Athlyn Herzberg

Our beloved Mother, Grandmother, soon to be Great Grandmother, Sister and Friend met her Lord on November 19, 2025 at the age of 91. Surrounded by her family in the comforts of her home. She was born on April 10, 1934 in a cottage on Taylor Lake, Waupaca, Wisconsin, the daughter of James and Vera (Nelson) Gould.

Athlyn married the love of her life, Ronald E. Herzberg, and together they shared 42 years of marriage and raised a family of four children on the family farm in rural Columbus.

Early in her working career while raising their family she worked selling Avon, waitressed at the Capri Steak House and the Country Inn which was like a second family to her. She also worked at Wisconsin Cheeseman and finished her working career retiring from Walmart at age 85 after 20 years of service.

She worked alongside her husband on the family farm. She grew a big garden from which she did a lot of canning. It was an annual tradition to butcher chickens. Washing milk pails and chasing cattle and lawnwork were part of her daily life.

It was a tradition to make dinner for all the deer hunters coming to hunt from the city. Most of all, she loved her family and all the family celebrations. Recently enjoying the fire in the red-neck gazebo on the farm.

Athlyn was a life long member of Zion Lutheran Church.

Athlyn is survived by her daughters, Dianna Watters of Madison, Rhonda Malone of Sun Prairie, Susan Herzberg of Madison; and son, Ronald J. Herzberg of Columbus. She is survived by her grandchildren, Michael (Mike) Malone, Brittany (Mike) Morrissey, and Hunter Herzberg. Athlyn is expecting her first great-granddaughter in December, a gift to her family during her favorite holiday. Further survived by her sisters, Jeanne Scholes of Brodhead, Judy Gutshall of Evansville; and sister-in-law, Darlene (Chuck) Jinkins of Fond du Lac. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ronald; brother, James “Skip” (Fern) Gould; sister, Joan Hershey, brother-in-law Eldred Scholes; sons-in-law, Ray Watters, Daniel Malone; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Edward and Ruby Herzberg.

A funeral service will take place at 11AM on Monday, December 1, 2025 at Zion Lutheran Church, 812 Western Ave., Columbus, WI 53925. A visitation will take place from 9:30AM until the time of service. Athlyn will be brought by family to her final place of rest at Hillside Cemetery in Columbus.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made out to Zion Lutheran Church for the Foundation of the Future.