren Langlois; a special nephew
Kenneth (Marilyn) Schleife, Mexico, and special nieces Marcia (Gene) Lachmund
Britton, Mesa, AZ; and Kathy Langlois Brown, Black River Falls, WI.
Claude’s unexpected death in 1962 forced Emma to find employment,
which she did by agreeing to run on the Democrat ticket for Register of Deeds for
Pepin County. An account of this event, written by Margaret Langlois Miller, first
appeared in The Catholic Digest in 1984, then was re-printed in The Courier
Wedge, March 15, 2007.
Emma took great pride in serving the citizens of Pepin County as Register
of Deeds for 24 years before retiring in 1986. She considered all the people she
served in that capacity as good friends, proud that those as far away as
Stockholm and Meridean voted for her without even meeting her. She
proudly gave tours of her courthouse office to anyone who asked, pointing out
the pictorial signatures of the Native Americans who signed those first Pepin
County documents. A favorite task of hers in the 60s was issuing ID cards to
youngsters when they turned 18 because she got to meet almost all the young
people of Pepin County.
Throughout her life Emma especially enjoyed auctions and thrift sales,
delighting in finding those unexpected “treasures.”
In later years she was especially enthusiastic about restoring her old
family farm in Phillips, WI, which had since fallen into disrepair; a special delight
was saving the old garage designed for her parents’ Model T Ford, the first one
purchased in their neighborhood.
Her children will remember Emma’s work ethic, her emphasis on getting a
good education (“Pour your purse into your head and no one can take it from
you.” –Benjamin Franklin—was a favorite), her continued interest in the political
scene, her enduring faith in God, her excellent singing voice, and her profound
love for children.
At 93, Emma still enjoyed doing her own taxes. At 94 she was still
answering the phone and taking reservations for St. Hubert’s Outfitters
Club, located on the Chippewa River at Round Hill, just south of Durand.
Emma became a dear friend to each of her children throughout the years.
She was a great lady and she will be greatly missed.