Arlyne L Teuteberg

Brillion WI

Arlyne Lillian Teuteberg joined the Church Triumphant on 29 May 2025 at the age of 98.  Born to Alma and Walter Schlinsog on 3 February 1927, Arlyne was the third in a family of five.  The Schlinsog Family farmed in Clark County, near the village of Granton. Married on the eve of the U.S. entrance into World War I, the Schlinsog’s children spanned 19 years from brother Robert to littlest sister Donna (Lau). Arlyne was truly the middle child as she arrived 6 years after her older sister Esther (Novaković) and almost 8 years before her next younger sister Jeanette (Frank).  Arlyne helped on the farm as all farm kids do, but with Bob and Esther old enough to help with farm chores, Arlyne mostly helped in the house.  After her younger sisters arrived, she had extra responsibilities to mind them as well. 

Arlyne graduated from Granton High School in 1944, where her nickname was Sling. Years later she would tell the story of people teasing her that her name sounded like “slingshot”. She was the Secretary/Treasurer of her graduating class. She participated in the Chorus and on the Library committee. The class will has her bestowing her good grades to anyone who needs help.  A class exercise in whimsically imagining their future through a crystal ball writes this for her: “Perhaps our greatest surprise was experienced when we saw a tight rope walker for Ringley Brother’s Circus and recognized her to be Arlene [sic] Schlinsog.”  Her class photo shows the caption “a firm believer in the power of silence.” 

Excelling in her classes, lending her talents, perhaps capable of surprising things, and above all modest to a fault, how prescient these early observations were.  Arlyne was always a giver, someone who cared for others and wanted to make a positive contribution to her family, friends and community.  But, she never sought or wanted the limelight. Humble to a fault, she would underestimate her capabilities and appearance while outwardly showing a calm intelligence and beautiful grace.

Following her graduation, she worked as a teacher’s assistant in Marshfield, where she confirmed her desire to become a teacher. It was there that she chose to change the spelling of her name from Arlene to Arlyne, influenced by her young teacher mentor who was named Lynda. A quiet stroke of independence from a lady who would always be who she wanted to be.

She graduated the University of Wisconsin at Eau Clare with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1954 and shortly thereafter packed her bag for the big city.  She was an elementary school teacher in Milwaukee for most of her adult life.  Her big sister Esther had moved to Milwaukee some years earlier, where she married and started her career as a nurse.  Esther and Mladen invited Arlyne to stay with them, and she joined their household soon after her nephew Andrew was born.  She lived with the Novaković family until the mid-1960s.

As a single teacher, Arlyne had the opportunity to create her summers.  She spent part of the time taking teacher certification credits, part of the time traveling with friends and her younger sisters, and most of the time taking care of her father Walter after Alma’s untimely death in 1958. Arlyne cared for her father and his house until his death in 1979.

Always one to care for others first, Arlyne began to seek her own companion in the 1970s and joined a Lutheran singles club.  On one of their bowling parties, she noticed a good looking gentlemen sitting quietly behind the bowlers, a soul who embraced silence even more than she!  When Norbert Teuteberg realized he had found his life mate we don’t know, but they were married on 2 December 1978. They lived happily near the Teuteberg farm outside of Merton, Wisconsin until Norbert’s passing on 1 December 2021.  Shortly thereafter, she moved to Brillion, Wisconsin where she could be close to her beloved youngest sister Donna, the last surviving member of the Schlinsog family, and also enjoy the loving and gracious care of Donna and Wayne Lau’s four daughters.  Ellen (Steve) Zutz, Patricia (Michael) Zenner, Rebecca (Terry) Jandrey, and Jennifer (Randall) Glaze.

She is also survived by the children of her sister Jeanette and Roger Frank – Susan (Wesley) Erickson, Nola (Gary) Labat, and Paul (Terri) Frank.  Brother Robert and Kathryn Schlinsog’s children Betty Scheel and Kip (Joan) Schlinsog preceded her in death.  Andrew Novakovic, the little boy who grew up with his Aunt Arlyne, completes the list of nieces and nephews who were in many ways the children she never had.  Andrew’s late wife Monica spent many years enjoying her company.  Later, his wife Deborah also had the pleasure of her acquaintance and helped for a time as Arlyne’s caretaker after Norbert’s passing.  Arlyne was god mother to Ellen and Paul, and also her youngest cousin Joseph Jones.

Arlyne was a quiet soul, comfortable in silence but with a charm and ability to engage others in delightful conversation.  She was someone who never sought the limelight, but she made those who were with her feel that they were in a light that shined from her. She leaves her sister Donna and a family of nieces and nephews, and their children and children’s children, who will never forget Aunt Arlyne.

Funeral service will be at 11:30 am on Friday, June 6, 2025 at the Wieting Family Funeral Home (411 W. Main St.) in Chilton with Rev. Thomas Fricke officiating.  Burial will be in the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery in Hartland.  A time of visitation will be held at the Wieting Family Funeral Home from 10:30 am until 11:15 am on Friday, June 6, 2025.  At the time of the service and following, there will be a link available above for those wishing to watch a livestream or archived recording of the service, view a memorial video, or see pictures of the flowers and gifts given to the family.  

Arlyne's family would like to thank the nurses and staff at both St. Croix Hospice and Westhaven in Brillion for all of the loving care and attention that was provided to her as well as her entire family.