STOUGHTON – Charlene “Rae” Stelzer, age 92, passed away peacefully at The Heritage Center at the Skaalan Nursing Home on March 12th surrounded by family and love.

Born on June 10, 1933, in Stoughton Wisconsin, Rae was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Nelson. Rae graduated from Stoughton High School and married Kenneth C. Stelzer, her high school sweetheart, on September 2, 1953. Together they celebrated 62 years of marriage. Kenneth preceded her in death on March 1, 2016.

For many years, Rae was a legal secretary in Aders Birkeland’s Law Office. Then she followed that up with working along side Ken and his Electrical business. Rae was a devoted wife and mother to four children. She had an easy smile and an open heart. Rae was easy to love and she was loved by many. She was kind, she was tough, and she loved Wisconsin sports. Growing up on a farm in Wisconsin fostered her work ethic, her ability to rise with the sun and her love of animals. Rae served as both a Girl Scout leader and a Boy Scout leader. She delighted in the time spent with her grandchildren and their “granddogs”. Rae was very proud of her family. She and her late husband, Ken, loved to take annual road trips to visit family and friends from Iowa to Texas and New Mexico to Arizona. They made an effort to spend time with the people they loved most. Rae was especially proud to attend and celebrate all of her grandchildren’s high school graduations.

Later in life, Rae found a love of dance. She and Ken enjoyed traveling for polka events and even taught others. Their cabin in northern WI on Little Lac Courte Oreilles was a happy place for both of them. There are fond memories of Rae on the front porch reading books, watching wildlife come and go throughout the seasons, playing many games of Euchre with her grandchildren, and Rae in visor watching the sun set from the bridge. Rae was a woman of faith and her faith guided her throughout her life.

Rae is survived by her four children, Kim (Carol Ann); Kerry (Chris) Wollak; Kevin (Christina) Stelzer; Karl (Janice) Stelzer; 12 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Lynn Stelzer and many special nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth Stelzer; her parents Oscar and Harriet Nelson; her in-laws Milton F. and Mabel Stelzer; sisters Lois Quale and Marilyn Bostrack; brother-in-laws John Quale, Jack Bostrack, Milton J. Stelzer, Lorin Stelzer, Robert Everson, sister-in-laws Katie Everson and Patricia Stelzer; niece Zenda Moore and great-grandson Bryson Branch.

The family extends a sincere thank you to all who cared for Rae. A special thank you to the staff at Skaalan Nursing Home and Agrace HospiceCare.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday March 27, 2026, Skaalen Home Chapel, 400 N. Morris St., Stoughton, WI with Pastor Richard Halom presiding. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Services. Family will also have a visitation from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday March 26, 2026, at Cress Funeral Home, 206 W. Prospect St., Stoughton, WI.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Agrace or First Lutheran Church of Stoughton or a charity of your choice.