"His answering machine, "put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone". He liked to laugh and enjoy himself. This is a quality that he passed down to me, thank you for that."
In loving memory of
Howard "Hop" Elam
June 25, 1925 - March 15, 2011
Howard "Hop" Elam
A well known trapper and sportsman of Antigo, died Tuesday at Langlade Hosptial under the care of LeRoyer Hospice. He was 85 years old. He was born on June 25, 1925 in Crandon a son of the late Troy and Maude (Carter) Elam. He married Virginia Upton on June 30, 1951 in Antigo. She preceded him in death on July 19, 2007.
He was a 1943 graduate of Crandon High School and served in the United States Navy during WWII from May 1944 to June 1946. Mr. Elam was a lead man at the Kraft Foods Plant in Antigo retiring in 1987.
He was a member of the Leland-Tollefson Veterans of Foreign War Post #2653, Antigo.
He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, trapping, fishing, hunting and was an avid Green Bay Packer fan.
Survivors include two daughters, Patricia Brown, Wausau and Jane (Brian) Hanley, Ventura, CA; two sons, David (Sherry) Elam, Antigo and Dennis (Joni) Elam, Antigo; a sister, Geneva (James) Anderson, Iron River, MI; ten grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife he was preceded in death by two brothers, Chester Elam and Fred Elam.
A memorial Mass will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. at SS Mary & Hyacinth Catholic Church with Rev. Jeremiah Worman officiating. Antigo veterans will conduct military rites at the church following Mass. Burial will take place in Queen of Peace Cemetery in the spring. Visitation will be Friday from 9 a.m. until the time of Mass at the church.
Friends are invited to join the family at the VFW Clubhouse for food and fellowship following the Mass.
Tributes
"He was always up for anything i through at him. It was always one thing or another, grampa lets go fishing, lets gut the fish, grampa let me ride the lawn mower. I thank him for all the things he has done for me, and he did everything with a cheerful smile on his face whether it was fun or not, that cheerful kind smile. THANKS A BUNCH"
"Daddy I will miss you forever. You were so kind to me. I remember when I was little you would lift me up and touch my head on the ceiling, we would laugh together."
"Thank you "HOP" for 54 years of friendship. DUKE "
"Dennis and Joni My sympathy to you and your beautiful family. "
"I remember sitting on your lap as a little girl and asking, "Grandpa, what happened to your hair", you would tell me that Jack Frost blew it off. I love you Grandpa "
"LOVE YOU SO MUCH GRANDPA!!! "
"Dad was not just my father he was my best friend"
"When I lived next door to Howard, every year he had the best garden I'd ever seen! He took great pride in keeping it up, and the produce that came from it, and so kind to always share. I was never a green thumb, and not good at keeping a garden, but Howard always encouraged...or at least thought I should have a garden myself... because every spring, he tilled my garden for me, and the best that every came out of it was baby carrots, and dill; which I'm still not convinced that he didn't plant them there! :-) Anyway, that is my favorite memory of Howard...He was a kind man, and he will not be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family."