Ethel E. Cich

Ethel Ellen (Mittlestadt) Cich, died peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, August 16th, 2023 at home. She was and has been the most loving, caring and wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and mother-in-law, her entire life.

Ethel was the only girl born to William ‘Carl’ and Olive (Weaver) Mittlestadt, born on October 16th, 1934 in Knapp, WI. The family moved to Superior when she was a child. She attended Superior School graduating in 1952 from Central High School, after which she attended Wisconsin Technical School for Business Skills.

She met Adam Cich as a young teen, he said, “I liked her because she was pretty, athletic, loved the outdoors and was smarter than he”. He sought her hand in marriage after five years and they wed in California on February 13th, 1954. They made their home in South Superior afterwards and never left. They welcomed three towheaded little boys, Bill, Marv and Ken in those first 6 years. “The stories I could tell you about their antics in the neighborhood and raising them are priceless”, she said even last week, “ Keep them busy and outside”! She loved them and then their growing families without question, without judgement and unconditionally.

Ethel had many interests through the years and valued family, fitness and friendships. She loved sports, playing many well into her forties and fifties. Softball, cross-country skiing, bike riding, bowling and was a trophy winning Powder-Puff Stock Car Driver. She was a neighborhood Den Mother for a group of Cub Scouts. She loved games – canasta, bunco, smear, dice and cribbage. Her granddaughter McKenzy won the last game Tuesday night. She loved the business world participating in a Stock Club and loved the Arts – attending the Duluth Playhouse with her lifelong friends for many years. She loved her flowers, gardens and birds, working on puzzles both board and book. The coffee was always on for family and friends, especially neighbor Joanie who stopped by daily to check on her. She worked at Callaway Dental in the office for many years once Ken her youngest was in school, later working at the American Automobile Association (AAA) office in Superior and then Duluth, retiring after more than twenty years.

Most important was doing everything and anything with her family; she loved the outdoors, camping with her husband and the children in the converted school bus for long summers in Iron River, fishing, campfires and deer hunting; then with her grandchildren, all six girls whom she claimed to know nothing about raising after dealing with only boys. She was always up for babysitting at any time of the day or night, playing in the snow, building snowmen, sliding, biking and cross-country skiing, baking cookies, playing games. Ethel was the fun active grandma. They all know how lucky they were. She attended nearly every event she could be at if it involved a kid, grand or great grandchild. Numerous sporting and Girl Scouting events, school programs and school plays, weddings, anniversary, graduation or birthday celebrations. She recently celebrated her 88th birthday with her three boys all together, a day she treasured.

After losing the love of her life, Adam in 1987 after his lengthy illness, she then turned her attention to helping others, her brother Russ, her boys and their families even more. Her daughters-in-law were always treated well and felt like daughters, very loved and appreciated. Ethel was never unkind to anyone. She didn’t like living alone and welcomed Russ for a few years and later, son Ken and his girls. Ken living there in these later years caring for her. This wonderful attention and care was so appreciated by his brothers and their wives. She wanted to remain living in her home as long as possible and he made it happen.

Ethel was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Wilford, Robert, Russell, baby twins Donald and Dennis. Her husband Adam, her in-laws, numerous cousins and lifelong friends Delores and Shirley. In later years, friends Joyce and Herb, Don and Sally.

She is survived by her three sons, their children and their grandchildren: William ‘Bill’ (Robin) of Wascott, WI; his daughters Heather (Jerry) White, of Duluth, MN and their children Caleb (Gabrielle) of Bethel, MN and Emily (Zach) Angel of Lauderdale, MN; Christa (Steve) Grubb and their children Adam and Gunnar of East Bethel, MN; Aleshia (Angel) Fisher and her children, Landyn and Carter of Superior, WI; Marvin (Dawn) of Wascott, WI; their daughter Loni (Benjamin) Omberg and their children Ethan and Noah of Rosemount, MN; Kenneth (GB) and his daughters McKenzy and Destiny (Austin) of Superior, WI. Ethel is survived by a sister-in-law Rosemary (Cich) Schoenig of Huntington, AL and special friends Caroline Kuhlman and Joan Carlson.

As per Ethel’s wishes there will be no Public Service, there will be a family gathering held at a later date.

The Downs-LeSage Funeral Home, 1304 Hammond Avenue, Superior, is assisting the family with arrangements. To leave a condolence or sign the guestbook, please visit our website at www.downs-lesage.com.