Esther M. Pitzen Halbach, age 93, of New Holstein, passed away peacefully Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at her home. The former Esther Kraus was born April 8, 1921 in the Town of Taycheedah "St. Peter" in Fond du Lac County to the late John & Elizabeth (Schneider) Kraus. On January 15, 1942, she married Lyle Pitzen at St. Peter Catholic Church in St. Peter. Lyle preceded her in death on November 15, 1970. On September 18, 1999, she married Melvin Halbach Sr. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in New Holstein. Esther was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in New Holstein and the Christian Women's Society. Survivors include her husband, Melvin Halbach Sr. of New Holstein; five children, Betty Casper of Kiel, Mary Schnell of Kiel, Lyle (Sue) Pitzen of Kiel, Chris (Tom) Diedrich of Kiel, Gary Pitzen of Elkhart Lake; 15 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; three step children, Gordon (Pat) Halbach of Marytown, Melvin Jr. (Shirley) Halbach of Mount Calvary, and Mary (Randy) Wollert of Germantown; seven step grandchildren; nine step great-grandchildren; two step great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Bruno (Lillian) Kraus of Fond du Lac and Martin (Jane) Kraus of Fond du Lac; sisters-in-law, Catherine Kraus of Fond du Lac, Lorraine Kraus Havey of Fond du Lac and Mary Kraus of St. Peter. Preceding her in death were her parents, John & Elizabeth Kraus; her first husband, Lyle Pitzen; a son, Mark Pitzen; two sons-in-law, Kenneth Casper and Robert Schnell; brothers, Gregory Kraus, Leander Kraus, Edmund Kraus; father-in-law and mother-in-law, John & Barbara Pitzen; other in-laws, Benjamin Pitzen, Edward (Esther) Pitzen, Ernest (Mary) Pitzen, Gordon (Sally) Pitzen, Aurelia (John) Urban, and Elvira Kraus. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 20, 2014, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church 1724 Madison Street New Holstein, WI 53061. Rev. Harold Berryman will officiate with Parish Director, Joe Zenk, assisting. Burial will be in the Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery. Family and friends may call on the family on Friday, September 19th at the Sippel Funeral Home 2618 Altona Avenue New Holstein, WI 53061 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM and on Saturday, September 20, 2014 at Holy Rosary Church from 9:30 AM to 10:45 AM. A Prayer Service will be held at the funeral home Friday evening at 7:00 PM. For additional information, please contact the Sippel Funeral Home in New Holstein (920) 898-4300 or visit www.sippelfuneralhome.net