TILLIE SLEGER

(1907 - 1999)

Tillie Sleger, age 91, a resident of the Manitowoc Health Care Center, and formerly of 1849 Waldo Blvd., Manitowoc, died Friday, July 9, 1999, at Holy Family Memorial Medical Center. Manitowoc.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Gerald Foley at Holy Innocents Catholic Church, Manitowoc, at 10 a.m. Monday, July 12, 1999. Entombment will be in Calvary Mausoleum, Manitowoc.

Tillie was born October 21, 1907, in Kellnersville, daughter of the late Matt and Julia Korinek Sleger. During her earlier years, from 1927 through 1934 she was the owner of Yvonne's Beauty Salon. From 1935 until her retirement in 1969, Tillie designed and fashioned hundreds of beautiful bridesmaids dresses and wedding gowns. Tillie was a member of Holy Innocents Catholic Church, Holy Innocents Christian Women, and the Daughters of Isabella. Tillie will be remembered for many things, especially how she kept her positive, happy personality, regardless of how challenging life had become for her.

Survivors include three sisters, Mayme Mraz and Emma Pelishek, both of Manitowoc, Julie Karlin, California; three brothers, Quirin (Beatrice) Sleger, Joe (Betty) Sleger, all of Manitowoc, Jerry (Lavern) Sleger, Brussels, Wis.; two sisters-in-law, Delores Sleger and Helen Sleger, both of Manitowoc; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Albert, Louis and Jim Sleger.

Friends may call at Holy Innocents Catholic Church on Monday from 9 a.m. until the time of Mass at 10 a.m.

The Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home, Manitowoc is assisting the Sleger family with funeral arrangements.

Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter Sunday, July 11, 1999 pg. A2

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TILLIE SLEGER REMEMBERED

Tillie Sleger, dressmaker extraordinary in Manitowoc, died last Friday. She was 91.

In nearly four decades as a dressmaker she designed and fashioned hundreds of wedding dresses, bridesmaids dresses and prom dresses for the young women of Manitowoc and the surrounding area.

Her shop was at 808-A South Eighth St., upstairs over a dress shop and hat shop. Her neighbor, in the first shop next to the bridge, was the Fanny Farmer candy store.

At the street level, Tillie had a glass-enclosure display case where, she showed examples of her work. No wedding dress or prom dress was too elaborate for her to create. They were beautiful and many of them are probably packed in tissue paper and saved to this day by brides, bridesmaids and prom goers.

During my years as society editor at the Manitowoc Herald Times, we used to describe dresses in great detail in wedding stories and prom stories. Many of these descriptions were supplied by Tillie who had made many of the dresses.

When Tillie had her shop in the block just south of Eighth Street Bridge, other businesses in the block, in 1946 for example, were Fanny Farmer, Mitzi Hat Shop, Ames Dress Shop, Muirs Cut Rate Drug Store, Hoyer Brothers Men's clothing, Rummele Jewelers, Myrquin Hat Shop and Kinney Shoes on the corner of Quay Street. Only Rummele's remains today.

After she closed the shop on Eighth Street, she worked out of her home on Waldo Boulevard. She retired in 1969.

Her funeral was Monday at Holy Innocents Catholic Church, where she was an active member.

Manitowoc Herald Times Friday, July 16, 1999 pg. C1

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