Isabella "Issy" Speichinger-Schaefer-Alexander's Obituary
Isabella was preceded in death by her husbands, Ambrose Schaefer and Hugh ôLeftyö Alexander, and a child, Eugene, in infancy, her grandson, Brad Schaefer, her parents, Herman and Katherine (Dannehold) Speichinger, nine siblings; Jacob, Mathias, Alfred, Adele (Brokate-Sims), Sylvester, Frieda (Roenicke), Leo, Mary (Hankammer), and Otto, her brother and sister-in-laws, Louis (Marie) Schaefer, William Schaefer, Henry (Edna) Schaefer, and Mary (Vogel-Speichinger), Isabelle (Alexander) Smith and several nieces and nephews. Surviving are her children, Kenneth (Suzie) Schaefer of Belleville, Ralph (Kathleen) Schaefer of Millstadt, Glenn (Marianne) Schaefer of Millstadt, and Ronald (Elaine) Schaefer of Swansea; grandchildren, Debra (Phil) Shoup of Woodworth, Texas, Michael (Betty) Schaefer of St. Louis, Laura Schaefer (Sean Childers) of Millstadt, Alexander Schaefer of Chicago, Matthew(Lindsey) Schaefer of Millstadt, Katherine Schaefer of Swansea, and Step-grandchildren Kris (Bill) Whitten, of Mascoutah, Matthew Maibes ; great grandchildren, Ian, Allison, and Caroline Shoup of Texas, Calvin and Naomi Schaefer, Kaylie Childers-Schaefer, step great grandchildren, Nicholas and Haley Whitten and a step great great grandson, Noah Whitten as well as numerous nieces and nephews and dear friend Paul Smith of Newburg, Oregon. She was one of ten children born to Herman and Katherine Speichinger. She graduated from a one-room rural school. Her older brother, Alfred Speichinger was her teacher for 8 years. She married Ambrose Schaefer in 1937. They had 5 boys. On March 5, 1950, Ambrose died and Isabella went to work for her brother, Otto Speichinger. Otto owned a tavern in Millstadt. Isabella eventually opened IssyÆs Fish Stand near OttÆs tavern and was assisted in her business by her second husband, Hugh ôLeftyö Alexander and her four sons. She took great pride in that she took the business from nearly nothing and turned it into a thriving enterprise. She developed her own recipes for her coleslaw and sauce, which were in much demand by her customers. IssyÆs motto was ôtake care of the customers and they will come backö, and she emphasized this to her family of employees who shared IssyÆs enthusiasm for the business. Isabella enjoyed cooking for her family and especially loved the holidays when she had her four sons and their families fill her home for food and fun. Issy and Lefty enjoyed a fun-filled retirement with their many friends that often included playing cards and drinks at OttÆs Tavern. Isabella was a member of St. James Catholic Church in Millstadt and served on the Advisory Board at the Senior Center in Millstadt. Memorials may be made to St. James Catholic Church and the Millstadt Senior Center.
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