Elaine Marie Dieterich (nee Ponath) 89, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 30, 2025 in West Bend, WI. Elaine was born on November 14, 1936 in the Town of Saukville, Ozaukee County, Wisconsin to Emil and Linda (nee Milbrath) Ponath. She graduated from West Bend High School in 1954. On June 4, 1955 she married her high school sweetheart, Jerome (Jerry) Dieterich at Trinity Lutheran Church in West Bend, WI.

During the 1970’s, Elaine worked as a Teacher’s Aide in the West Bend School District. In 1980 she began her lifelong dream of being a teacher to special needs children. She graduated from Cardinal Stritch College in May 1984, having made the Dean’s List, with a Degree in Special Education & Elementary Education. Elaine worked at John Long Middle School and Woodview Elementary School in Grafton, WI working with Learning and Emotionally challenged students.
During her time there, she made several close lifelong friends.

After retiring, Elaine worked part time at the Wisconsin Dyslexic Institute, teaching dyslexic children. During this time, she also became a Big Sister in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program, which she really enjoyed.

Elaine was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in West Bend, WI teaching Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and Confirmation classes.

Elaine enjoyed family vacations to Treasure Island, Florida, spending time on the beach collecting seashells and feeding the seagulls. Another hobby of Elaine's was sewing Barbie Doll clothes, which her 3 girls thoroughly loved, and she also sold them to the public. Her children and grandchildren were her life. She enjoyed spending all the time she could with them.

Elaine will be deeply missed by her children: Debbie (Tim) Wood, Diane (Greg) Imes, Darlene (Tim) Mitchell, and David (Jenny) Dieterich, her 4 grandchildren: Danielle Klein, David (Liz) Klein, AJ (Katya) Mitchell, and Jessica (Dan) Peters. Elaine will be missed by her 3 Great-grandchildren: brothers Kodiak, Johnny and Damian Klein, as well as her many grand-fur babies, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Elaine is preceded in death by her husband Jerry, her parents, Emil and Linda Ponath, her sister Erna Hafemann, and 3 brothers, Elmer Ponath, Edmund Ponath and Alfred Ponath, who passed during infancy.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Washington County Humane Society.

Per Elaine’s wishes, a private family memorial service will be held at a later date.