Letitia Margaret (Nielsen) Barreuther

Letitia Margaret Barreuther (nee Nielsen), age 90, passed away peacefully on January 25th, 2020.

Letitia Margaret Barreuther was born in Omaha, NB just before the stock market crash of 1929. It is assumed due to the hard-financial times her parents gave her and her three siblings up for adoption. She was adopted when she was 5 years old. Though her adoptive parents did try to also adopt her younger brother, due to a fire at the orphanage, records were destroyed and locating him was difficult. Her new parents were loving and raised Letitia Catholic and she attended Catholic grade school and St Rita High School in Chicago by Midway Airport near the stock yards. Letitia met the love of her life, William {Bill} Barreuther, while working at the soda fountain at Walgreens in Chicago where she served him ice cream. They fell in love, married and started a family on Oak Park Avenue in Berwyn. Later they purchased their first home in Lyons. They were both hard working and their family grew. Letitia worked as the camera girl and coat check girl at Magnum Chateau in Lyons. It was a nightclub and supper club popular at the time. She is pictured exiting the club in the famous advertisement of the club with the marque above her. In 1968 the family moved to Decatur GA and returned to Brookfield IL in 1969 when Letitia and Bill divorced. In 1970 Letitia returned to Norcross GA. She worked various jobs 1970-1973. In 1973 she began working for Gould, a factory where she remained until retirement. She lived a very social active life and her interests included competitive ballroom dancing where she won many contests, in her youth she was in an Irish dance group, played the accordion and banjo and was in the choir at church her whole life, always singing around the house while doing chores. She was also an avid gardener who definitely had a green thumb. Letitia was the soloist at the church she and Bill were married at in Oak Lawn. She was an excellent seamstress and made many many dance costumes for her youngest daughter Karen as well as her own clothes and draperies. Bill, her husband would joke when she was making something like draperies that he was afraid he was going to have a new shirt now too that would match the drapes. Letitia was a lifelong devoted Irish Catholic church member until the end of her life attending daily bible and prayer meetings in her nursing home.

Letitia lived with her oldest daughter Susan and son-in-law Tom when her grandson David was born and with her son Bill and daughter-in-law Laurie when granddaughter Shaina was born and always had a special bond with David, Shaina, Tom and Laurie. Late in life her younger sister Marge found her and they connected and Letitia went to live with her sister in California for about seven years. With her health beginning to decline she returned to Illinois where her two daughters live in 2012 to live in assisted living at Eastgate Manor in Algonquin for about five years and the to Lexington Nursing Home in Lake Zurich where she remained until her death. She made many friends throughout her life and remained friends with her ex husband Bill who visited her often in her retirement homes until his death.

The family of Letitia noted the excellent care she received at both Eastgate Manor and Lexington and are thankful to all the devoted staff. Their care, patience and kindness are so appreciated.

Letitia is survived by her loving children, Susan Willoughby of McHenry, IL, Karen Chatton of Montgomery, IL, and William A. Barreuther of Hampton, GA; grandchildren, Jillian Kate (Kevin) FitzGerald, Shaina Castellaw, Tracy Ann (David) Campbell; great-grandchildren, Landon and Lawson Castellaw, William FitzGerald, and Jaxon Campbell; and nephews, Alan Barreuther and Eugene Propper.

Preceded in death by her grandson, David Willoughby; daughter-in-law, Laurie Collins; and ex-husband, William E. Barreuther.

Services will be held privately.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Catholic Charities.