Ione Esther Schardt Hitt, of Antigo, died Thursday, October 23, 2014 at Eastview Medical & Rehabilitation Center. She was 91 years old. She was born on May 25, 1923 to Arthur and Kathryn (Breed) Schardt. She married Kenneth Hitt on August 29, 1949 at Sanborn Lutheran Chapel. He preceded her in death on February 12, 2011.

Mrs. Hitt grew up in the Town of Norwood and graduated from Antigo High School in 1940. She continued her education at Whitewater State University graduating with a teaching degree in 1944. She taught business classes at Sturgeon Bay and Cornell High Schools. She was loved and appreciated by both faculty and students.

Mrs. Hitt along with her husband owned and operated a dairy farm on Hwy W. After retiring from farming she returned to teaching as a substitute business teacher at Antigo High School. She was employed for 10 years with the Langlade County Department of Social Services as a benefits specialist, retiring in 1986.

She was a life long member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Mattoon, having served as church treasurer and active with the Ladies Aid having held the office of president. She was the Triple Progress 4-H Club sewing leader for 20 years.
She enjoyed bowling, dancing, snowmobiling, reading, playing scrabble, and visiting and playing cards with family and friends. She found great joy in making holidays special for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her family holds many memories in the quilts and scrapbooks she made for them. She spent her quiet time praying, reading the Bible and knitting. She instilled a love of reading, history, music, and Christian charity in her children.

Survivors include six children, Barbara Nieman, Conyers, GA, Marlene (Tom) Harwood, Valencia, CA, Douglas (Betty) Hitt, Antigo, Carol (Jim) Schairer, Birnamwood, Vicki (Fred) Posler, Oro Valley, AZ and Harry (Paula) Hitt, Antigo; 13 grandchildren, John (Tonya) Nieman, Kenneth Nieman, Philip Nieman, William Harwood, Brian (Becky) Hitt, Kevin (Nancy) Hitt, Michael (Suzanne) Hitt, Lisa Artz, Kenneth Artz, Kathryn Posler, Emily Posler, Daniel Hitt and Travis Hitt; five step-grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; 10 step great-grandchildren; a brother, Harold (Rose) Schardt, Rochester, MN, three sisters-in-law, Bernice Schardt, Antigo, Phyllis Rasmussen, Wittenberg and Lorraine (Keith) Wilson, Antigo.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Kenneth, a sister, Arlene O'Neil, two brothers, Richard Schardt and Robert Schardt, a sister-in-law, Vivian Rasmussen; three brothers-in-law, Robert O'Neil, Clarence Rasmussen, Melvin Rasmussen, and a niece, Sally O'Neil.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church, Mattoon with Reverend Dean Bertsch officiating. Burial will take place in Elmwood Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Bradley Funeral Home and Tuesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.

She served her Lord Jesus faithfully throughout her life and now rests with her Lord.

Services